Mitchell Street developer gets OK to demolish building

A proposal to demolish an original Art-Deco style building in Milwaukee’s historic Mitchell neighborhood got approval in Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, but the developer will need to prove she can finance construction of a new building first.

BBE Investments & Development owner Zuwena Cotton proposed in November to knock down the former Grand Department building at 1101-1113 Historic Mitchell St. and replace it with a five-story, 55-unit apartment complex that will fuse modern multi-housing style with that of the previous structure.

While council members reviewed Cotton’s request, Alderman Bob Bauman posed an amendment to allow her to have the demolition permit if she can prove to officials she had the financing to complete the project.

The city would grant Cotton a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition, “provided that no permit for demolition may be issued unless the applicant has first demonstrated to both the Department of City Development and the Office of the Comptroller that financing sufficient to complete the project as described has been secured,” Bauman wrote in his amendment. No council members objected.

Members of the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee granted Cotton’s appeal to get a demolition certificate after the Historic Preservation Commission voted 4-3 to block it, city records showed. The Milwaukee Preservation Alliance urged the commission to reject the proposal to demolish the building, which was listed as a commercial building as far back as 1891.

Dubbed “The Encore,” Cotton’s proposal for a 22,669-square-foot complex included over 18,000 square feet of commercial space.

“At the intersection on 11th and Historic Mitchell Street, we will create a “cornerstone” retail space to take advantage of the high-traffic count,” Cotton wrote in a letter to the city. She said the development would “bring an encore” to the former shopping district.

The developer purchased 1101 W. Historic Mitchell St. in 2018, city records showed. The building currently houses MKE Enterprise Cosmetics and the former Holzman Furs, which closed after 37 years in business.