UWM unveils plans for campus complex on County Grounds
University officials say research facility location is ideal
March 3, 2010 | 0 comments
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee officials Tuesday gave a broad overview of plans for its Innovation Park development proposed for the County Grounds.
The university wants to build an engineering and applied sciences campus, but don't expect to see undergraduates roaming the grounds, Chancellor Carlos Santiago said.
Instead, the school will draw graduate students and researchers who want to partner with the businesses in the nearby Milwaukee County Research Park, as well as hospitals, medical college and blood institute on the other side of Watertown Plank Road.
"This is the hub of what I would call the 21st century economy," Santiago said. "What it lacks is a comprehensive research university."
Although there's been talk by some county residents that Wauwatosa is not the ideal location for the campus and that downtown Milwaukee locations considered, Santiago rebuffed those notions.
"This is the only location that makes sense," he said.
An architect for the project talked about incorporating as much in the way of sustainable development as possible taking steps such as creating three- or four-story parking structures to keep surface parking at a minimum. The plan also calls for restoring the Eschweiler buildings, adding new residential buildings to the north and putting the campus buildings off Watertown Plank Road.
The project will develop slowly over time, and the first phase will include a research accelerator building, the first UWM research building and the residential zone, said Bruce Block, UWM Real Estate Foundation chairman.
He estimated it would take 200 units of housing to make the project work financially, but he expects a lot of interest from people who come to the area for a few years for school or a research project.
The presentation was given before the Common Council's Committee of the Whole to give aldermen an opportunity to ask questions and provide direction on what kind of information they expect to receive as the approval process progresses.
Alderman Peter Donegan said he wanted a better idea as to the taxable value of the property and a breakdown of what portion of the development is expected to be used for academic, research and residential purposes.
The official approval process begins next week with the Plan Commission addressing the zoning and the Community Development Committee setting a public hearing date.
Next Steps
March 8:
Plan Commission discusses the project at 7 p.m. There will be opportunity for public comment. The commission is a recommending body so no decisive action will be taken.
March 9: The Community Development Committee formally sets a public hearing date at 8 p.m. There is no opportunity for public comment.
April 20: The public hearing is expected to be held before the Common Council at 7:30 p.m.
April 27: The issue returns to the CDC for discussion and recommendation to the council. Public comment is allowed.
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