Gov. Tony Evers is seeking $163.6 million for the construction of a new Milwaukee State Office building in his proposed two-year state capital budget.
Evers' capital budget proposal for the next two-year budget cycle calls for an approximately 212,000-square-foot building and 374,000-square-foot, 1,000-stall parking garage.
It is proposed to be built
on the city's Near West Side, southwest of 27th Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
The
2021-2023 capital budget plan was released this morning. It comes shortly after the State Building Commission approved $4 million to acquire and perform pre-construction work on the selected site.
It would replace the existing downtown Milwaukee State Office Building at 819 N. Sixth St. It would also consolidate operations from numerous state agencies and eliminate the need for privately leased office space, according to the budget plan.
Evers' Department of Administration notes the existing building has inadequate parking and is in poor condition.
"A new building would address the growing deferred maintenance, provide more efficient and sustainable building systems, and improve building performance both functionally and physically," according to the budget plan.
The plan further states the new office building would, "serve as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization" by bringing new development and job opportunities to a key commercial corridor and spurring "supporting unprecedented public and private investments in the Near West Side."
The proposed schedule would have the selection of design firms occur in December. Construction would commence in August 2022, with substantial completion expected December 2024 and full completion in February 2025.
Of that $163.6 million, a majority ($130 million) would go toward construction. The remainder would be spent on things like design work, equipment and contingency.
This marks Evers' latest attempt to get the project enumerated, after the Republican-led state Legislature removed the project from the current budget.
His
last budget plan called for $98.5 million toward the project.
