Darick Spears, owner of Darick Books in Milwaukee, Wis., is seeking to redevelop a long-vacant city property into a community hub. The Business Journal reported that the two-floor complex would include a co-working space, gym, laundromat, and cafe, as well as book sales and printing services. The property would require an estimated $965,000 to repair and renovate. Spears has offered to buy the city-owned building for $15,000.
He proposes developing the building into Darick Books Café Complex as part of a "lifelong mission to create a space where Milwaukee residents can write their own story of possibility." He has owned Darick Books, located at 2877 N. 76th St., for five years.
Spears recently appeared before Milwaukee's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee, whose members would consider a resolution to approve a land disposition report and authorize the sale of the property at 3953 N. 76th St. Constructed in 1970, the building Spears wants to develop in the Nash Park neighborhood is a multi-story brick building of 21,000 square feet that previously was occupied by offices, the Business Journal noted.
In a statement released after the meeting, Alderman Lamont Westmoreland said the Common Council had adopted a file that authorizes the sale of the property, adding: "With today's vote, we are one step closer to welcoming Darick Spears and his business, Darick Books Café Complex, to the 5th District.... I couldn't be more thrilled about this new amenity coming to the 5th District. For more than a decade this site has been a general eyesore in the district, and often an illegal dumping target. Since I've been elected, there have been nearly 50 proposals for this space, but none have met my vision for the area or brought the value that Darick Books Café Complex will. It's hard to think of a better fit for this space and the district."
It is anticipated that the new space would be open within the next 18 months.