The Milwaukee Post

6 • Milwaukee County Post • May 19, 2017 Potawatomi to expand Post Staff MILWAUKEE — The Potawatomi Hotel & Casino announced Tuesday it will expand its Milwaukee hotel with an $80 million tower. The second tower will house 119 additional rooms and suites, bringing the hotel's total number to 500, the casino owned and oper- ated by the Forest County Potawatomi Community announced. The 180,000- square-foot addition in the Menomonee Valley will also feature a spa and addi- tional meeting space. It is expected to open in the spring of 2019. Construction will begin later this year, pending application approval by the city of Milwaukee, Potawatomi said. "Aside from accommo- dating our guests, the proj- ect will create hundreds of jobs on the construction site and dozens of perma- nent positions within the hotel," said Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Chief Operating Officer Rodney Ferguson in a news release. It is anticipated that 50 permanent hotel jobs will be created. The property in the 1600 block of West Canal Street employs near- ly 2,700, making Potawatomi one of the 25 largest employers in the Milwaukee area. The project will spur additional revenue for the city and Milwaukee County, VISIT Milwaukee, and the state of Wisconsin from property, sales, expo- sition and personal income taxes. The property has submitted more than $100 million in revenue sharing payments to the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County over the past decade. Since opening in 2014, the property's hotel has been overwhelmingly pop- ular with casino guests. The addition will provide an even mix of both stan- dard rooms and suites. "By adding nearly 60 suites to the property with this expansion, we're pri- oritizing our casino guests and their experience when visiting," said Ferguson. "The rooms, along with the spa, will bolster the proper- ty's reputation as an attractive destination for visitors in the region and beyond." Potawatomi Hotel & Casino opened in 1991 as a bingo hall. After several expansions, the property is now the most visited enter- tainment destination in Wisconsin with more than 6 million visits annually. It features 2,500 slot machines, nearly 100 table games, a 1,300-seat bingo hall, seven restaurants and a 500-seat theater. Post Staff MILWAUKEE — Home sales in the four-county metro-Milwaukee region declined 4.1 percent in April, according to a Wednesday release from the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors. That's the first time they have fallen this year, noted GMAR President Mike Ruzicka. "Beginning in September 2014, there have been 27 months of positive sales," said Ruzicka. "April was one of 5 months in negative territory." Sales of existing homes declined from 1,853 in April 2016 to 1,777 last month. The GMAR said the sales drop is "directly related" to low inventory, which has hindered the market for nearly two years. Overall, home listings dropped 1.9 percent in the region, although they actu- ally rose in three of the counties. Milwaukee County's listings increased 2.7 percent, Washington County's 7 percent and Ozaukee County's 7.5 per- cent. The odd county out was Waukesha, where list- ings declined 15.1 percent. Since June 2015, there have been just five months of positive listing growth. Last month, only Washington County had positive home sales, increasing 5.4 percent over sales in April 2016. Waukesha County's year- to-year sales dropped 4.8 percent, Milwaukee County's fell 5.4 percent and Ozaukee County's were 2.7 percent lower than those a year ago. "Still, the real estate market is performing well from a historical perspec- tive," said Ruzicka. "The 1,777 sales in April were 10.4 percent ahead of 2015's level." The GMAR surveyed members earlier this week about the market. Some 66 percent don't believe inventory will increase this year. 72 percent would like to see more listings under $300,000. And 44 percent think prices will increase between 4 percent and 6 percent this year over 2016. Twenty percent predict a 1- 3 percent increase, while 24 percent believe prices will rise 7-9 percent. BUSINESS Glenn Rieder to build $10 million West Allis facility WEST ALLIS — Glenn Rieder Inc., a Milwaukee-based provider of architectur- al millwork and custom interior finishes, was to break ground on its new West Allis facility at 9 a.m. today. Glenn Rieder intends to begin construc- tion of a $10 million, 120,000-square-foot industrial facility this summer at 1960 S. 67th Place in the Juneau Highlands Business Park, and plans to be operating in its new building within nine months. The new facility will allow Glenn Rieder to increase production capacity and enhance its reputation as a leader in the architectural millwork industry. The com- pany expects to add staff and establish the facility as its main headquarters. "The addition of their new facility is more exciting evidence of the renaissance West Allis is currently experiencing," Mayor Dan Devine said in a news release. Old World Wisconsin brewing program to resume Saturday TOWN OF EAGLE — Old World Wisconsin intends to resume its brewing program beginning Saturday. The program features breweries from around the state participating in the his- toric brewing process, and the first one on the schedule is Lakefront Brewery. The program offers a place to share and learn about the history of beer. The process runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the cost for adults is $19. Children are $10 and seniors are $16. On June 3, Miller Brewing Company is set to come to the site and June 17 features Explorium Brewpub. For a full list of the program's brewery schedule, go to Old- WorldWisconsin.org. Patterson to join Johnson Bank as assistant VP MILWAUKEE — Johnson Bank Milwaukee announced that it has hired a new assistant vice president. Ruth Patterson was also hired as a sen- ior mortgage loan officer. She comes to Johnson Bank with over 30 years of expe- rience in banking and mortgages. Patterson specializes in purchasing, lot and construction loans, condominium financing, first-time homebuyers and more. Submitted rendering Potawatomi Hotel & Casino will add a second tower at its Menomonee Valley site in Milwaukee, adding 119 rooms and other features. It is expected to open in the spring of 2019. Project represents additional $80 million investment in city April home sales down in metro Milwaukee 15.1% drop in Waukesha County fuels area decline

• Cover