MARKET GROWTH

West Allis preps for neighborhood overhaul

By Rebecca R. Konya

The city of West Allis and Toldt Development Inc., Brookfield, are moving forward with plans to develop the Six Points Farmers Market Neighborhood in the heart of the city. Rendering courtesy of Toldt Development Inc.

Since 2001, the city of West Allis has been buying up taverns, rooming houses, salvage yards and aging industrial properties along Greenfield and National avenues to make way for the Six Points Farmers Market Neighborhood project.

The largest piece of the redevelopment initiative fell into place in mid-June, when the West Allis Community Development Authority selected a $59 million proposal by Toldt Development Inc., Brookfield, to transform a three-block area into residential and commercial space.

Helmut Toldt, president of Toldt Development, said the firm's vision for the 17.2-acre property will integrate well with the surrounding neighborhood.

The development, centered around the historic West Allis Farmers Market, will be completed in phases. Construction on the initial phase — a $20.8 million development located west of South 66th Street between Mitchell and National avenues — is expected to start next spring. It will feature 13 condominiums and 210 housing units, including flats, lofts, townhouses, row houses and live/work units. The first phase also calls for a 15,000-square-foot, year-round "fresh market" to complement the existing farmers market.

"The plan is a traditional neighborhood development with the type of amenities that will create a sense of place," said Steven Schaer, a city planner for West Allis.

The second phase, consisting of 259 housing units and 18,000 square feet of retail space, will commence in spring 2007 and carries a $13.8 million price tag. The final phase, estimated at $24.4 million and scheduled to begin in 2009, is comprised of 144 housing units and 14,000 square feet of commercial space.

"We expect to have the entire project done in five or six years," said Toldt.

Included in the redevelopment area are nine acres currently occupied by Pressed Steel Tank Co., which manufactures high-pressure cylinders. A key component of the Six Points Farmers Market redevelopment area, Pressed Steel reached a voluntary agreement with the city in late 2003 for the city to acquire the property by December 2004.

The Community Development Authority will purchase the Pressed Steel property for $500,000 and will give the company $2.25 million for associated relocation costs.

"As a company, we needed to do something," said Robert Darling, president and owner of Pressed Steel, of the 100-year-old, 260,000-square-foot building. "The facility limits our efficiency and growth."