Hospital, condos get the green light to build
Waukesha Freeman, June 15, 2006
By KOLLIN KOSMICKI
Freeman Staff
kkosmicki@conleynet.com
WAUKESHA The Waukesha Plan Commission approved final plans for
two high-profile developments Wednesday, a 62-bed, acutecare
hospital off Interstate 94 and a scaled-back condominium project
along the Fox River near downtown.
Both decisions are final steps in the plan commissions review of
the projects, and neither set of blueprints needs further
consideration from the Waukesha Common Council.
LifeCare Hospitals 68,000-square-foot facility on Golf Road
neighboring the GE Healthcare complex still depends on whether the
city creates a new tax incremental financing district to fund
repairs to water pumping equipment. It is necessary to allow for the
added water capacity.
The joint review board, comprised of representatives from area
taxing authorities, is set to make a final decision on the TIF
district at a meeting June 30 if the common council first approves
it Tuesday.
If approved, it would be the citys 15th TIF district, which are
intended to spur economic development.
By forming the district for the hospital, tax revenues above
those charged at the current land value would go toward the water
capacity improvements until they are finished, set to cost a total
of $450,000.
Once built, the estimated $18 million value of the building will
be taxable because LifeCare designated it as a for-profit business.
The cost of this is not going to be passed on to the water
utility or the taxpayer of the city, said Alderwoman Joan Francoeur,
a plan commissioner.
The TIF district would close in about three years, officials
estimate. Most TIF districts take 12 to 15 years before closing,
said Community Development Director Steve Crandell.
The hospital would employ 70 professional workers and another 90
employees, Crandell said.
While the hospital project has been on a fast track of sorts
the Texas company first proposed it in January the condo proposal
from Milwaukee-based Ogden Development Group has taken a longer,
more contentious route to approval.
First proposed as 108 condominiums, the project was tabled for
more than two years as the developer and city planners clashed on
density and other issues such as setbacks from the river, parking,
street access and garage styles.
The proposal accepted Wednesday is for 41 condo units.
The development is planned for an area along St. Paul Avenue
between Madison Street and Wisconsin Avenue.
It will be the first major development to test the potential for
a riverfront condo market near downtown.
Some city officials believe the growth of owner-occupied housing
in the area will help spur increased economic development downtown.
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