ABB in Wauwatosa receives smooth approvals

Four final votes in the Common Council, no debate, just one comment, and the ABB construction project at Innovation Campus was on its way.

City assistance for a parking structure under the building, rearrangement of the map, a "disappearing" swale, the mass cutting of trees in Innovation Campus, and regular updates on the ever-changing estimates for tax-incremental financing district No. 6 were just a few of the subjects of discussion in committee meetings in recent months that made Tuesday's council approvals as quiet as a vote on a street festival permit.

One alderman said the council had "done its talking" about issues surrounding ABB, a power generation manufacturing company that's considered an important element in the development of Innovation Campus.

Only Alderman Tim Hanson voted against a resolution to amend a business planned development to allow construction, and again was the sole no vote on providing TIF assistance for a parking structure for ABB.

A $40 billion a year company shouldn't need help building structured parking, Hanson explained.

"It's akin to corporate welfare," he said.