Plans for the construction of the 44-story Couture tower can move forward after Milwaukee officials passed a ruling which granted clearance to redevelop the tower’s desired site. The proposed $125 million lakefront high-rise project will be built on the site of the former Milwaukee Downtown Transit Center.
“The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said its research shows the parcel at 909 E. Michigan St., on which Milwaukee County's Downtown Transit Center stands, does not fall under the state's public trust doctrine,” The Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reports. “The doctrine protects former lake beds from development.”
The ruling is a major milestone for the project, which would include a 180-room hotel and 179 apartments.
"With the DNR's decision we can now work to finalize the location and footprint of the development," Rick Barrett, the developer behind the project, told the Journal. "We look forward to the next steps of working with the county and city to reach a development agreement to make the Couture a reality."
The proposal will go to the County Board for approval when plans are finalized.
Find previous CTBUH coverage of the Couture here.