Real Estate

The median prices of homes sold in Kenosha County and Racine County has increased dramatically this year, according to the latest data from the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

The state's historic preservation tax credit, which under new legislation was increased from 10 percent to 20 percent of eligible expenditures at the beginning of the year, has been so popular with developers this year that state officials have decided to temporarily suspend the program to examine its fiscal impact on the state.

Aggie’s Cakes and Pastries LLC plans to open a bakery at 7326-28 W. Greenfield Ave. in downtown West Allis.

An affiliate of Wangard Partners Inc. recently purchased a 9.4-acre site at 1201/1215 N. 62nd St. in Wauwatosa for $2.265 million from an affiliate of Northbrook, Ill.-based Learsi & Co. Inc., according to state records.

Gardner Denver Inc., which is in the process of moving its corporate headquarters from suburban Philadelphia to Milwaukee, is already considering future expansion plans here, according to Luis de Leon, chief executive officer of the firm’s Industrials Group.

WiRED Properties and Shaffer Development have begun construction of the $19 million Mequon Town Center mixed-use development at the northwest corner of Mequon and Cedarburg roads in Mequon. WiRED and Shaffer announced Thursday that they have closed on a $13.4 million construction loan for the project with BMO Harris Bank.

Menmonee Falls-based Kohl’s Corp. continues to execute a strategy of expanding its corporate headquarters by purchasing existing nearby buildings rather than building new.

Ontario, Calif.-based Niagara Bottling LLC recently purchased a 22.8-acre site in Pleasant Prairie where it plans to build a $56 million, 377,000-square-foot plant.

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. unveiled some new renderings today for its 1.1 million-square-foot, 32-story Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons project at its corporate headquarters in downtown Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Energy Corp. announced this week that it plans to acquire Integrys Energy Group Inc. for $9.1 billion in cash and stock, creating WEC Energy Group Inc., the eighth largest natural gas distributor in the country.