After tweaks, plans for Brookfield Public Market move forward

Listen to this article

After plans returned from the drawing board, Brookfield officials gave the initial nod to a proposal for a new public market at Brookfield Square mall.

The Brookfield Plan Commission on Monday met and endorsed nearly $19.5 million in incentives for a proposal for the Brookfield Public Market. Irgens and Visit Brookfield first shared their plans in June and sought tax increment financing to boost the project. The project site is located at a former Boston Store property, which has been demolished.

Plans featured space for a lineup of food and retail vendors, an outdoor space, two retail buildings and a medical office.

Brookfield officials on Monday heard public comments and considered a new Tax Increment District No. 9 for land located at 15875 W. Bluemound Road, which would include public improvements for the site and utilities, amenities and professional services, a city agenda showed.

Officials also reviewed an amendment for existing TID No. 8 to help with public market construction costs.

Currently, a single-story restaurant, parking lot and vacant land occupy the 16.2-acre property where Boston Store stood, a city staff report showed. The developer wants to rehabilitate the site by replacing and repairing public and private utilities and stormwater systems to make the site suitable for new buildings.

Irgens plans to sell 2.1 acres to Visit Brookfield to embark on the two-story public market.

In June, Visit Brookfield said it will invest $1.5 million in the project and will serve as the owner and operator, nonprofit officials wrote in a letter to the city.

“The public market, as a fully developed project, will create significant development value, property tax income, jobs, community programming, affordable vendor space for entrepreneurs, affordable rental space and as well as a gathering location,” officials said.

Irgens reached out to Milwaukee-based Kahler Slater and Milwaukee-based The Sigma Group for master site design and civil engineering work, officials said. In its June letter, Visit Brookfield named CG Schmidt, also based in Milwaukee, its partner for the proposed market, citing its work on the Milwaukee Public Market.