Committee holds decision on proposed Moxy Hotel in Deer District pending legal review after wide public debate

A Milwaukee Common Council committee heard more than two hours of presentations and public testimony on proposed zoning changes and a detailed plan development to permit a seven‑story Moxy Hotel on Block 3 of the Arena District, then voted to hold the files for legal consultation.

What was proposed: The Department of City Development (DCD) presented companion files — an amendment to the Arena District general plan development (GPD) and a detailed plan development (DPD) for the Moxy Hotel (Files 241,339/241,340). DCD staff said the proposed building meets the block’s zoning and design standards in the GPD — including the block’s minimum story requirement and standards for street‑level activation — and that the proposal aligns with the 2023 downtown plan. Staff recommended approval and noted the application had already received unanimous recommendation from the City Plan Commission with a single condition about the visual treatment of a generator/transformer room.

Developer and operator presentations: Peter Fagan, president of the Milwaukee Bucks, described the hotel as the next phase of the Deer District master…