Cudahy mayor silent on vote denying Wal-Mart
09.05.2008 07:02
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- Source: JS Online
Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue cast the deciding vote against a proposed development anchored by a Wal-Mart Supercenter and an indoor soccer training facility this week, but he refuses to explain why. The city Plan Commission voted 4-3 against a proposal from Continental Properties Co. for an $11.5 million development that would include a 138,000-square-foot Wal-Mart discount store and supermarket, a 60,000-square-foot indoor soccer training academy operated by the Milwaukee Wave soccer team and smaller stores. The development would be on the site of the failed Iceport project, a 26-acre tract south of E. Layton Ave. between S. Nicholson Ave. and Sweet Applewood Lane. McCue, who's also a commission member, didn't offer an explanation in voting against Continental's proposal at the Monday night meeting. McCue's vote broke a 3-3 tie. McCue on Thursday again declined to cite the factors in his decision. "I don't have specific comments for that," McCue said. "The Plan Commission's vote was on Continental Properties' proposed use." Continental "is still able to submit alternate proposals," he said. McCue, a former Milwaukee County supervisor, was elected mayor in 2007. During the campaign, he opposed a preliminary plan for a Wal-Mart Supercenter floated by Cobalt Partners for a site south of Layton Ave. and west of Pennsylvania Ave. Wal-Mart didn't formally pursue that site, and Cobalt is seeking other retailers for its project. According to a February 2007 article in Cudahy Now, McCue said at a candidate forum that adding a Wal-Mart to Cudahy would worsen that city's image problem. "He doesn't want Wal-Mart in his community," said company spokeswoman Lisa Nelson. "I don't know if there's a way to change his mind." McCue's refusal to explain his vote has frustrated and disappointed Wave executives, said Michael Lafferty, chief operating officer for the Major Indoor Soccer League team. "He won't say what's wrong with the plan," Lafferty said. Continental and Wal-Mart are considering their options, which include submitting another proposal to Cudahy officials, Nelson said. She also said Wal-Mart might consider nearby sites outside Cudahy. Lafferty said Wave officials might look at other locations for the facility, which would provide instruction for youth soccer players and serve as the Wave's new training center. But Lafferty also said the Wave is not "giving up on Cudahy." There is strong support among Cudahy residents for the development, said Steve Wagner, Continental's vice president of retail leasing. He said Continental and Wal-Mart are trying to determine their best strategy for pursuing the project. Nelson said Wal-Mart wants a Supercenter to serve customers in Cudahy and surrounding communities who shop at other Wal-Mart stores. The closest Wal-Marts to Cudahy are at 3355 S. 27th St., Milwaukee, and 6701 S. 27th St., Franklin. The company will expand those two discount stores into Supercenters this year. The Cudahy site was previously proposed for the Iceport indoor skating complex. Sportsites LLC started construction in 2004 on Iceport, which also would have anchored a larger mixed-use development called LakePort Village. But the project ran into financing problems, leading to its demise. Sportsites last year agreed to sell the largely vacant parcel to Continental to help resolve a legal dispute with the city. If Continental fails to develop the site, the city can take back ownership of the property, which might need additional environmental cleanup work. The deadline for the land sale to Continental is July 1.
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