Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Friday, Dec. 11, 2009
Today
Hi: 24
Lo: 15
Sat
Hi: 32
Lo: 28
Sun
Hi: 37
Lo: 29
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
Related Twitter Posts

  • brandileigha:
    "Would you ladies like a Pabst or an avocado?"

  • MintzHoke:
    Was the Pabst Blue Ribbon beers in Gran Torino - script written in and or product placement? I think it was part of the story. Thoughts?

  • RGreenberg:
    @JULIANBRAY Whats PBR? Here, its either a cheap beer (Pabst Blue Ribbon) or Prof Bull Riders

  • AndrewWeiland:
    Went to the new gift shop at the former Pabst brewery today. If you are a Milwaukee or beer history buff you may want to check it out...

  • db:
    @holaphil Nobody had a Pabst Blue or bowled from #BoxeeBeta at @brooklynbowl so I had to peg a shot of their amazing mac n cheese. :)


Follow us on Twitter ...
In Politics
Bauman still backs development of Pabst site
 
By Jeff Sherman RSS Feed Twitter Feed
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Jeff Sherman

Published Nov. 30, 2005 at 5:30 a.m.
Tags: pabst, pabstcity, alderman bauman, zilber, towne, riverside, mo's

First-term Downtown Alderman Bob Bauman was a strong supporter of converting the former Pabst Brewery complex into PabstCity. He likely agreed when Mayor Tom Barrett declared it, "mind boggling" that the Common Council rejected the PabstCity plan.

Now another developer, 88 year-old Joseph Zilber, chairman of Zilber Ltd. (Towne Investments in downtown Milwaukee is a Zilber Ltd. affiliate.), wants control of the 21 acres and has an option to purchase it from WisPARK, the development subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Corp.

With PabstCity dead and Zilber on the scene, Bauman is again leading the charge. He took some to to talk about it with OnMilwaukee.

OMC: How confident are you in the new Pabst plan and how much is the city willing to invest to make it happen?

BB:Very confident. Regarding the level of financing, it is hard to say since we have no details in terms of parking structures and historic preservation, which would drive TIF levels. Clearly the infrastructure component would be funded and that would be in the $16 million range. If the same or a greater number of buildings are preserved we are back to $39 million. However, historic tax credits, if pursued, could offset that number. Thus, too may variable at this time to say how much the city is willing to invest beyond the $16 million level.

OMC: The old PabstCity plan made the area a real destination, this plan omits the biggest selling point, the House of Blues. How can it work?

BB: I think a neighborhood concept with a major focus on residential could work if "work" is defined as generating the tax increment necessary to repay the public financing. I think the residential concept would entail less risk to taxpayers than the entertainment concept.

OMC: Towne Realty leases to two of major forces that helped kill the old plan -- Mo's and the Riverside/Pabst Theater. How can they be trusted to do what's best for Milwaukee?

BB: While there are no guarantees, this is a legacy project for Joe Zilber. As such I have a high degree of trust because he is putting his reputation on the line.

OMC: What do you think is the best use of the Pabst land? What's your perfect plan?

BB: I always supported a residential focused plan with supporting entertainment, commercial and restaurant businesses. WisPARK was reluctant to go this route. We had a lot of discussions about this.

OMC: How will rail and/or new transportation be incorporated into the plan?

BB: Hard to say. The problem is bigger in terms of this community's historic opposition to light rail generally. However, times have changed so I think it is time to have this debate again. I would support a branch line linking the Pabst site to my Canal Street Connector proposal. This branch line would be about 3/4 of mile in length.

79 comments about this article.
Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by OMCreader on Dec. 18, 2005 at 2:22 p.m. (report)

jim davis said: The man is snowing us. 39 mil to develope 21 acres is a low ball figure. With light rail you'd be lucky to develope 12 acres for 2 billion. Concept: If Green Bay can own a NFL football team why cant Milwaukee own a brewry?

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by OMCreader on Dec. 10, 2005 at 1:18 p.m. (report)

Kendall said: I still think people don't understand that downtown Milwaukee needs a shopping district. Even if it was just on Wiscon sin Avenue to begin with, it would be nice to have these national retailers (K. Cole, Bebe, H&M) right on WI Ave., so tourists had easy access to these shops when they're visiting. I'm not saying don't develop Pabst City, I'm saying don't put all our eggs in one basket (i.e. Mayfair and soon to be Bayshore) and forget about a highly visible part of town: DOWNTOWN!

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by OMCreader on Dec. 10, 2005 at 11:27 a.m. (report)

Cozen Beguile said: Gert-NO, I'm not realdeal! Realdeal had some good facts. He shows hope that the 25 national chains (15 local) will be back for PC. That is not going to happen soon enough! They have moved on, but not for good. Many have plans to try again AFTER the next election. Several went to Bayshore, Madison, Appleton, Walkersha and Oshkosh. Now that is what you call growing Milwaukee, eh'? S&M, I didn't forget about your last paragraph to me! I'll get back to you soon. I'm just real busy meeting clients and helping my wife with charities for the holidays. I have to get a lot done, before I head to work down South for the winter. PEACE!

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by OMCreader on Dec. 9, 2005 at 10:14 p.m. (report)

Gert said: So.... now Cozen is "realdeal?"

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5


Posted by OMCreader on Dec. 9, 2005 at 6:12 p.m. (report)

Realdeal said: On the Shops of Grand Ave. It went down hill for two reasons. Many of the good stores had exclusive market area leases. Meaning Banana Republic could only have only store in a radius area for I think 5 or 8 years. Others had this too. Retail (national, at least) comes in clusters and if you can't lure 3-5 together, deals don't get down. Once the exclusives went away, Grand tanked. Now, it's coming back. New owner have potential and good demos to back better stores. As for Pabst City, Milwaukee rejected an outside developer with vision for condos, apt. and entertainment. It had 25 national tenants in place and Milwaukee said no. We like "our" developers to get the money here and hopefully the Zilber group can simply rework the old plan, add a few more residential units and make Pabst City rock with great nationals like Kenneth Cole, Bebe, etc.

Rate this:
  • Average rating: 0.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5




Show me the other 74 Talkbacks


OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | britneysnation.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | FanaticPhotog.com | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnDoorCounty.org | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLakeCountry.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnMilwaukee.com's Bartender Olympics | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | Wisconsincustomhomenews.com | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest