Franklin's "City Civic Center District": The big sell-out
The document above was recorded without fanfare on 11/21/07 at the Milwaukee County Register's Office: Wyndham Village Retail, LLC (sole member: Mark Carstensen) to Target Corporation: transfer of building and property for $2,664,000 (filing fee of $7992 is derived from 3% of sale price).
These things happen quietly. But they have enormous repercussions.
If you imagine Target is a mere tenant of The Shoppes at Wyndham Village, think again. If you believe that a local developer can represent his community's ongoing needs and interests (as he promised) once he banks the money on the above transaction, dream on.
You're looking at the smoking gun (which I predicted here); the instrument that effectively makes the nascent core of Franklin's "City Civic Center District" answer to ... Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A big box retailer will decide the character of our community (as is happening at Pabst Farms).
Those who bought into developer Mark Carstensen's solemn assurances and the fanciful pictures he showed on October 31st of 2006 will want to tune in to this space Monday to see - specifically - what Target will and won't allow the city of Franklin do with what we thought was our downtown.
Here's a preview for you: Target has determined that there will be no movie theaters or live performance theaters in Franklin's City Civic Center. Got a problem with that? Take it up with Minneapolis.
You'll also be interested to learn why the attached Sendik's store happens to be the same size as a Target Greatland grocery component.
ABOVE: Shoppes at Wyndham Village Sendik's
BELOW: The shape of things to come? Target Greatland (photographed by John Reed)
John,
I will admit I'm rather disturbed with just your preview.
What did our Common Council do?
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | January 13, 2008 at 01:20 AM
I'll tell you what they did. They "trusted" that Carstenson would do the right thing rather than set clear, concise perameters for this developement. As a result, the developer has free reign and everyone loses.....well almost everyone.
Posted by: Josh Strupp | January 13, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Frankly, I don't even see the developer as the "villain" here. His position in the equation is to make money, and we can't blame him for constructing the best possible deal, using the most persuasive language he could muster, etc.
It's the job of Franklin city administration to hold him to standards IN SPITE OF any personal or political relationships that exist.
Posted by: John Michlig | January 13, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Exactly.
Posted by: Josh Strupp | January 13, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Yeah but the huge thing that seems to be overlooked is the promises that were made by the DEVELOPER, not the Council, when his project was first presented to the public.
Yes, the Council does hold the bag on this one ultimately, because they allowed the developer to easily break his promises and give residents the finger whenever he felt like it.
As I've always said with this project, it was a "make or break" moment for the pro-development Council.
They broke it so terribly, I don't think they can clean up every piece of this mess.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | January 13, 2008 at 03:36 PM
As I have said before.
We still have alternatives for a Civic Center that could be developed with the Fountains of Franklin.
The Civic Center, does not have to be in what is now deemed the Civic Center area. We have a Cultural Performing Art's Center project in the works now.
How perfect would that be, to have our Civic Center be based on a Cultural Arts Center rather than a dilapidated City Hall and an area which you are saying will be determined by a retail company out of Minnesota.
This could be our "Civic Center". City Hall will eventual have to be rebuilt and there is still land along Rawson to get this done also.
Posted by: Bryan Maersch | January 13, 2008 at 05:01 PM
OK - so why did we bother spending oodles of tax dollars to build a new law enforcement center and library in this "Civic Center District" if in reality Franklin REALLY meant to put the "civic" district someplace else?
The FCAC is only one cultural center that's not even finalized yet. It still could move.
And are you suggesting that the people of Franklin scrap City Hall and build a brand new one along Rawson, which by the way isn't probably the best spot due to the fact that Rawson is only 1 mile from the Greendale border...
Ya know, isn't this what people who opposed the School Board wanted - to keep FHS as-is and just renovate it?
Sorry if I sound a tad upset here, but that was just completely ridiculous...especially when it almost sounds like a consession. What would happen if FOF developers sell their land to a retailer like Costco and then they begin dictating various things? Should we then say, "Oops! Time to create another new CC District!"??
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | January 13, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Your points are well taken Greg. Unfortunately, Brian is correct that Fountains will need to be our "civic center" if we are going to have one at all. The Wyndam development has been botched and the best we can hope for in that development is a respectable retail location.
I can't believe that after all the oversight this thing has gotten, the finished product is going to be a SuperTarget and a parking lot.
Posted by: Josh Strupp | January 14, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Well, there's OVERSIGHT and there's "oversight."
Would that our aldermen have paid as close attention to, and been as critical toward SHOPPES as they were toward Sendik's at FOUNTAINS.
Posted by: John Michlig | January 14, 2008 at 10:33 AM
You are right again as usual Greg; let’s blame this all on the pro-development Council and that satanic developer Mark Carstensen. In addition we can spend oodles of money suing the Target Corporation. How about a new slogans “Take Back Franklin"! or "We're Franklin Wisconsin not Franklin Minisota"!
Posted by: Bryan Maersch | January 14, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Yeah, Bryan...let's blame them for once! You seem to place a ton of blame on others when you see it to be fit (aka School Board). Why are you letting the Council and the developer get away with this? Not even a slap on the wrist, Bryan?
I guess it goes to show how much you care about the community at large. It seems to go as far as your wallet.
Josh, the Fountains of Franklin being our civic center...with only a Cultural Arts Center that's not even finalized on location? I don't know what to say...at least you join in the frustration many Franklin residents will be having after reading this (and the other) entry.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | January 14, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Josh
You forget - Much like the President - "Greg is the DECIDER"
Greg - When you start paying taxes - Then you can put YOUR money where your mouth is.
Posted by: Bryan Maersch | January 15, 2008 at 09:24 AM
I certainly wouldn't be proud of being a greedy individual, Bryan.
That's not who I am. The community is more important to me, and I will guarantee it will ALWAYS be.
Those that know me personally would have no problems in agreeing with that.
Oh, and I do put my money where my mouth is - plenty of times. Just because I don't pay property taxes doesn't mean I don't pay no taxes at all.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | January 15, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Again Greg you resort to name calling.
You are right though, if providing a nice home, and a good life for my family is greedy, then I am the greediest SOB in Franklin.
People that KNOW ME, feel I am looking out for the best of the community.
Heck - even you have suggested I run for school board because of my concern for the community.
And when it comes to taxes Greg, I do pay, State, Federal, and local. That would include 19 years of property taxes and 34 years of income taxes.
Posted by: Bryan Maersch | January 16, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I think Greg was aiming the "greedy" tag elsewhere, Bryan. His inference, I believe, is that the developer feathered his own nest at the cost of a better, long-view development for the community.
Posted by: John Michlig | January 16, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Thank you, John.
Posted by: Greg Kowalski | January 16, 2008 at 11:11 PM