Multi-tenant retail development proposed in Kenosha

Kenosha officials on Thursday will consider a large multi-tenant retail development at 122nd Avenue, which will come with multiple buildings and green space.

St. John Properties wants to build “Kenosha Midpoint,” a 93,840-square-foot business park on the northwest corner of 71st Street and 122nd Avenue, according to the plan commission agenda.

The 25.3-acre development will involve four lots with multiple single-story buildings to rent to office, retail and warehouse tenants, city records showed. Construction will be completed in four phases.

The Kenosha City Plan Commission will meet Thursday to discuss a conditional use permit for St. John’s proposal. Rich Schroeder, deputy director of the city’s development project, said the first valuation of the project was $14.7 million, but that number will likely go up throughout construction phases.

The developer is also seeking a zoning amendment for the parcel through the Kenosha Common Council. St. John wants to break ground in the spring, Schroeder added.

At a previous public hearing, city officials said they were interested in seeing green space with the development. Staff recommended St. John give $4.2 million to future infrastructure improvements in the area.

Architecture firm Haag Müller, Inc. and CJ Engineering are listed as project partners.

Started in 1971, St. John Properties is a multistate firm which owns and is developing more than 1.7 million square feet of space in the state, according to the company website.

Kenosha has also seen other development break ground or in the works lately. In early December, the Forest County Potawatomi Community kicked off construction for a mixed-use project at a former dog track in Kenosha County. Cobalt Partners and C.D. Smith plan to build nine blocks with around 1,000 living units in the city’s downtown.