The City of Wauwatosa is focusing a lot of attention on the Milwaukee County Research Park in 2026.
The mixed-use business zone is more than 30 years old and in need of a revamp. Its 134 acres are mostly bordered by Interstate 41 and Mayfair Road on the east and west and by Watertown Plank Road and Wisconsin Avenue on the north and south.
The city is partnering with Irgens, one of the Research Park’s largest property owners, https://irgens.com/properties/milwaukee-county-research-park/ on developing a new master plan for the area and now is taking comment from the public. https://engage.wauwatosa.net/research-park
At the same time, the Wauwatosa Common Council has approved the creation of a new tax incremental financing district, also known as a TIF district or TID, to provide developer incentives and pay for infrastructure upgrades over the next 20 years. Under the TID plan, the city would spend up to $34.2 million on projects in and near the district, including up to $25.8 million for developer incentives. The benefit to the city, according to the plan, is that those projects are estimated to increase the city’s tax base by more than $100 million, compared to the value if the city did nothing to spur redevelopment.
The first major project in that new district on the west side of the Research Park is the conversion of the former Sonesta hotel into an apartment building with 146 units. In November, the council voted in favor of a term sheet for an agreement with the developer to provide $1.85 million in city incentives to make that redevelopment happen.
To pay for the city’s incentive and other future costs, the council voted Jan. 27 to create what will be known as TID 16. City costs incurred through TIF districts generally do not result in any burden to taxpayers, as long as the new revenues generated over the life of the TIF are enough to pay down the loan, as has been typical in Wauwatosa’s TIF districts.
The full council vote followed a recommendation by the Financial Affairs Committee, which discussed the TID 16 proposal at length at its Jan. 20 meeting. Video of that discussion can be found here, starting at about the 42 minute mark.
The TID 16 plan, prepared for the city by the company Ehlers, estimates that the city will recoup its investment within 19 years, after which the increased property value within the district will be added to the citywide assessment roll. The plan drafted by Ehlers can be viewed here.
The city’s most recent summary of all its existing TIF districts can be accessed here.
Separately, Irgens has said it plans to break ground later this year on a multifamily housing project valued at $50 million in the Research Park. The 204 market-rate apartments would be located at the corner of Mayfair and Wisconsin.
The city also envisions redesigning the roads, open space and other infrastructure in the Research Park to create unique public amenity spaces such as plazas, parks, and recreational spaces that encourage meaningful human interaction, active lifestyles, and year-round community use,” according to the draft master plan.
The TID 16 plan also outlines some of the upgrades the city is considering, including “creation of safe, attractive, and accessible pedestrian pathways and bike trails that connect buildings, amenities, and surrounding neighborhood” and “the construction of public common areas.”
- David Paulsen, a Tosa East Towne resident and editor of Tosa Forward News, has more than 25 years of experience as a professional journalist. He can be reached at editor@tosanews.com.
