MILWAUKEE — After weeks of debate over a proposed computational research facility at the former Midtown Center Walmart, the project is taking a different direction.
In a statement released Monday, Alderman Mark Chambers Jr. announced that the developer has agreed to remove the proposed computing research facility from the redevelopment plans for the former Walmart at 5825 W. Hope Ave.
The announcement follows several public information sessions and testimony before the City Plan Commission, where residents raised questions about the facility’s environmental impact, future expansion, job creation, transparency, and one question that repeatedly surfaced throughout the process:
Who would be operating the facility?
Throughout the public meetings, developers maintained the proposal was not a traditional data center, describing it instead as a computational research facility that would use a closed-loop cooling system, require minimal water usage, remain within existing electrical infrastructure, and be limited to approximately 19,000 square feet. Officials also said any future expansion would require additional public approvals.
But many residents remained unconvinced.
Some questioned why the company behind the project had not been publicly identified, while others wanted stronger guarantees that the project would create jobs for Milwaukee residents and provide meaningful long-term benefits to the surrounding neighborhood.
One community member asked, “It’s going to look better, but is it going to feel any better?”
Another resident questioned why the operator of the facility had not been identified, asking how the community could evaluate the proposal without knowing who would ultimately occupy the building.
Alderman Chambers said those concerns made a difference.
“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.”
According to Chambers, the redevelopment will now focus on what he says residents consistently supported:
- Approximately 200 housing units
- A new Milwaukee Public Library branch
- Neighborhood-serving amenities
- Expanded storage facilities
- Revitalization of a property that has sat vacant for nearly a decade
Chambers acknowledged that removing the computing facility could reduce potential tax revenue but said the revised proposal better reflects the vision residents shared throughout the public process.
The announcement also serves as an example of how public participation can shape major development projects. Residents attended meetings, asked difficult questions, and voiced concerns that ultimately resulted in changes to the proposal.
The revised redevelopment plan is expected to continue moving through the city’s approval process without the proposed computing research facility.
