​Council To Consider Wauwatosa Mixed-Use Development Amendment

WAUWATOSA, WI—The Wauwatosa Common Council will consider a proposed mixed-use development amendment affecting two buildings at 9480 Watertown Plank Road at its meeting Tuesday.

The UWM Innovation Campus is a mixed-use development located on 89 acres in the city of Wauwatosa’s Life Sciences District.

The developer cited construction industry effects from the pandemic as the reason for the proposed change, online city documents said.

The developer, Irgens, requested an amendment to its Phase 1 development, which includes two buildings.

The proposed amendment modifies one of the buildings by adding garden-level office space instead of a full level of underground parking, according to online city documents.

The proposed change would increase the floor space to 70,000 square feet, with 91 parking spaces (22 underground and 69 surface spots).

Previously, the building was 53,000 square feet with 136 spaces (67 underground and 69 surface spots).

The garden level adds a third floor.

To offset the changes to the first building, the second building remains a six-story building but is reduced to 178,000 square feet, with 269 parking spaces (88 underground and 181 surface spots), the documents said.

Previously, the second building was 197,000 square feet with 220 spaces (101 underground and 119 surface spots).

The Community Affairs Committee recommended approval 6-2 on Oct. 12. During public comment, several people voiced concerns about the bird habitat and not having bird friendly glass, the documents said.

Approval was based on 15 conditions such as providing detailed building costs, construction costs, and income and expenses. The buildings need to be designed with environmental sensitivity principles, the documents said.

The proposal will go back to the Community Affairs Committee for reconsideration.