Nine days after filing a lawsuit to stop a proposed hotel development in downtown Milwaukee, commercial real estate developer Irgens has dropped the suit and the Westin Hotel is expected to break ground in early February.
Two firms associated with Irgens, 833 Development Partners LLC and 833 Buena Vista Tierra Investors LLC, filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Friday to drop the lawsuit filed Jan. 20 against U.S. Bank and JSWD Wisconsin Venture I LLC.
The decision was a result of positive meetings between representatives of all parties involved, said Nancy Hernandez spokesperson for JSWD.
“Nothing has been changed to the hotel project, but now everyone understands how these properties can live together and create a great amenity for downtown Milwaukee,” Hernandez said. “Construction is imminent, and opening is planned for late spring of 2017.”
JSWD is planning a 220-room Westin hotel at 550 N. Van Buren St., immediately west of the 17-story 833 East building that Irgens will open March 1.
Irgens alleged in its lawsuit that the 10-story hotel would obstruct views and negatively impact Irgens’ ability to lease space at 833 East.
When the lawsuit was filed, Irgens chief executive officer/manager Mark Irgens said he was doing so as a last resort because hotel and bank representatives were refusing to meet.
“After finally having the opportunity to review in-depth plans for the proposed Westin Hotel, the 833 East development team believes the project will integrate well within the U.S. Bank complex, and has rescinded the lawsuit,” an Irgens spokesman said. “As the Reciprocal Easement Agreement that 833 East has with U.S. Bank and the future hotel allows, we will continue to work to address construction means and methods of the hotel and their impact on surrounding properties.”
