Milwaukee real estate executive Joe Weirick dies, worked on Grand Avenue, RiverWalk

Joseph Weirick, a longtime Milwaukee real estate executive who helped redevelop Grand Avenue mall and also worked on downtown's RiverWalk, has died at the age of 58.

Weirick died Sunday. He worked for decades as a commercial real estate developer and property manager at some of the Milwaukee area's best-known projects.

That included serving as president of Polacheck Property Management Inc., a Milwaukee firm that was later acquired by C.B. Richard Ellis Inc., now known as CBRE Group Inc. 

Weirick was hard-working, trustworthy and unflappable, said William Bonifas, a CBRE executive vice president in the company's Milwaukee office.

"He was the greatest under pressure," Bonifas said.

Weirick presided over renovations that helped boost Grand Avenue's occupancy rate in 2004 and 2005 by landing several major tenants, including Linens ’n Things, T.J. Maxx, Old Navy and OfficeMax.

He played a key role in creating the RiverWalk in the 1990s while managing downtown's 100 East office tower, which overlooks the Milwaukee River. 

Weirick managed Reuss Federal Plaza, the office building just across W. Wisconsin Ave. from the Grand Avenue that is now known as The Blue.

He also helped with efforts to create The Mayfair Collection, a Wauwatosa development that features stores and restaurants in both new buildings and converted former warehouses.

Weirick and his partners purchased a former Kohl's Food Stores Inc. warehouse, on W. Burleigh St. east of U.S. Highway 45, and planned to buy some neighboring properties for a redevelopment project, said Tim Blum of Chicago-based HSA Commercial Real Estate Inc.

HSA got involved in 2007 and took the lead role in creating The Mayfair Collection, with Weirick remaining as one of the development's partners.

Weirick was well-connected and "knew all the right people," said Blum, HSA executive vice president. He also noted Weirick's genial nature and calm demeanor.

"I don't think I ever saw him upset," Blum said.

Survivors include his wife, Beth Weirick, executive director of Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5:45 p.m. Friday at Three Holy Women Parish - Holy Rosary Church, 2011 N. Oakland Ave., followed by a funeral Mass at 6 p.m. 

Tom Daykin can be reached attdaykin@jrn.com