A groundbreaking for the 90,000-square-foot Kenosha Trade and Commerce Park, a four-phase commercial development aimed at contractors and tradespeople, will be held Saturday, July 13.
The 10 a.m. event at 7600 75th St. will kick off a campaign by MLG Commercial, which is brokering space in the project for developer MPM Property Management.
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian, US Rep. Paul Ryan, general contractor Bane Nelson and others are expected to attend the event.
By the date of the event, footings will have already have been poured for the first of three 30,000-square-foot one-story buildings. A fourth phase comprised of a two-story, 9,000-square-foot building, will house an equipment-leasing and construction-supply company. According to the developers and brokers, a yet-to-be-named tenant has already been secured for the building.
According to MLG Commercial’s Tony Bareta and Curt Pitzen, leasing activity and interest in the project should pick up as construction becomes more visible on the site.
"For the first phase, we would like to see companies that have some showroom activity – tile, carpet, whatever," Bareta said. "That 30,000 breaks down into about 2,400-square-foot units."
"I think this is going to be a successful project," Pitzen said. "There is already a group expressing interest in Phase II. One of our efforts has been to hit the northern Illinois area; and that prospect for Phase II is from Illinois."
The fact that the development is located on Highway 50 adjacent to a Menard’s retail location will make the site attractive to retailers allied with the building trades, the two brokers said.
"This would work for residential or commercial contractors," Pitzen said. "For the first 30,000 square feet, we are looking for carpet guys, a cabinet guy, a tile store."
Subsequent phases could target diverse construction phases, according to the developer.
"For Phase II and Phase III, we are looking for the small to medium-sized contractor," MPM project manager Jeff Reget said. "We would like to draw people from both within the county and outside of the county. Ultimately, our goal would be to have one electrical contractor, one plumbing contractor, one drywall contractor – to really make it a one-stop shop."
July 5, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
