507 Development Plans

 

The new owners of our former 507 E. Michigan building (Bear Real Estate Group – Kenosha Wi) released an overview of their thinking about how they will put the building to use.  They bought the building for $24 million in 2021 and have been leasing it back to Johnson Controls, until all employees could be relocated.  This has now happened.  Present plans do not include tearing down any of the seven interconnected sections of the building.  They plan to call it The Patent Block, as a reference to Johnson Controls’ history of innovation, including at least 50 patents originated in the building.  I suspect some of you reading this have your name on some of those patents.

The oldest (Building 1- which has “Johnson Service Company” over the 507 entrance) and newest (Building 7 – Brengel Technology Center) will be leased out as office space.  They are considering using the building 7 cafeteria as a breakfast/lunch restaurant.  Those uses seem quite straight forward since that is what they have already been used for.

The other buildings 2-6 will be repurposed into residential units in the future.  They are still working out how to do so.  Those of us that have traveled those halls, and varying levels, can fully understand the challenges they face.  Google “Bear Real Estate Group – Kenosha Wi” for more information.

Since Milwaukee’s new streetcar “The Hop” runs on both the Michigan St. (North) and Clybourn (South) sides of the block, the location should be good for both office space and residential living.  I am not aware of any mention made about parking space for commuters.  I did so for 42 yrs.

At least it still stands.

Gene Strehlow