440th Leftovers Up in Air: New Uses for Vacated Property Considered

By Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Oct. 24–As the time to shut off the lights at the 440th Air Force Reserve facility grows closer, authorities have been trying to figure out what to do with the 102 acres that housed the unit for decades.

The area at the south end of Mitchell International Airport that was once filled with the Air Force Reserve unit’s C-130 cargo planes will almost assuredly end up as a third runway for the growing airport to be completed between 2016 and 2021.

Before that happens, it’s up to the 440th Local Redevelopment Authority to determine what to do with the furniture and vehicles left behind, who will handle security, maintenance and fire control and who will pay for utilities and caretakers of the property once the Air Force is no longer in charge.

On Tuesday the Local Redevelopment Authority voted to take ownership of all leftover property and decided to get bids for hiring legal counsel. Dave Misky, a city official working with the Local Redevelopment Authority, told the group that there may be a snag in the timetable to acquire the property because an Air Force agency is requesting an environmental impact study even though a separate Air Force agency is only requiring an environmental assessment, which will take less time and money.

The 440th Local Redevelopment Authority will choose one of four land use alternatives next month or in December. All of the plans factor in the future runway, which will take up 46 acres through a public benefit conveyance — meaning no money is exchanged — but they differ in the types of use for the remaining land and the degree of control for redevelopment by the airport and Local Redevelopment Authority. The four options include one intermediate term plan and three long-term reuse plans, which all require a new intersection for Howell Avenue once a new runway is built:

–Intermediate plan: Once the Air Force turns over the property to the Local Redevelopment Authority, a property management and marketing organization will handle the reuse of buildings through leases and manage utilities, roads and security. That role will be performed by the county-run airport. The Air Force will pay for caretakers until the land is officially taken over by the Local Redevelopment Authority.

–Aviation reuse plan: The airport assumes responsibility for all services provided to any tenants. Existing security measures must be reviewed to meet FAA standards. The land isn’t taxable, but some improvements and personal property owned by private users would be taxable.

–Aviation with commercial use plan: Allows for private redevelopment of about 16 acres. Easements will be needed for redevelopment of parcels. Security fencing around airport will be required.

–Limited airport plan: The airport assumes responsibility for services within the 46 acres of the new runway site including maintenance, infrastructure and demolition if required.

Under federal law, agencies that benefit the homeless get first dibs in requests for surplus military property. The Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee has requested the use of Building 205 at the 440th, a 56,000-square-foot warehouse to be used as a distribution center for food. Once the Local Redevelopment Authority chooses a reuse plan, both the city council and county board will vote on it before the plan goes to federal officials. The 440th is scheduled to close in early February.

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