Midtown Center development will move forward without computing facility, alderman says

The property owner for the redevelopment at Midtown Center has decided to remove the computing research facility from the plans, according to Milwaukee Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. 

“Following extensive discussions with the property owner, developer, and city staff—and after carefully considering the feedback shared during three public information sessions and the testimony presented before the City Plan Commission—the applicant has made my office aware of plans to remove the proposed computing research facility from the redevelopment of the former Midtown Center Walmart at 5825 W. Hope Ave.,” the alderman said in a statement July 6. 

The property owner is Trent Overhue of Affordable Family Storage (AFS). He previously told the Milwaukee Courier he was not building a data center at the site, but instead a smaller computing research facility that would house private tenants, with the first being in the medical field.

But when word spread that a possible data center was planned for the site, despite several already in city limits, what followed was multiple heated listening sessions, public activism about a possible data center being built, and an hourslong hearing before the City Plan Commission.

The construction of data centers is a pressing issue nationwide as people are concerned by the centers’ effects on the environment through water and energy use, among other concerns.

At some point, Overhue agreed to move forward without it, according to Chambers. Overhue couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. 

The development also calls for housing, a new Milwaukee Public Library branch, and expanded storage units. 

“While this change comes with a reduction in potential tax revenue, it is a better reflection of the vision shared by residents throughout this process,” Chambers said. 

“I have full confidence that the amended development will be a transformative investment for Midtown. A development anchored by a Milwaukee Public Library branch, housing, and expanded storage units will reactivate a property that has sat vacant for nearly a decade, expand access to essential services, create new housing opportunities, and improve the overall quality of life for residents throughout the 2nd Aldermanic District.

“My commitment remains unchanged. I will continue working to attract quality investment, expand housing opportunities, strengthen our tax base, and revitalize Midtown Center through a process grounded in transparency, collaboration, and genuine community engagement.”

Chambers said the public feedback and outcry played a big role in reaching this decision. 

“As the alderman representing this community, I have always believed that meaningful public engagement must be more than a checkbox. The listening sessions and public testimony provided residents with an opportunity to voice their concerns, ask difficult questions, and share their vision for the future of Midtown. I heard those concerns clearly, and I took them seriously throughout this process.

“The decision to remove the computing research facility reflects what can happen when residents engage, local government listens, and all parties remain willing to find common ground. By removing the computing research facility, the focus returns to what matters most to our community: transforming a long-vacant property into a destination that delivers housing, a new Milwaukee Public Library branch, neighborhood-serving amenities, and lasting benefits for residents.”