MU purchases building

[Warrior of Law]

http://www.jsonline.com/newswatch/300655421.html

between 6th and 7th on Clybourn in the parking lot of the Ramada.  Not on the footprint of the proposed research facility.  No formal announcement made or any public statement.  Seems like an odd purchase.

[warriorchick]

It's no secret that Marquette's intent is to buy any property adjacent to campus if/when it becomes available.

[MUfan12]

Herzing moved their staff out a couple of weeks ago. MU is trying to get the Ramada as well, but that's been a tougher sale.

[🏀]

Herzing moved their staff out a couple of weeks ago. MU is trying to get the Ramada as well, but that's been a tougher sale.

Yep, it'll be University Housing within 5 years. MU has a huge new footprint east of 43.

[chapman]

Let's expand to the lake!  #manifestdestiny

[MU111]

Herzing moved their staff out a couple of weeks ago. MU is trying to get the Ramada as well, but that's been a tougher sale.

I didn't realize they were going after the Ramada also.  Hopefully they get it.  That building/property is an eyesore.

[Warrior of Law]

Herzing moved their staff out a couple of weeks ago. MU is trying to get the Ramada as well, but that's been a tougher sale.

I would think, without ever having stepped foot in the Ramada, that having another hotel within walking distance of the campus would be a mutually beneficial for MU and the hotel (parents visits, etc.) particularly for those visitors who don't want to spend too much.

[🏀]

I would think, without ever having stepped foot in the Ramada, that having another hotel within walking distance of the campus would be a mutually beneficial for MU and the hotel (parents visits, etc.) particularly for those visitors who don't want to spend too much.

That Ramada was actually more expensive than the Hilton.

[jficke13]

It is a thoroughly adequate hotel. Nothing special. Nothing terrible. From the outside it suffers from having been built during an era of remarkably uninspired architecture. I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say "eyesore," but I'd say it brings no positive value to the area visually.

[Coleman]

Ramada is a dump.

I've stayed there. Its terrible. It should be burned down.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ramada-milwaukee-downtown-milwaukee

[Coleman]

That Ramada was actually more expensive than the Hilton.

That's never been my experience, and I have stayed in the Hilton many times for basketball game weekends.

I usually try to stay in the Hilton or Intercontinental when in Milwaukee.

There are actually plenty of budget options close to MU...Ambassador, Double Tree next to the Hilton, the new Hampton Inn on Wisconsin Ave., Best Western on 3rd St.

There is no need for Ramada. MU should buy it and ceremoniously burn it down.

[jsglow]

I would think, without ever having stepped foot in the Ramada, that having another hotel within walking distance of the campus would be a mutually beneficial for MU and the hotel (parents visits, etc.) particularly for those visitors who don't want to spend too much.

If Marquette gets it (and I hadn't heard about today's acquisition or the targeting of Ramada beforehand), I'm confident in saying that it won't stay a hotel.  There's definitely a push east.  What I'd say is that the administration may have extended the perimeter of the 'outbid anyone' policy.  I'm confident everyone here understands that initiative has been in place for many years in what was considered the core campus area.

[Coleman]

If Marquette gets it (and I hadn't heard about today's acquisition or the targeting of Ramada beforehand), I'm confident in saying that it won't stay a hotel.  There's definitely a push east.  What I'd say is that the administration may have extended the perimeter of the 'outbid anyone' policy.  I'm confident everyone here understands that initiative has been in place for many years in what was considered the core campus area.

I do wish MU would expand west. If only to create more of a buffer for students who live around 20th street.

[🏀]

That's never been my experience, and I have stayed in the Hilton many times for basketball game weekends.

I usually try to stay in the Hilton or Intercontinental when in Milwaukee.

There are actually plenty of budget options close to MU...Ambassador, Double Tree next to the Hilton, the new Hampton Inn on Wisconsin Ave., Best Western on 3rd St.

There is no need for Ramada. MU should buy it and ceremoniously burn it down.

I agree, but I can always get the Hilton for $50.

Intercontinental needs some work too.

[Benny B]

If Marquette gets it (and I hadn't heard about today's acquisition or the targeting of Ramada beforehand), I'm confident in saying that it won't stay a hotel.  There's definitely a push east.  What I'd say is that the administration may have extended the perimeter of the 'outbid anyone' policy.  I'm confident everyone here understands that initiative has been in place for many years in what was considered the core campus area.

Agreed... MU isn't in the hotel business.  Not unless they want to give Cornell's program a run for its money, this building is on the block for either conversion to student housing or

[jsglow]

I do wish MU would expand west. If only to create more of a buffer for students who live around 20th street.

1) East involves larger commercial parcels.  One must strike when the iron is hot but before prices get too inflated.

2) Let's see where the Avenues West redevelopment initiative takes us over the next couple years.  That boundary is I-43 on the east. So what's being done or contemplated today is outside that group effort area.

[Coleman]

I agree, but I can always get the Hilton for $50.

Intercontinental needs some work too.

Do you work for Hilton? How in the world do you get that rate? I usually get it at about $100 a night which I consider a good value for the quality of hotel.

[warriorchick]

Do you work for Hilton? How in the world do you get that rate? I usually get it at about $100 a night which I consider a good value for the quality of hotel.

It's on Hotwire all the time.

[Coleman]

It's on Hotwire all the time.

Ah, then I don't get my HHonors Points 

[Skatastrophy]

I made a thing. Blue for what Marquette owns (I know that the map is cropped too small, sue me). Red is what we're trying to buy from Ramada.

edit: this was all wrong so I took it off the internet.

[MUfan12]

I don't think MU owns, or is going after the Assurant Health building.

[Skatastrophy]

I don't think MU owns, or is going after the Assurant Health building.

You were right, my bad. I don't have time to fix it now so I just removed the picture.

[tower912]

Ramada is a dump.

I've stayed there. Its terrible. It should be burned down.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ramada-milwaukee-downtown-milwaukee

I know some guys.   

[reinko]

Used stay a lot at  the Days Inn on 6th,  still a solid choice?  Free shuttle,  free parking.  $75 rooms...

[77ncaachamps]

Let's expand to the lake!  #manifestdestiny

Then you're going the wrong way!

[4everwarriors]

Finally, we get a site for the Crean Soccer Complex, ai na?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Ah, then I don't get my HHonors Points 

It all about the points.

[MU111]

You were right, my bad. I don't have time to fix it now so I just removed the picture.

No worries.  I got your back.

[Benny B]

It all about the points.

When I can Shatner a room for $50/night at the Hilton or Pfister on my personal account, I couldn't care less about points.  On the expense account, completely different story.

[Coleman]

No worries.  I got your back.

This technically isn't correct either as I don't think MU has purchased Butch's steakhouse at the southwest corner of Michigan and James Lovell.

[MUfan12]

This technically isn't correct either as I don't think MU has purchased Butch's steakhouse at the southwest corner of Michigan and James Lovell.

Yes, they have. Butch's closed last month.

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2015/04/07/marquette-university-buys-former-butchs-steakhouse.html

[Coleman]

Yes, they have. Butch's closed last month.

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2015/04/07/marquette-university-buys-former-butchs-steakhouse.html

I stand corrected.

[🏀]

Yeah, Hotwire or Priceline. I've never paid more than $65 before taxes. Usually $50-55 gets the Hilton or Hyatt unless Milwaukee is busy.

[GOO]

#manifestdestiny.  Love it.  Haven't heard that term since MU.

Anyway, can we buy and shut down the Badger Bus Depot.  I'd donate for that

[Dr. Blackheart]

When I can Shatner a room for $50/night at the Hilton or Pfister on my personal account, I couldn't care less about points.  On the expense account, completely different story.

Benny...you are slipping.  No reason not to Shatner while grabbing the points.  Gotta stop working for the man.

[MUeng]

#manifestdestiny.  Love it.  Haven't heard that term since MU.

Anyway, can we buy and shut down the Badger Bus Depot.  I'd donate for that

what's wrong with the badger bus?  I used that thing all the time back in the day...

[jsglow]

You locals can help me out.  What's between St. James church and the back of the Doubletree (old Hojos) on the south side of Wisconsin?  I see Badger bus listed there but give me a feel for it.  I seem to remember a meaningful office building on the south side of WI at 9th street.

[Litehouse]

what's wrong with the badger bus?  I used that thing all the time back in the day...

Just change the name to the Warrior Wagon.

[mu-rara]

You locals can help me out.  What's between St. James church and the back of the Doubletree (old Hojos) on the south side of Wisconsin?  I see Badger bus listed there but give me a feel for it.  I seem to remember a meaningful office building on the south side of WI at 9th street.

Back in our day, I believe it was Continental Bank.  Now it's Wells Fargo?

[Coleman]

Back in our day, I believe it was Continental Bank.  Now it's Wells Fargo?

Yeah I think its like a 10 or 12 story Wells Fargo building

There is also a public elementary school on that block, towards the highway

[chapman]

It all about the points.

And the two bottles of water they give you at check-in 

[Benny B]

Benny...you are slipping.  No reason not to Shatner while grabbing the points.  Gotta stop working for the man.

Sure... when Shatner puts me at the Hilton or Hyatt, I have still slipped in my # into the reservation and hoped for something, but if I end up at the Pfister, obviously, they're not giving me Hyatt or Hilton points.  If the cash is coming out of my pocket, I'm not paying retail just to get the equivalent of a couple dollars in points.

The man pays well.  Much better than I do.

[jsglow]

It would be great if MU could get both remaining blocks on Wisconsin between Straz and James Lovell with the exception of the churches through there.  They'd then have enough critical mass east of I-43 to do something pretty significant actually creating some additional campus space.  I do know that for now they are really excited about the freeway frontage currently being assembled on Michigan.

[GGGG]

I think Marquette should purchase land on every corner of the interchange to ensure that it always retains the Marquette name.

[MU111]

It would be great if MU could get both remaining blocks on Wisconsin between Straz and James Lovell with the exception of the churches through there.  They'd then have enough critical mass east of I-43 to do something pretty significant actually creating some additional campus space.  I do know that for now they are really excited about the freeway frontage currently being assembled on Michigan.

Agreed.  St. James Episcopal Church has been for sale since the fall and I'm a little surprised Marquette hasn't proposed purchasing it.  The only other things on that block are the St. James Court apartments, an AT&T data center, New School for Community Service (MPS), and a bunch of surface parking.  That block would be the least cost-prohibitive in terms of property acquisition.

http://www.biztimes.com/article/20141015/ENEWSLETTERS06/141019902/-1/realestate5

[GGGG]

Agreed.  St. James Episcopal Church has been for sale since the fall and I'm a little surprised Marquette hasn't proposed purchasing it. 

$695,000 seems like a real small price for that site.

[MU111]

I just reread the article and realized that the church is on the National Register, so that probably explains for the lack of interest.

[Coleman]

National Register designation does not mean MU would have to maintain the building as-is, although it does make it a little bit more difficult. At the end of the day, they could tear it down, but would have to make a significant case for doing so. It is nowhere near as difficult as Historic Landmark designation, which means you really can't touch it. National Register is pretty easy to get around, if you really want to.

They could buy the building and use it as another campus chapel for students in Straz and others who live east of I-43, but I doubt this happens as Gesu really isn't that far away. They could also lease it to the St. James congregation in this scenario, while using it for MU activities the other 164 hours a week.

More likely, they could gut the interior, make it a space for different uses (lecture hall, classroom, theater/activity space, etc.), leave the external facade, and the building could maintain its historic designation. They could probably tear down and rebuild on the rest of the property (parking lot, parish hall, kitchen, etc.) with ease, as my guess it is just the sanctuary that has the historic designation.

While that may not seem like a great investment, it really depends on how much MU wants to have a unified campus east of I-43, or if would rather just have a random smattering of properties.

I think they should buy it.

[Litehouse]

I'm surprised they aren't buying it either, but I guess it's not my money.  I'd think eventually getting the school from MPS wouldn't be that hard.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Agreed.  St. James Episcopal Church has been for sale since the fall and I'm a little surprised Marquette hasn't proposed purchasing it.  The only other things on that block are the St. James Court apartments, an AT&T data center, New School for Community Service (MPS), and a bunch of surface parking.  That block would be the least cost-prohibitive in terms of property acquisition.

http://www.biztimes.com/article/20141015/ENEWSLETTERS06/141019902/-1/realestate5

They have turned old churches around here into upscale apartments.  The outside of the church was kept intact and elements inside the church were turned into focus points inside the apartments.  (i.e.  a window might become a build-in scenic overlook in one apartment.)

[swoopem]

They have turned old churches around here into upscale apartments.  The outside of the church was kept intact and elements inside the church were turned into focus points inside the apartments.  (i.e.  a window might become a build-in scenic overlook in one apartment.)

They did this down the street from my old apartment in Chicago. I lived at Barry and Racine and the Church turned apartment was at Seminary and Barry. It looked really cool.

[Eldon]

Finally, we get a site for the Crean Soccer Complex, ai na?

<in my best Chicos voice>  Sure.  Or we could make a building to house the FF banner that he brought us