Two new projects proposed for Century City. Development has lagged at that business park
Two new projects are in the planning stages for Milwaukee's Century City Business Park − where development has lagged for several years.
Craft Beverage Warehouse LLC is proposing a 50,000-square-foot light industrial building at 3055 W. Hopkins St.. That new building would be just south of its current leased location within Century City.
Also, Northwest Side Community Development Corp. is proposing a 50,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing job training center at 3424 N. 27th St.
Both developers are seeking exclusive rights to negotiate purchases of the city-owned lots − which the Redevelopment Authority board is to review Thursday.
Those exclusive rights to negotiate would give the developers time to refine their plans and assemble financing for the projects. Any land sales would need Common Council approval.
Craft Beverage Warehouse distributes beverage packaging materials.
It's been a tenant in the Century City 1 building, at 3945 N. 31st St., since 2021. The company plans to maintain its presence there while growing in the new building.
Craft Beverage Warehouse was founded by Michael DeGrave and Kyle Stephens in 2020 and has invested more than $8 million in digital can printing equipment since 2022.
“As our business grows, it only makes sense to expand our footprint very near our current facility,” Stephens said, in a statement. “It makes community sense because Milwaukee is where we live, work, and play."
Northwest Side Community Development Corp. is a nonprofit group focusing on economic development in Milwaukee's central city.
It's a finalist for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Recompete Pilot Program and could receive up to $50 million in federal funding.
Part of that grant would be used to develop the Century City facility to provide space for training providers and programs, as well as for early-stage companies and product testing. It would be located along Milwaukee County Transit System’s planned Connect 2 - 27th Street Bus Rapid Transit extension.
“NWSCDC is uniquely capable of executing a sophisticated development strategy that centers on job training for the green economy and racial equity in Milwaukee,” Executive Director Willie Smith said.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson's administration supports both proposals.
“The Century City Business Park offers a tremendous opportunity for business development and job growth,” Johnson said.
Century City was developed at the former A.O. Smith Corp./Tower Automotive Inc. complex.
Mayor Tom Barrett and the Common Council in 2009 approved a $35 million redevelopment plan for Century City, including $9 million in state and federal funds.
That paid for acquiring the property, demolishing several buildings, doing environmental cleanup work, and building new roads, sewers and other public improvements.
Century City has struggled to attract businesses.
The 53,400-square-foot Century City 1, anchored by Good City Brewing LLC's distribution center and office, is the only new building developed so far. Talgo Inc.'s rail car refurbishing operation leases a former Tower Automotive building.
Barrett and the council in 2020 approved a $13.4 million public bailout for the business park. It uses property tax revenue generated by three downtown tax incremental financing districts to help pay down the debt owed by Century City's tax financing district.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee business park sees new proposals after years of inactivity
