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.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
