The annual Commercial Real Estate and Development Conference, presented by BizTimes Milwaukee, Marquette University’s Bell Real Estate Program and the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin (CARW), is southeastern Wisconsin’s premier networking and information event for the industry. This conference examines the latest trends in commercial real estate and development and explores the possibilities for the year ahead.

I-94 corridor between Milwaukee and Illinois is development hotbed Milwaukee has always been overshadowed by The Windy City. But in many ways the massive Chicago region’s proximity has been an asset to southeastern Wisconsin. Perhaps that has never been more true, as the Milwaukee and Chicago area increasingly grow together into one mega region. In recent years development momentum has grown in the I-94 corridor between Milwaukee and Illinois. Uline and several other Illinois companies moved north of the border. Amazon built a massive fulfillment center. Southern Milwaukee County has seen more activity including Drexel Town Square, Ikea and The Rock Sport Complex. On top of all of that come plans from Foxconn Technology Group to build a $10 billion, 20 million-square-foot LCD panel manufacturing complex.

How will all of this development activity transform the southeastern Wisconsin real estate market? What will the I-94 corridor between Milwaukee and Illinois look like in 2030? Does the Foxconn development signal a long-term trend of growth in the I-94 South corridor instead of the I-94 West corridor? The 15th annual BizTimes Milwaukee Commercial Real Estate and Development Conference examined those questions and more. The event featured remarks from Kelly O’Brien, president and CEO of the Alliance for Regional Development, and a panel discussion with Wisconsin and Illinois commercial real estate experts.