Milwaukee Tool's proposal to bring office space downtown moves forward

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett made an appearance Tuesday, April 27, at a Common Council committee hearing to back Milwaukee Tool's plans for a new downtown office. 

"It would be a mistake for us to slow this project down or to turn this back because the stakes are high," said Mayor Barrett. 

Milwaukee Tool, which is based in Brookfield, wants to convert a vacant building at 5th and Michigan into office space for 1,200 employees, and it's looking for financial help from the city. 

Tuesday, the Milwaukee Common Council Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development committee approved a grant with a requirement that Milwaukee Tool give regular reports on how many of its jobs are going to city residents and to people of color.