"The Corridor", a $150 million mixed-use development on the former Ruby Farms site gained final approval from the TIF Joint Review Board in April.

 

The Corridor is bounded by Bluemound Road on the north, Calhoun Road on the east, Interstate 94 on the south, and Brookfield Lakes Corporate Center on the west.  Irgens development, which purchased the site in 2013, and has been working with City staff and leadership to develop a comprehensive plan for development of the site.

 

The first phase of development will be about 140,000 square feet of retail along the Bluemound Road portion of the property.  The City Plan Commission recently approved plans for a Dick's Sporting Goods as the first retail tenant in the development.  Irgens is expected to announce additional tenants for the retail space in the near future.

 

The middle portion of the site will be a mixed-use area that will likely include a medical office/clinic use and an adjoining health club.  Irgens is also working with a developer of a potential hotel, and is working with Visit Brookfield and the City to study the potential for a meeting and conference center as part of that development.

 

 

The southern portion of the site, along I-94, is planned for up to three office buildings totaling 500,000 square feet of new Class-A office space.  The buildings are planned to be six stories high, and will feature the latest in energy efficiency, communications technology, shared conference rooms and other building amenities.  Plans for the office area are also flexible to accommodate a user requiring a larger site for a corporate headquarters.

 

Earthwork is expected to start in June.  The City and TIF Joint Review Board approved a $7.5 million TIF Contribution to the project which will allow for construction of sewer, water, storm sewer and streets to open the entire site for development.  Signalized intersections at Golf Parkway and Calhoun Road and at Bluemound Road will be part of the improvements.  Irgens has committed to preserving the historic farm house, potentially for office use, and to moving and preserving the iconic Ruby Farms barn.
 

HSA Commercial Real Estate has received plan approval for renovation and expansion of the former Plaza 173, which will be rebranded as "Calhoun Crossing."  The shopping plaza at the northwest corner of Bluemound Road and Calhoun will be anchored by a new Fresh Thyme Farmers' Market.

Fresh Thyme will feature fresh produce, including organic fruits and vegetables, vitamins and supplements, and other grocery needs in a 31,000 square foot space.  This will be the second Fresh Thyme store to open in the Milwaukee market, with the other store under construction as part of the North End project on Water Street in Downtown Milwaukee.

HSA will be moving Men's Wearhouse to a new 10,000 square foot out-building that will be built in the parking lot near Bluemound Road.  The balance of the center will be expanded and completely re-clad to accommodate Fresh Thyme and other new tenants.  HSA is the same developer who has successfully transformed former warehouses into the Mayfair Collection.

HSA plans to begin work soon, with Fresh Thyme targeted to move in by late summer.