New hotel might rise where airport Wyndham will fall

The developer, L&R Group of Companies of Los Angeles, plans to tear down the hotel, which closed late last year. It had announced plans to open WallyPark, an upscale off-site airport parking provider, along with some retail on the site at the corner of South Howell and West Layton avenues.

But the city was worried the plan wasn’t an appropriate use of a marquee site near the airport, as reported by The Business Journal in March.

The new configuration offers more retail frontage space along Howell Avenue, said Jeff Fleming, spokesman for the Milwaukee Department of City Development. It calls for two large retail pads along Howell Avenue and a pad for a future hotel along Layton Avenue, said Ald. Terry Witkowski, whose district includes the site.

L&R is targeting sit-down restaurants and other retailers for the pads, he said. The agreement continues to include plans for a WallyPark.

The new plan will be more attractive and welcoming for a site that’s a gateway to the city, Witkowski said. It also will include sustainable features and attractive landscaping.

“We wanted to make sure that the place didn’t look like a sea of cars,” he said.

The city and L&R are working on a developer’s agreement to present to the city council, Witkowski said. Neither Witkowski nor Fleming knew L&R’s proposed timeline. A spokesman for L&R couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Reported:  Greater Milwaukee Business Journal