The city of Oak Creek may rezone a parcel near the corner of South Howell Avenue and West Forest Hill Avenue that could be the new home of Milwaukee-based manufacturer Astronautics Corp. of America.
On Tuesday, members of Oak Creek’s Plan Commission are scheduled to review a request to rezone the parcel at 135 W. Forest Hill Ave. from office/professional to manufacturing uses. A report from city staff states the rezoning is “in anticipation of sale to an undisclosed manufacturing company.”
The property was formerly used by Master Lock, and is one of the locations where Astronautics has looked at for moving its operations, according to sources familiar with the talks.
The existing building on that site crosses the shared property boundary with 195 W. Forest Hill Ave. When the building was originally approved for Northern Computers, the zoning was split between the office and the warehouse portions. Both properties will be sold together.
According to the city report, “disapproval of the rezone would result in a potential loss of sale of the properties, the existing vacant condition of the building to remain, and the continued underutilized condition of the property.”
Astronautics, currently headquartered on North Teutonia Avenue, has long considered moving elsewhere. It has previously looked at moving to locations such as the city of Glendale and the former Pabst brewery complex in Milwaukee.
The Oak Creek Plan Commission meets on Tuesday evening to consider the zoning change proposal.
