The Milwaukee Bucks have submitted a zoning change application with the city of Milwaukee for the new downtown arena, but have provided no additional details on the design of the arena.
The city signed a development agreement with the franchise on Dec. 29, 2015 that included a timeline for the $500 million arena project.
That agreement called for the Bucks to submit a more detailed development plan for the arena by March 1 and the team to obtain city approval by May 1.
Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks, submitted a zoning change application on Feb. 9 with the city that did not include any additional details.
“They were required to submit the application by March 1, which they did,” said Jeff Fleming, Milwaukee Department of City Development spokesman. “Speculation is that more detail will be given in coming weeks.”
Fleming said details will need to be submitted by the time the city’s Plan Commission and the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee review the application. The arena project is not scheduled for the March 14 Plan Commission meeting, Fleming said. Fleming said he anticipates the project will be on the April agenda.
The arena is planned for a site just north of the BMO Harris Bradley Center in downtown Milwaukee. The arena will also anchor a mixed-use district that the Bucks owners plan to develop. The first phase of that development will include the new 690,000-square-foot, six-story arena, a practice facility for the team and a “live block” public plaza on Fourth Street between Highland and Juneau avenues. Construction for the first phase of the district, including the arena itself, is expected to begin this year.
Phase two of the arena district development, tentatively slated for 2018 to 2022, includes razing the existing Bradley Center and preparing its site for future development. Phase three, which is expected to take place from 2023 to 2027, will consist of mixed-use development including apartments and retail.
