A boutique hotel and a 78-unit apartment building are coming to Ballpark Commons in Franklin, developer says
On the four-year anniversary of breaking ground at Ballpark Commons owner Mike Zimmerman shared his plans for the remaining land.
Speaking to the Franklin Common Council on June 7, Zimmerman shared opening dates for various elements of the projects already underway along with plans for a boutique hotel and a mixed-use building with apartments and retail.
The 30-room hotel, tentatively named “The Pennant Hotel,” will be baseball-themed. The Rally Hotel in McGregor Square in Denver has a similar theme and “sort of inspires this (project),” Zimmerman said.
The hotel will be on the corner of Ballpark Drive and Rawson Avenue and is on deck to start construction this fall.
Additionally, Zimmerman announced a new mixed use building with 78 apartments divided equally between one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The project includes a pool, club room, leasing office and 5,900 square feet of retail space.
Zimmerman has partnered with Mandel Group, Inc. for the project, which has a tentative June 1, 2023 groundbreaking date. Between now and then various approvals will need to come from Franklin.
These two projects will officially complete Ballpark Commons.
“So, then the good news is that I am done, I have no more land over at Ballpark Commons,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman plans to redevelop the old Orchard View shopping center
However, he has a new project.
Zimmerman also announced he purchased the Orchard View shopping center on 76th Street near Rawson Avenue and the land behind it, totaling about 30 acres.
“(The purchase is) largely because of all the success we’ve been having at Ballpark Commons,” Zimmerman said.
Mayor Steve Olson said it was “huge news for the community,” calling Zimmerman a “motivated owner.”
“(It’s) nothing but good news for this community,” Olson said. “Take a shopping center that’s a little tired and we’ll see what happens.”
Here's what else is coming soon to Ballpark Commons
Zimmerman said he’s “hustling for an Aug. 12 opening” for the golf and entertainment aspects of Luxe Golf Bays. He said between now and the opening there will be training and other soft opening events leading up to the grand opening. Luxe will employ 140 people, he said.
Dog Haus, a California-based hot dog restaurant franchise, will open in October or November.
An Italian pizza restaurant will open in winter.
The combined MainStay Suits and Sleep Inn will start construction in the next 30 to 45 days, Zimmerman said, hoping it will start by the end of June. He said it will take a year to build.
The Rock N Pickle project that merges a bar, live music and pickleball, is undergoing a few redesigns but Zimmerman is still hoping to start construction in the fall.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Baseball-themed hotel, apartment complex coming to Ballpark Commons
