Redevelopment study outlines proposals for hotel, apartments, and retail around American Family Field

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — A new report details ideas to redevelop the space around American Family Field.

The study comes two years after Governor Tony Evers approved a $500 million public funding plan to update the stadium and surrounding area.

The legislation calls for $365.8 million to be paid by the state, and $67.5 million each from the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County toward renovations over the next 30 years.

The study was conducted by Brailsford & Dunlavey consulting out of Washington D.C., along with Populous architects and Kapur engineering firm.

The final report was presented to the Wisconsin Professional Baseball District, who owns the stadium complex. It's being leased to the Brewers through 2050.

The study suggests plans to add a hotel, apartments, retail, office, and gathering spaces outside the Brewers stadium, which also means taking over some parking spaces.

It outlines three different redevelopment scenarios - one based east of the stadium on the Menomonee River, one spanning east and northwest, and one west of the stadium surrounding Helfaer Field.

Based on market demand, it calls for 600-1,000 apartment units, a 150-200 room hotel, 38,000-52,000 sq. ft. of retail space, and 20,000-50,000 sq. ft. of office space, varying per scenario.

Total cost estimates range from $732 million to $791 million.

The proposals would take over about a quarter of the parking lots outside the stadium, eliminating 1,600 to 3,000 parking spots.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the study is a first step in the right direction, with a goal of keeping the Brewers in Milwaukee and pulling in tax revenue.

"I was one of the first, probably the loudest voice, saying that there's a sea of parking around American Family Field and we should do something about it," Johnson said. "We should look at what's happening with baseball stadiums literally all across the country and adapt some of those things here."

The Brewers also praised the report in a statement from Rick Schlesinger, the president of business operations:

"We appreciate the work done by the Stadium District, and the outside experts the District consulted, on the development potential of the area around the ballpark. This report is a good first step in the process of imagining what real estate development opportunities may exist, and as we review it we are bearing in mind there are many other steps – a feasibility analysis of the economic viability of any project, consideration of zoning issues, and a wide range of other factors worth considering with all stakeholders. There’s no doubt American Family Field is a strong economic engine for the region, and we want to make sure any future development is sound while also balancing the needs of our fans and the community."

The study did list some challenges, with concerns about zoning and environmental issues regarding the soil quality and floodplains.

It is still very early in the process, with a lot of conversations still on the table.

"It's exciting about what the possibilities may be, but there's still a lot of work to do," Mayor Johnson said.

Click here to read the full report.