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Committee recommends approval of Moxie hotel plan for Deer District block after vigorous public debate
Summary
The committee recommended approval of a detailed plan for a 156-room Moxie hotel adjacent to the Deer District entertainment venues after hearings that centered on highest-and-best-use, union labor commitments and tax-assessment implications. The detailed-plan vote passed 3-1-1 in committee.
The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee recommended approval of a detailed plan for a 156-room Moxie hotel on Block 3 of the Deer District, voting to forward the ordinances authorizing the zoning changes and detailed plan with a committee tally recorded as 3'yes, 1'no and 1'abstention.
NGC Hospitality's attorney Brian Randall presented the applicant's case, describing the planned first-floor activation (bar/restaurant with check-in at the bar), and said construction costs were expected to exceed $50 million. Randall said the company would pursue local hiring, contractor disparity-business enterprise (SBE) participation and RPP-style workforce goals and that NGC would incorporate those targets into contracts once a general contractor was selected. He also noted the company's charitable and volunteer activities and asserted NCG would respect employees'decisions about unionization.
During public testimony, speakers voiced sharply divided views. The Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council's president (Dan Bukavich) told the committee a project-labor arrangement was ready to be implemented and said a 40% RPP target, 25% SBE/DBE participation, 5% women and 5% veterans were standard goals his organizations would seek for the project. Multiple labor and trades witnesses urged strong local-hire and project-labor terms. Several speakers including economists and neighborhood advocates urged the committee to seek a larger full-service hotel or a development that would yield a higher assessed value for the TID, arguing the site is among the city's most valuable and should "maximize the return" on public investments in the Deer District.
Committee members raised three recurring concerns: whether the proposed Moxie brand and its small, select-service room sizes and lack of an activated rooftop were the best fit for this prominent corner; whether the project met the downtown planning goals for density; and workforce/union issues. Alderman Bowman moved to "place on file" the detailed-plan items (a motion that failed). Alderman Jackson then moved to recommend approval; on that motion the committee recorded a passage vote (committee report: 3 yes, 1 no, 1 abstain) and will forward the ordinances to the full Common Council for final action.
The developer said financing and a general-contractor agreement were not yet finalized; construction documents, pricing and a contractor selection would follow entitlement approval. NGC indicated its target construction start was in 2026, dependent on final pricing, permit approvals and market conditions.
The committee record shows the plan commission had previously voted unanimously in favor, and Department of City Development staff recommended approval. The committee discussion and public testimony created a clear record that labor and community-benefit commitments will be a central point of negotiation as the project moves toward permitting and construction.
