County gives Ballpark Commons developers the OK on key hurdle

A key hurdle for the Ballpark Commons development was overcome last week as the Milwaukee County Board voted 14-4 to move the development's proposed agreements between the County and developers forward and finalize negotiations with County Executive Chris Abele. While the agreement still needs to be approved by the County Board, this vote was viewed as a critical one to overcome on the County level, for without the Board's support to move it along the project could have struck out.

County Supervisor (and Franklin Alderman) Steve Taylor was ecstatic with the news - sharing an article the Milwaukee Business Journal posted about it on his Facebook page for constituents within his County Supervisory District.

With the contract about to be finalized, and indications being fruitful for final approval, it's looking like Franklin and County leaders will be donning hard hats and enjoying the celebratory breaking ground ceremony for Ballpark Commons sometime in the summer or early fall. This is good news for many local politicians who have been anchoring their economic development platforms to constituents on this project. After all, Ballpark Commons seeks to boost the 76th/Rawson/Loomis triangle as Franklin's "downtown" destination.

Along with the stadium and the controversial apartments across the street on Rawson, developers are seeking to build shops, an athletic training facility and a high-tech golf center just to the west of the stadium. While FT is still awaiting to hear news of names of tenants for the Commons, the Business Journal article stated a brewpub and offices for ROC Ventures, which is the company that operates The Rock Sports Complex, the Milwaukee Wave, and several minor league baseball teams, will be located within the development.