Community Memorial Hospital's $64 million addition and renovation project includes a new heart center. Voss Jorgensen Schueler Co. Inc., Waukesha, plans to complete the Menomonee Falls project by December. Photo courtesy of Voss Jorgensen Schueler Co. Inc.

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Waukesha county

Region offers a playground for developers

By Kristine Hansen

Waukesha County communities manage to keep their small-town flair while hosting glossy office buildings, snazzy retail plazas and large and spacious homes.

It's obvious the county is growing, and it's doing so despite tough economic times.

"In spite of the recession, the county is overall doing well," said Keith Redding of Irgens Development Partners in Wauwatosa and a board member of the Waukesha County Economic Development Corp. "Certainly, the manufacturing industry has been injured ... but the county has been very strong, and we'll weather these times."

Patti Wallner, president of the Waukesha Area Chamber of Commerce, has no qualms calling her county the state's fastest growing. In fact, she sees new homes popping up daily.

The new nurses station at Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls is just a portion of an addition and renovation project at the facility. Photo courtesy of Voss Jorgensen Schueler Co. Inc.

As in many cities, people are relocating to the suburbs and away from downtown. One example of the migration in New Berlin is the Victorians, a 28-unit apartment development of one-bedroom units with a den, near the intersection of Calhoun Road and National Avenue.

But the growth expands beyond homes as businesses grab land in the county. Westridge, New Berlin's newest business park, is 700 acres and an example of a "highly successful (tax incremental finance district)," said Greg Kessler, director of community development for the city of New Berlin. "The TIF was so successful, the city was able to close out the TIF about seven years ahead of schedule."

The city of Pewaukee has gotten in on the development act with approval of Stone Ridge IV, a business park on Highway J. Construction will begin as soon as a preleasing tenant is found, Redding said.

And Oconomowoc has the Pabst Farms development, which just landed its first commercial tenant in Ace Precision Corp. Hunzinger Construction Co., Brookfield, developed Ace's 90,000-square-foot building, which features 70,000 square feet of manufacturing floor and 20,000 square feet of office space, divided into two stories. The project began in May and is on target for a December completion.

County Demographics 2001 population estimate: 367,065 Population change, April 1, 2000-July 1, 2001: 1.7% Population change, 1990 to 2000: 18.4% People under 5 years old, 2000: 6.4% People under 18 years old, 2000: 26.3% People 65 years old and over, 2000: 12% Females, 2000: 50.8% Whites, 2000: 95.8% Blacks, 2000: 0.7% American Indians and Alaska Natives, 2000: 0.2% Asians, 2000: 1.5% People of Hispanic or Latino origin, 2000: 2.6% High school graduates, age 25+, 2000: 92% Bachelor's degree or higher, age 25+, 2000: 34.1% Housing units, 2000: 140,309 Homeownership rate, 2000: 76.4% Housing units in multi-unit structures, 2000: 23.2% Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2000: $170,400 Households, 2000: 135,229 People per household, 2000: 2.63 Median household money income, 1999: $62,839 Per capita money income, 1999: $29,164 People below poverty, 1999: 2.7% Business Facts Private nonfarm establishments, 1999: 12,461 Private nonfarm employment, 1999: 219,599 Private nonfarm employment, change 1990-1999: 40.2% Manufacturers shipments, 1997 ($1,000s): 9,434,623 Retail sales, 1997 ($1,000s): 4,094,223 Retail sales per capita, 1997: $11,751 Minority-owned firms, 1997: 3.3% Women-owned firms, 1997: 24.3% Geography Facts Land area in 2000 (square miles): 556 People per square mile in 2000: 649.4

"It's certainly exciting what's happening out at Pabst Farms," said Kevin O'Toole, executive vice president at Hunzinger. "It's a wonderful use of that piece of property."

GE Medical in Pewaukee is searching for 150,000 square feet of office space, and Pabst Farms is one option, O'Toole said.

Developments in New Berlin will offer its 40,000 residents a "downtown" feel when the $40 million, mixed-use, 80-acre City Center project is complete. There are also drawings for a $90 million, 48,000-square-foot library; four four-unit, higher-end condos in a row-house design; and a 67-unit senior residential development.

In Menomonee Falls, Voss Jorgensen Schueler Co. Inc., Waukesha, is progressing on a $64 million addition and renovation to the Community Memorial Hospital to be finished by December. It includes a heart center, birthing center, women's health center and new operating and ICO rooms.

VJS is also working on three schools in the New Berlin Public School District: a $2.6 million renovation of Orchard Lane Elementary School; the addition of 25,000 square feet for a gym, stage, classrooms, music room, new flooring and security updates at Poplar Creek Elementary School for $3.2 million; and an $11.5 million renovation of flooring, roofing, mechanical, ADA, electrical and a 16,500-square-foot addition of 10 classrooms at New Berlin West High School.

"Waukesha County is not unlike the rest of the surrounding communities," O'Toole said. "If there's a need and a demand, we start to see construction development."