Franklin Today

Wyndham Village faces possible foreclosure

The news broke last Friday in the Business Journal, and since then no other local news source picked up the story. I view this as very significant, given the history not only of this project, but others as well since 2008.

It can be said that retail issues in Franklin are due to "global economic collapse". Unfortunately, that's the standard being used throughout the country and nothing is being done to buck the trend. Instead of shrugging shoulders and walking away, let's look for a solution and see if there are other factors leading to Franklin's very real retail problem. Some might disagree, but there really is a retail problem in Franklin. A community doesn't have what our leaders coined "The Big Three" in retail projects in 2007/2008 all end up in the pits. Yet somehow, some way, Franklin pulled it off.

Orchard View's tenant search makes the Business Journal

Last Friday's Business Journal featured an article covering Franklin's Orchard View Shopping Center on 76th & Rawson. The focus of the article was on the center's recruiting of tenants, as well as the center's long-term plans. Included also were several quotes from Franklin resident & developer Jim O'Malley, whose family owns the shopping center and parcel of land directly behind it.

I feel the issue here is the status of the 76th & Rawson intersection itself. There are some, like Mr. O'Malley, who view the intersection as one that can only hold a "neighborhood" shopping environment - the food stores, drug stores, local small businesses, coffee shops, fast food joints, etc. However at the same time there are folks like me who are taking a lot of things into consideration and creating a larger vision than what could be in the minds of some.

Combine all of this and you'll see where I'm coming from:

• 51 acres are up for sale directly SW of the Franklin Centre shopping center (Pick n Save & Office Max development)
• 20 or so acres are for sale on the western side of Loomis Road along Rawson Avenue & Old Loomis Road
• A Hampton Inn & Suites hotel has been proposed directly north of the Citgo
• The Mayor and Mr. O'Malley have discussed a revitalization of Crystal Ridge Ski Hill several times over the recent years
• O'Malley owns 15 acres directly east of Orchard View
• approx. 8 acres are up for sale in front of those 15 acres, along Rawson Avenue
• The 5 Star Coffee/Ka building needs tenants
• Upscale, high end tenants were considering locations within the Fountains of Franklin shopping center before the Foxes decided not to sell their property, and the City of Franklin decided not to enforce their ordinances, thus killing that project.

If higher end tenants, the Ann Taylors, Coldwater Creeks, Jos. A. Banks, Jareds, etc. were interested in a site 20 blocks to the east, across from a quarry, with only one true major road access (Rawson) - how does a site 20 blocks west, in what many label as a "downtown", with three major roads accessible (76th, Loomis, Rawson), and just south of a major shopping center (Southridge) appeal to them? I'd argue very good, since these retailers wouldn't focus on Southridge due to its demographics and a lack of motivation from the mall's owners to change the ship's course. Furthermore, there are many retailers and restaurants who still need to build a location south of I-94.

(Again, another if here) If those who hold the keys and power want to develop 76th & Rawson into a true central business district, this is the time. I think folks like O'Malley are almost forced into considering what the intersection will be, now and in the future. Will it just be a place with drug stores and grocers and banks and what not, or will it take on a form where it becomes a true and vibrant downtown, serving a community, a region, rather than a couple of neighborhoods.

With the amount of acreage up for sale, and the amount of space up for lease at Orchard View, the time is NOW to plan and move forward with one of those two options. Personally, I'd like to see 76th & Rawson become its full potential:

• Crystal Ridge anchoring some recreational activites
• The 20 or so acres on the western side of Loomis holding offices
• The 51 acres next to the Franklin Centre strip mall becoming a mixed use residential, office, and retail mix
• The Hampton Inn being built behind the Citgo
• The 5 Star/Ka building becoming a singular coffee shop or restaurant
• Orchard View, the 15 acres behind it, and the 8 acres along Rawson joining forces and becoming another mixed use residential, retail, and office center

The City of Franklin & the Franklin Public School District would be oozing with new revenue streams with that vision. Couple it with what nearly 270 residents would like to see happen at the Milwaukee County Sports Complex, and Franklin becomes a hub of activity and growth, and I'd be willing to bet that taxes for residents will stabilize, if not drop slightly. This is something that the Economic Development Commission should discuss - but hey, they cannot even make quorums these days!

This is what investing in a community does, and again - why this needs to occur NOW.

Oak Creek steamrolls ahead while Franklin stalls

You'd think an economic recession never existed if you're in Oak Creek. Despite the economy, our neighbor to the east continues to move ahead. Just today, the Journal Sentinel wrote that the city approved $2 million to assist Bucyrus International in their takeover of the former Midwest Airlines HQ buildings, and is now considering a TIF District along the lakefront to spur additional growth there over the next 10-20 years.

Does anyone think 27th Street is on their radar these days?

In the meantime, Franklin continues to stall in efforts to attract businesses to just fill-in our existing vacant properties. You see, while Oak Creek is adding more sites, Franklin can't fill-in its current sites. That speaks volumes. Franklin needs leadership now, not later, to address this situation.

Oak Creek is doing the smart thing by planning now and getting their ducks in a row before the economy begins to grow once more. When it does, they'll be more than ready to take on any major project that comes before them. In Franklin's case, it'll likely become another situation similar to what happened during the last boom in the 2000s, where we kept hearing about how our Planning Department was overworked to the gills. Several of our Planners left during this period as well, leaving for greener pastures and less stress. That's what happens when everything gets dumped on your lap and there truly is no plan that's being followed.

Franklin leaders need to wake up and smell the coffee now. Fun and games are overwith. Our neighbors have been and continue to stake their claim as a regional destination for business in southern Milwaukee County. That should be Franklin's beck and call, considering that our community is more centralized in the region than Oak Creek. What will it take for our leaders to be motivated to take a proactive look at marketing and promoting the City of Franklin? Let the debate begin.

Sustainable projects in Franklin? Why not?

John Michlig put up a video on his blog this morning showcasing Retrofitting Suburbia author Ellen Dunham-Jones talking about recreating suburbia. Franklin has plenty of areas where the ideas and discussions by Dunham-Jones could be put into action, and transform Franklin's vital commercial areas and increase our tax base significantly, lowering taxes on residential properties. See the video below:

Yesterday was the first meeting of the MAHDPRC

I was in attendance last night for the Mayoral Ad-Hoc Development Process Review Committee meeting, which lasted 2 hours on the dot (thank goodness for Plan Commission meetings at 7pm!). The first meeting covered several issues, but was dominated by the concerns of hometown developer Mark Carstensen. Carstensen's frustration about the development process in Franklin led up to a point where he mentioned that our community is referred to, at times, the "People's Republic of Franklin" due to our complications and strictness.

An update on the Fountains

The Journal Sentinel late Friday evening provided a more in-depth article on what is happening with the Fountains of Franklin parcel, which is now being hit with a foreclosure suit.

Fountains of Franklin troubles create a quick history lesson

John Michlig, who is a community writer for over three years and is on the Economic Development Commission, gave all of us a quick history lesson with many, many links to the past relative to the Fountains of Franklin project.

Fountains of Franklin faces foreclosure suit

News broke early this morning that the parcel that long promoted the site for the future Fountains of Franklin development is now under a foreclosure lawsuit from M&I Bank. You may recall that this site was proposed for upscale retail and dining several years ago, and the label of the Fountains extended all the way east to Andy's back in 2007.

Common Council President calls for new committee on handling of developments

Tomorrow night's agenda includes the following letter from Common Council President (CCP) Steve Taylor, who represents the 4th Aldermanic District:

More landscaping on Rawson?

Hey - perhaps this is good news for Franklin residents! On the council agenda for Tuesday night is Item G.3, which relates to an agreement with Milwaukee County to have the Rawson Avenue median completely landscaped from 51st to just past the area where 60th Street would be located. This was an effort between the City of Franklin, Milwaukee County, and the developers of the Fountains of Franklin master plan to enhance the corridor and make it more attractive for businesses.