West Bend-based Commerce State Bank will move in January into its new, two-story 33,000-square-foot headquarters that is under construction at 1700 S. Silverbrook Drive.

The bank's offices are currently located at 508 Shepherds Drive in West Bend. Its move to the new building was recently approved by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

"We just had meetings with the contractor and architect," said Joe Fazio, chief executive officer of Commerce State Bank. "They're putting the carpeting down in some areas and putting up cabinetry in other areas. They will be substantially complete by the end of December."

The bank is planning to move on Jan. 17, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Fazio said, and will re-open on Jan. 20. Jan. 19 is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and most banks are closed.

Commerce State Bank now has 23 employees and will likely employ 26 by the time it opens in its new location. The bank is hiring new personal bankers and managers, Fazio said.

Commerce State Bank, founded in August 2005, has grown to $260 million in assets. To assist in future growth, the bank is planning to raise a third round of capital in the first quarter of 2009, when it hopes to raise up to $10 million.

"We’re seeking a limited number of new shareholders," Fazio said.

The Center for Veterans Issues Ltd. plans to construct a five-story building on a 1.4-acre site in Milwaukee at the northeast corner of South First Street and East Lincoln Avenue. The project will have 80 apartments for veterans on the upper floors and 14,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor, which could include a café. The building will have an exterior dining area for the café and an attached bus shelter. There will also be a 56-space surface parking lot behind the building. The project will be reviewed by the City Plan Commission on Monday, Dec. 8.

Layton Boulevard West Neighborhoods Inc., a nonprofit corporation, plans to build a 20-unit townhouse affordable housing development on a 1.25-acre site in Milwaukee southwest of West Pierce Street and South 35th Street. The property, which will be purchased from the city for $10,000, includes basketball and tennis courts, which will be rebuilt. Each townhouse will have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a one car garage. Townhouses will be rented for $400 to $650 to appropriately sized households with incomes less than 60 percent of the county median income. Units are rent-to-own after the initial 15-year tax credit period. The total project costs are estimated at $5 million.  The project will be financed in part through federal housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

St. Paul, Minn.-based Midwest Sign & Screen Printing Supply Co. plans to move its Wisconsin branch from 10061 S. 54th St. in Franklin to a 50,000-square-foot space that it has leased at 16465 W. Lincoln Ave. in New Berlin from Oak Brook, Ill.-based CenterPoint Properties.  Dickman Company brokers Brian Parrish, Sam Dickman Sr. and Sam Dickman Jr. brokered the lease. Midwest Sign & Screen is a distributor of sign, screen printing and digital products.

Company: CB Richard Ellis

Education: BA in Economics and Management, Albion College, Albion, Mich.

Family: Spread all over the country

City of Residence: Milwaukee's fashionable east side

What are you working on? "There seems to be a wide diversity in my active deals - a couple of investments sales, some non-traditional tenant representation, and a number of explorations for sublease or buyout of existing lease obligations. Although few deals are smooth sailing, the lease renewal business is clearly the strongest. The biggest challenge that my partner, Matt Hunter, and I face is being strategic in our selection of business to pursue. We want to make certain we are adequately servicing our clients and avoid spreading ourselves too thin."

How does the market look to you? "A little weaker than a year ago, but there are still tons of opportunities. Despite some negative press, the market is actually holding up pretty well, and a number of clients are still reasonably positive, albeit a little cautious. It seems that office users are using this time to retrench and ride out the economic storm, but most people seem to understand that this is a cycle, and that the tide will inevitably turn."

What was the best deal you've ever been involved in? "In recent history, the relocation of Independence First from the Tannery to 405 S. First Street was a great deal to be involved with. I got to work with the team of Kevin Armstrong and Scott Furmanski in our office; the search process involved talking to a number of potential projects with some very innovative developers. The decision-making process included the tenant's architect, a selection committee and the board of directors. And, as often happens, we had a couple of false starts along the way which gave us all the opportunity to learn what to do differently or do better as the process went along. In total, working with such exceptional people on all sides of the transaction was a great benefit, and in the end, very rewarding."

NAI MLG Commercial

Ogden & Company

Siegel Gallagher

• An un-named clothing retailer leased 3,900 square feet of space at 2999 N. Humboldt Ave., Milwaukee, from Dirty Dogs LLC (Alterra RE Holding Co.).

Dickman Company

• Schreiber Properties Mukwonago LLC purchased a 5,778-square-foot office building at 801 Main St., Mukwonago, from Patrick N. Nelson and Wendy A. Nelson. Dave Hazenfield of The Dickman Company brokered the sale.

NAI MLG Commercial

• Goglia Investments LLC purchased a 2,540-square-foot multi-tenant building at 1343 Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee, from Jentzsch Properties.

Menomonee Falls-based Wahlgren-Schwenn is doing the design and construction work for the new 43,000-square-foot Krenz & Company headquarters that is being built at W132 N10940 Eisenhower Dr., Germantown.

Milwaukee-based Creative Business Interiors Inc. was recently awarded a contract with AAA to build-out the interiors of a 2,500 square foot retail space located in Grafton.

The Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) recently elected Tom Weiher, as its president. Weiher’s term will begin in January. Weiher is the president of Carmel Builders, Inc. 

Mortenson Construction Company recently announced the addition of Jeff Eckstein, as project development manager in its Brookfield office. He has more than 22 years of industry experience.

Brookfield-based Shorewest Realtors recently added Jan Alvey as a sales associate in its Lake Geneva office and added Alicia Stiller and Cedrecia Pena as sales associates in its Kenosha office.

HarborView Development LLC has hired Colliers Barry to help it find a location in the Milwaukee area for a Bob Chinn's Crabhouse franchise. Kenneth Braden is the Colliers Barry broker who is working with HarborView. Located in the Chicago suburb of Wheeling, Ill., Bob Chinn's Crabhouse is one of the largest independently owned restaurants in the country. The restaurant needs 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of space, ideally in a high-traffic location.

Free consumer education classes on buying a condo will be sponsored by the Metropolitan Builders Association in cooperation with the City of Milwaukee. David Belman of Don Belman HomesBob Monnat of Mandel Group Inc. will provide consumers with advice. The free seminar will be held on Thursday, Dec. 11th from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Milwaukee Housing Authority (650 West Reservoir, Milwaukee). Registration is preferred, but not required. Register by emailing htickanen@mbaonline.org or call (262) 436-1122.

IREM Holiday Party, Thursday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8 p.m., North Hills Country Club, N73 W13430 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls. Call (414) 476-4736 for more information.

BOMA/AOMA Holiday Party, Tuesday, Dec. 9, Westmoor Country Club, 400 S. Moorland Road, Brookfield.