Milwaukee, parking garage owners move to settle

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The city of Milwaukee and the owners of a vacant downtown parking garage have agreed to drop contempt motions and further settle portions of a lawsuit, according to court documents.

The stipulation and order was filed Aug. 16 and signed by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Kevin Martens on Wednesday.

The city filed suit against the garage’s owners, Dallas-based TTOW Properties LLC, in February after the company did not comply with a raze order. Since then, the city has successfully sought contempt charges against the company. TTOW has signed a contract and received demolition permits from the city.

In the document, signed by assistant city attorney Greg Hagopian and the defendant’s attorney, Chris Strohbehn of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown LLP, the city agrees to drop its second motion for contempt filed in July.

The defendant agrees to drop its challenge of the city’s attorney fees costs and pay $4,433.87 by Aug. 31.

The city’s first motion for contempt resulted in fines of $60,000, which the parties agreed can be paid directly to the demolishing contractor, C.W. Purpero Inc., Oak Creek, if a receipt of the payment is provided to the city by Aug. 31.

Mike Rogowski, Purpero’s project manager for the garage demolition, said crews will start knocking the building down in September.

None of the neighboring businesses will have to evacuate during demolition, Rogowski said.