One week after it voted to delay its decision on a 181-unit Park East corridor development, because of a labor dispute with one of the developers, the Milwaukee County Board’s Committee on Economic and Community Development Tuesday voted to approve the project. The project still needs approval of the full County Board.
The project, called Park East Square, is planned for a block bounded by Milwaukee, Jefferson and Lyon streets and Ogden Avenue. It has been delayed for years because Oak Park, Ill.-based RSC & Associates has been unable to obtain financing.
RSC added Wauwatosa-based Wangard Partners as a partner for the project. However, members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) objected because Wangard replaced a unionized janitorial firm with a non-union firm to handle cleaning services at the 875 East office building at 875 E. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee.
The committee voted last week to delay its decision on the Park East Square project until July. But later the committee scheduled a vote for Tuesday, and then voted to approve the project.
“This project…will jump start development in the former Park East corridor and create hundreds of jobs,” said Supervisor Michael Mayo Jr. “The County Board is working with a number of partners to create jobs, provide business opportunities and encourage development in the former Park East corridor and all across Milwaukee County. Today was a positive step forward, and I’m excited that we are making real progress to reach these goals.”
All developments on Park East land sold by the county, including the Park East Square site, are subject to the Park East Redevelopment Compact (PERC), which requires developers to pay union wages for the construction projects and to provide other community benefits. Critics of the PERC say it has contributed to the lack of development in the Park East corridor.
“I am pleased that the developers are willing to sit down with the SEIU to resolve any remaining issues,” Mayo said.
