Real Estate Development
Surplus Property
Milwaukee County Economic Development and Real Estate Services occasionally acquires developable parcels of land, primarily through excess properties from County assets or properties that become available through state or other government development projects. These parcels prioritize high-impact projects that improve County residents’ quality of life.
Excess County Properties
As the County right-sizes its facilities, buildings or land may become “surplus” because it is no longer needed for government operations or public use. These properties may be in prime locations, offering excellent potential for redevelopment. By repurposing and selling County-owned land, Milwaukee County can drive goals through prioritizing projects that meet community and County needs and direct proceeds toward further community development initiatives.
Our efforts have resulted in:
- Mixed-use developments
- Affordable housing units
- Thriving businesses that serve residents’ needs
These redevelopment efforts help attract new investment to the area while creating community benefits.
State DOT Projects
As the state undertakes transportation infrastructure projects, parcels of land may become "surplus" due to road expansions, highway realignments, or other public works projects. When Milwaukee County acquires these parcels, Economic Development and Real Estate Services facilitates their transformation.
This frequently includes redevelopment for:
- Commercial uses
- Residential development
- Industrial development
These projects can support job creation, increase local tax revenue, and provide essential services and housing for the community.
Economic Impact
By aligning excess land with the County’s strategic vision, Milwaukee County Economic Development and Real Estate Services revitalizes underused areas, creates sustainable development opportunities, and enhances the local economy.
These efforts have resulted in:
- Creation of affordable housing
- Job growth
- Private investment attraction
- Improved quality of life for residents
The County’s approach helps ensure that land is put to its highest and best use, benefiting both the local community and the broader economic landscape.
| Goals | Since 2019 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Development Value Created | $193,371,465 | |
| Total Jobs Created | 4,453 | |
| Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization (subcontracting opportunities) | 25% | 29% average |
| Residential Hiring (hours of project worked by County resident) | 25% | 88% average |
| Apprenticeship Hiring (hours of project worked by apprentice or trainee) | 10% | 7% average |
Featured Redevelopment Projects
Fiebrantz Bus Garage
Economic Development acquired the former Milwaukee County Transit System bus garage after it was no longer needed for County operations. The property was sold in 2024 to a locally owned business, allowing the company to triple their capacity and potentially more than triple their workforce, turning a vacant surplus County property into an opportunity for small business entrepreneurs to create new jobs within the community.
Park East Redevelopment Area
Following relocation of a state highway interchange, in 2004 Economic Development acquired an expanse of several acres of vacant land spreading across downtown Milwaukee. That land has been almost entirely developed into numerous housing, commercial, and mixed-use developments that have transformed Milwaukee’s city center. Several blocks of the formerly-empty Park East land have been developed into medical and training facilities for the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as a parking structure, housing, and a hotel that form part of the Deer District campus. The Deer District portion of Park East alone has added almost $130 million in real estate value to the downtown area, with construction just starting on the newest addition, the Fieldhouse Flats mixed-use development.
The Couture
A former Milwaukee County Transit System property, the downtown Milwaukee County Transit Center, has been transformed over the past several years from a small bus garage and transit station to a high-rise apartment building featuring 322 high-end apartments as well as parking, retail space, a public concourse, and a transit hub featuring connections to the County’s bus rapid transit line and The Hop streetcar. As the state’s tallest residential building, completed in 2024, Couture adds a distinctive element to the City’s skyline.
Irgens
The County former ownership of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Innovation Campus property in Wauwatosa allowed the County to play a role in facilitating Irgens’ purchase and development of their Innovation One campus. This development utilized innovative and sustainable design to create an office building and parking structure that adhere to the area’s peaceful environment while creating a space for business and job creation in the community.
Vliet Street Lofts
Milwaukee County’s Department of Health and Human Services’ move to their new facility at the end of 2025 created a vacancy at their former home at 12th and Vliet Streets in the King Park neighborhood of Milwaukee. This historic property, built in 1910 as a Schuster’s Department Store, was sold in Spring 2026 and is on the way to being renovated into a 65-unit affordable housing development that honors the historical elements while offering quality safe and accessible housing to the neighborhood.
RFP Process
Milwaukee County primarily manages the sale of excess land through a transparent and competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, designed to give both small and large developers an equal opportunity to propose innovative and impactful uses for County-owned properties. Depending on circumstances, similar but more informal options—including a Request for Information (RFI) or a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)—may occasionally be used. These processes foster an open and fair selection process that ensures the best possible development outcomes for the County and its residents.
Evaluating Development Opportunities
Through the RFP (or RFI/RFQ) process, the Economic Development Division has a clear, comprehensive view of all available opportunities for development on County-owned land.
This visibility allows the Division to:
- Evaluate each proposal carefully
- Determine the most suitable use for each property
- Select the best development partner Ensure alignment with County priorities
Proposals are reviewed based on factors such as:
- Project feasibility
- Community impact
- Alignment with County goals and priorities This process ensures that each site contributes meaningfully to the growth and revitalization of the region.
Development Requirements
The County may include specific development requirements in RFPs (or RFIs), such as community benefits that promote social and economic equity.
Developers are typically required to incorporate:
- Targeted Business Enterprise (TBE) goals
- Local resident hiring requirements
- Other community-focused development commitments
These conditions help ensure that economic benefits reach the surrounding community while creating a more inclusive development process.
Public Benefit
Overall, the RFP process allows Milwaukee County to unlock the potential of its excess land while ensuring that development:
- Serves the public good
- Fosters economic opportunity
- Creates long-lasting community benefits
Community Benefits
In addition to incorporating community benefits such as Targeted Business Enterprise (TBE) subcontracting goals and local residency hiring requirements into the development process, Milwaukee County’s Economic Development and Real Estate Services Division ensures developers meet these commitments through an ongoing tracking and reporting system.
This system helps monitor progress throughout the development phase and holds developers accountable for fulfilling their community benefits obligations.
Tracking and Reporting
Milwaukee County requires developers to report regularly on TBE and local hiring goals through the County’s online tracking system.
These reports help ensure that developers continue to prioritize opportunities for:
- Diverse subcontractors
- Local residents
- Community-based economic participation
This reporting framework helps ensure that the economic benefits of each project are realized by the surrounding community.
Office of Economic Inclusion Support
To further support developers in achieving community goals, the County’s Office of Economic Inclusion works closely with developers to identify and connect them with qualified TBE subcontractors.
This collaboration helps developers:
- Access a robust pool of diverse businesses
- Meet or exceed subcontracting targets
- Build relationships with local businesses
- Strengthen the regional economy
The County actively encourages developers to engage with local businesses, fostering a more inclusive development process.
Commitment to Equitable Growth
This comprehensive approach reinforces Milwaukee County’s commitment to equitable growth, ensuring that development projects are a catalyst for:
- Job creation
- Economic empowerment
- Community revitalization