Waukesha-based Decade Properties Inc. recently purchased the largest hotel in Wauwatosa and one of the largest office buildings in Wauwatosa.

The company purchased the eight-story, 150-room Radisson Hotel-Milwaukee West at 2303 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa, and the six-story, 120,000-square-foot office building at 2323 N. Mayfair Road from Jacobus Mayfair Properties LLC, an affiliate of Jacobus Wealth Management Inc.

"They are two very well-located properties, and they are in excellent condition," said Jeff Keierleber, president of Decade Properties. "They've done a great job of keeping them up."

The hotel was built in 1972 and was renovated in 1994.

The hotel and the office building are located just northwest of North Avenue and Mayfair Road (Highway 100) and just west of Mayfair Mall.

 "You don't get a much better location," Keierleber said. "It's a great location with high visibility and a lot of traffic."

The office building a 2323 N. Mayfair Road is about 89-percent occupied, Keierleber said. Its tenants include Marine Bank, Jacobus Wealth Management, Frank Hack & Assoc. Inc. and Zyware Inc.

Decade Properties owns hotels, office buildings, apartment complexes and marinas in Florida and Wisconsin.

Despite the housing industry collapse, the commercial real estate market remains healthy, Keierleber said.

"I think the commercial market is still very strong," he said. "I think there are very good opportunities on both the buyer and seller side. Buyers and sellers are out there."

Pabst Farms recently announced the start of sales for a 144-unit luxury condominium project in the massive development at I-94 and Highway 67 in Oconomowoc.

Grading has begun in preparation for the first phase of the condo project, called Village Crossing at Pabst Farms. The condos are expected to be ready for occupancy by mid-summer, 2008.

The recent announcement that Beechwood, Ohio-based Developers Diversified Realty Corp. will build the 1 million-square-foot regional retail center in Pabst Farms is expected to boost sales for the condominiums that will be located within walking distance, Pabst Farms executives say.

"We are confident that now is the right time to introduce a maintenance-free, upscale residential component at Pabst Farms that appeals to empty nesters as well as young singles and couples alike," said Jake Griswold, Pabst Farms project manager for Village Crossing. "We know from our research that being and feeling connected is very important to prospective condominium buyers. Being able to walk or bike to the grocery store and the bank and meet neighbors for coffee at Starbucks is a unique benefit at Pabst Farms. And once Pabst Farms Town Centre is built, imagine being able to walk to an even greater variety of stores and restaurants. We did an extensive study of the local condominium market which so far is holding up well despite a relatively soft housing market. In addition, we conducted focus groups to help us determine the kind of designs people are looking for."

The general contractor for the condominium homes at Pabst Farms is Wired Construction LLC, a division of Wired Properties, a Milwaukee-based boutique real estate development, consulting and construction firm with expertise in full-service multi-family consulting.

The condo development will feature side-by-side condominium homes located in clusters. A variety of open concept condominium designs are being offered including both ranch-style and two-story with first floor master bedrooms. Floor plans range in size from 1,380 square feet for a two bedroom two bath home to more than 2,500 square feet for an expanded four bedroom three bath home with loft. Full basements are standard, offering buyers an additional option for expanded living space. Standard luxury features include granite countertop kitchens with beech wood cabinetry, Pella windows, wood and ceramic tile flooring plus stone or brick exterior accents.

"Village Crossing will set a new benchmark in convenient Lake Country luxury," Griswold said. "Condominium owners will enjoy the best of master-planned living."

Pre-construction prices in Village Crossing start at $269,000, and sales in the first phase are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations are being taken for condominium homes in future phases as well.

Menomonee Falls-based Continental Properties Co. Inc. and the Milwaukee Wave announced they will build a 60,000-square-foot indoor soccer training facility at the Cudahy Station development, which is being built on the site of the failed Iceport development.

Previously, Continental Properties also announced plans for a 130,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter store in the development. In addition, the development also could include a hotel.

The soccer training facility will be the training home for the Milwaukee Wave and will also be the home of the Premier Training Academy. The academy will be directed by Michael King, the Wave's all-time leading scorer. The academy's curriculum will be aimed at improving ball skills, technical development, fitness, mental strength and nutrition. The academy is intended to attract serious soccer players of all ages.

"Soccer coaches from all around the country have been clamoring for just this kind of facility," said Mike Lafferty, chief operating officer of the Milwaukee Wave.

The facility could attract players from outside of the metro area.

"We are excited to develop a destination that has long been a part of Cudahy's long-range planning," said Steve Wagener, senior vice president of the retail group at Continental Properties. "The Milwaukee Wave will be an excellent partner to complete the development plan of Cudahy Station."

The Iceport project also was expected to attract athletes from outside of the area. The Iceport was a proposed $29 million hockey and skating rink complex that was to be built on a 26-acre site near East Layton Avenue and South Nicholson Avenue. It was only partially built, and in 2004 construction was halted because of financing problems. Later, city officials declared the project in default of a development agreement with the city.

In August, the city and Sportsites LLC, the Iceport developer, signed an agreement to end the project. Sportsites also agreed to sell the entire 26-acre site to Continental Properties.

In January, HomeSale Realty will open the new location for its Oak Creek office. The 4,500-square-foot office will be located in the new Guardian Credit Union building at 7801 S. Howell Ave. at the intersection of Howell and Drexel. The new HomeSale office offers class-A office space in an excellent location that will accommodate approximately 60 agents, the company said. The firm's Oak Creek office is currently located at 934 E. Rawson Ave. "We're very excited about our new office," said Marie Alba, manager of the Oak Creek HomeSale Realty office. "It's a brand new building with private offices available and an excellent location for our agents to be working the southeast suburban and Milwaukee areas. This new location will only enhance our position in the real estate marketplace. It will also offer a great opportunity for veteran agents to come and join the HomeSale Realty family, especially when they see that they will have the top technology right at their fingertips."

In announcing the new office, HomeSale Realty executives also expressed confidence in the slumping housing market.

"We believe it will bottom out in spring of 2008 before it has a seasonal pick-up," said Roy Scholtka, president of HomeSale Realty. "People who are working hard in the real estate industry are having record years. There will always be people who have to sell and those who have to buy. The market will come back, and we are excited about the future."

"Despite what much of what's been reported in the news media, it really isn't a bad market because there are great real estate deals out there," added Alba. "The sellers haven't yet realized that they can't get what they thought they could for their house.  Nobody's getting $40,000 (property value increase) after living in their house for one year. Those days are over. But with the affordable interest rates, there is money to be had for mortgages. If you don't have a house to sell and you want to buy a house, you're in the peach orchard!"

Currently in its sixth year of operation, HomeSale Realty is one of the largest real estate companies in southeastern Wisconsin, with more than 200 agents.

A ribbon-cutting event was held recently at ProHealth Care's newly constructed Oconomowoc Physician Center at the corner of Highway 67 and I-94 in Oconomowoc. The Oconomowoc Physician Center is a collaborative effort between ProHealth Care and independent physicians to meet the outpatient care needs of the community. The $19 million 85,000-square-foot medical services center includes a physician office building, lab services and imaging center with 64-sice CT and open-MRI. It is also the new home of the Musculoskeletal Institute, which provides a unique combination of comprehensive care for those with disorders of the muscles, bones, joints and connective tissue. The physician center is connected directly to the existing ProHealth Care Medical Centers primary care clinic to provide easy access for patients needing both primary and specialty care in one location.

Company: TOLD Development Company

Title: Principal

Education: Undergraduate and Graduate School of Business, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Family: "Wife Kathy. Three girls, Carly, Tori and Maggie plus my little guy Jack."

City of Residence: Hartland

Hobbies and Interests: "Golf, skiing, tennis. Spending time with my wife Kathy and our children."

What are you working on? "Crossroads Commons, which is a large retail project in Plover, Wisconsin. A large mixed use project on the near west side of Madison. Also a 125,000-square-foot corporate headquarters for AIG TravelGuard in the Stevens Point/Plover Wisconsin area."

How does the market look to you?  "A little soft."

What was the best deal you've ever been involved in? "Three corporate headquarter office buildings in Riverwood Corporate Center. All three of the corporate clients were great to work with."

What was the funniest moment of your career? "Well there was this time with Flood and A.J…….actually it was getting off of our fourth floor elevator one Saturday morning only to find a barking dog running up and down the corridor. Turns out a tenant thought it was a fine place to exercise her dog. After the initial shock, I could only laugh."

A new nonprofit organization named the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center Ltd. recently entered into an agreement to purchase the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center at 9250 N. Green Bay Road, Brown Deer, from the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. The sale of the WSAC was brokered in large part by Mark Irgens, manager/president of Wauwatosa-based Irgens Development Partners LLC. Irgens is a former competitive swimmer and father of two swimmers. "I learned of the YMCA's desire to redevelop the property and wanted to ensure the future of this program and this facility," said Irgens. Thousands of athletes and their families from Southeastern Wisconsin, and around the United States have utilized the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center since it opened in 1979. The WSAC has been home to United States National Championships for both swimming and diving. It has also hosted NCAA National Championships in swimming and diving for Divisions I, II, and III. The Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center, Ltd. says it is committed to the continued support of high-level competitive aquatics. The sale of the WSAC will also spark a capital campaign that will help fund necessary renovations and updates to the facility. The facility will receive updates/replacements to its bulkheads, cooling, and improved air handling systems, filters and roof.

Milwaukee-based Towne Investments announced that it has purchased three industrial land sites and a 37,037-square-foot industiral building in the Chicago/Milwaukee I-94 corridor. Two of the parcels of land, a 1.43-acre site and a 2.23-acre site, are located in the Business Park of Kenosha. The building and a 3.19-acre site are located in the OakGroveBusinessPark in Waukegan, Ill. The three land sites could support a combined 130,000 square feet of industrial space and are available for sale, lease build-to-suit or for speculative development. "These acquisitions complement our development portfolio by providing space opportunities in the northern Chicago, southeastern Wisconsin submarket for businesses needing mid-sized industrial facilities," said John Kersey, director of Towne Investments. "These acquisitions are consistent with our goal to expand our portfolio holdings in the I-94 Chicago/Milwaukee corridor." Steve Sullivan and Duke Botthof of NAI HIffman represented the seller and will market the properties on behalf of Towne. Towne Investments is the trade name under which Milwaukee-based Zilber Ltd. markets its commercial investment portfolio.

Never Better Investments LLC recently purchased an 83,000-square-foot industrial building at W220 N507 Springdale Road, Pewaukee, from Springdale Road LLC. The sale was brokered by Mike Judson of Judson & Associates, who represented the buyer, and Dave Hazenfield of Dickman Company, who represented the seller. Baird Display plans to move from West Allis to the building. The building's former owner and occupant, The Triad Group, is moving to Hartland.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett recently appointed Dave Misky as Assistant Executive Secretary of the Redevelopment Authority for the City of Milwaukee (RACM). Misky will lead the day-to-day operations of RACM’s economic development activities in neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee through land acquisition, use of financing tools, clean-up and renewal of properties. Misky most recently worked as Development and Environmental Manager for the Department of City Development. In this role he led the efforts of the aggressive City Brownfields Team, managed the $28 million revitalization of the Menomonee Valley Industrial Center, the 30th Street Industrial Corridor efforts and other city initiatives including the land development for the Milwaukee Job Corps Center. Under his leadership the City’s Brownfields Team secured more than $23 million in funds over 5 years for clean-up of brownfields, more than any other community in the country. The funds allowed the team to put more than 200 properties back into business and off of the tax-delinquency list.

The Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors (GMAR) has installed its leadership team for 2008, including Beth Jaworski as chairwoman.

Jaworski is a top sales agent with Brookfield-based Shorewest Realtors in Wauwatosa office. She has been a member of the GMAR since 1993 and a member of the organization's board of directors since 2004. She also has served as the association's treasurer and corporate secretary. She was named GMAR's Realtor of the Year in 2004.

Other new GMAR officers include: Kathy Domagalski, chair-elect; Julie Clarke of Realty Executives Metro, treasurer; Jim Somers, corporate secretary; and Dave Schmidt Jr. of Dave Schmidt Realty, past chair.

The GMAR also presented the following annual awards: Realtor of the year, John Sedler, HomeSale Realty; Lifetime Achievement Award, Geraldine Marchant, First Weber Group Realtors; Dedicated Service Award, Barb McGill, First Weber Group Realtors; and Affiliate of the Year, Jeanette Calvi, Imperial Title.

The Milwaukee Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) recently announced the election of new officers and directors, including the appointment of Scott Cline of Milwaukee-based J&B Construction Co. Inc. as the new president.

Other NARI officers include: vice president Thomas Weiher of Carmel Builders Inc., Menomonee Falls; vice president Diane Ausavich of Carl Krueger Construction Inc., Milwaukee; vice president Kevin Anundson of The OAR Group, Elm Grove; treasurer Tony Rink of Renovators Ltd., Brookfield; and
secretary Dave Amoroso of Ron Sonntag Public Relations, Milwaukee.

The new board of directors, elected to three-year terms, includes: Mark Brick of B & E General Contractors Inc., Glendale; Tom Callen of Callen Construction Inc., Muskego; Tom Feiza of Mr. Fix-It, New Berlin; Thomas Hagner of Better Bldg. by Weather-Seal Ltd., Racine; and Dean Herriges, Urban Herriges & Sons Inc., Mukwonago.

Other board members include: Thomas Kammerait of von Briesen & Roper S.C., Milwaukee; Nick Kerzner of Kerzner Remodeling & Construction, Oconomowoc; Susan Montie of Advanced Communication Specialists, Waukesha; Jim Pitzen of Pitzen Design Ltd., Brookfield; Bill Wandsnider of Wandsnider Landscape, Menomonee Falls; James Klappa of JDJ Builders, Greenfield; Jill Liptow of RCI Remodeling Center Inc., Pewaukee; David Pekel of Pekel Construction & Remodeling Inc., Wauwatosa; Dan Riedel of Woller-Anger & Company LLC, Elm Grove; and Kenneth Skowronski of KS Remodelers Inc., Franklin.

The immediate past president is Paul Kraemer of Starr Insurance Group, Greenfield.

The city of Waukesha is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for development of a one-acre downtown site between South Street and Broadway, east of Barstow Street. The property is owned by Tim Davies, who wants to sell it. City officials are trying to help Davies find a buyer that will build what they want there, a development with owner-occupied residences that could include first floor retail space. The building's height must be limited to four stories, it must have a minimal setback from the street, should integrate green elements when possible and its appearance must fit in with the downtown's historic architecture, according to the RFP. The city expects that most if not all of the current buildings on the site will be demolished, but every effort should be made to rehabilitate and integrate the existing building at 130-34 W. Broadway, according to the RFP. The site is within a tax incremental financing (TIF) district, and a developer could receive some TIF assistance for redeveloping the site. The responses to the RFP will be due on March 31. More information is available by calling City of Waukesha Planner Jennifer Andrews at (262) 524-3753.

Gov. Jim Doyle recently announced that the state is providing a $1.25 million brownfield grant for the Harley-Davidson Museum that is under construction in the Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee. The museum is scheduled to open next year and is expected to attract 350,000 visitors each year.

A new bar/lounge opened recently in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward. Viridarium is located at 131 N. Jackson St., in the Jefferson Block Apartments building. The establishment is owned by Bobby Ljubich, Mike Owens and Manny Fuentes. The 1,500-square-foot contemporary styled lounge will be targeted to professionals working in the Third Ward, residents of Jefferson Block and other Third Ward buildings and visitors to the area, including those going to the Summerfest grounds for festivals, Ljubich said. "We see a lot of people parking in the (Italian Community Center) parking lot across the street every day," Ljubich said. "We see them leaving at about 4 p.m., which is when we will be open. I'm very optimistic I love the people here." Viridarium will have outdoor seating when the weather gets warm. Food, mostly appetizers, will be added in one to two months, Ljubich said. When food is added, Viridarium will be open for lunch. Another restaurant in the Jefferson Block building, Holiday House, closed in August.

Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate Women (WCREW) Annual Holiday Party, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 5-7 p.m., Balzac, 1716 N. Arlington Place, Milwaukee. Call 414.755.3365 for more information.

BOMA/AOMA January Luncheon, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Milwaukee Athletic Club, 758 N. Broadway, Milwaukee. Call (414) 278-7557 for more information.

IREM Forecast Breakfast, Thursday, Jan. 17, 8 a.m., Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee. For more information, call (414) 476-4736.

The 46th annual Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show, Thursday, Feb. 7 - Sun., Feb. 10, 2008 at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis.