Downtown Milwaukee is on a roll.
More than 2,200 housing units are under construction or completed since the start of 2016, and today nearly 26,000 people live in Downtown – more than Shorewood and Whitefish Bay combined. The current office space vacancy rate in Downtown is only 17 percent, compared to 21 percent in 2012. And, here’s the big stat: since 2005 more than $3 billion has been invested in Downtown projects. On a roll, indeed.
Yet, there are still opportunities and eye sores. For me, these four spaces have been vacant for too long. I see them all nearly every day. It bugs me. So, let’s fill them, or at least all chime in and help the owners or leasing agents find the right new tenant.
The old Blackthorn space
750 N. Jefferson St.
This is a great corner, just across the street The Pfister Hotel. Blackthorn closed in 2013, and while many restaurateurs have looked at the space, it's still sitting vacant.
747 N. Broadway
It’s been almost 10 years since Moceans closed, and sadly the space below the well-disguised parking structure still sits vacant at 747 N. Broadway.
250 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Does anyone remember Le Peep? Old school. The breakfast only place on East Wisconsin Avenue closed in 2004. This prime East Town spot needs a tenant, badly.
The North east corner of Water and Wisconsin
The Associated Bank branch at the corner of Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee closed Aug. 21, 2014. It's perfect for a CVS or Walgreen's. Either would be a welcome addition to East Town.
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.
