Ald. Khalif Rainey rescinds support for meat processor Strauss Brands' move to Century City

Days after defending a meat processing company's plans to develop a 170,000-square-foot production facility at Milwaukee's Century City Business Park, Ald. Khalif Rainey on Friday rescinded his support. 

In a statement, he cited neighbors' response to the planned Strauss Brands LLC facility in the days after a Common Council meeting that drew protesters from the groups Slaughter Free Milwaukee and Direct Action Everywhere.

"When the administration initially brought the Strauss meat processing plant proposal forward, I considered the prospect of bringing 250 jobs to Century City, with more to follow," Rainey said. "However, in the 72-hour period since the Common Council considered the proposal I have received an overwhelming response from neighbors in opposition to the project."

At Tuesday's council meeting, Rainey pushed back against protesters, who said the plant, at 3025 W. Hopkins St., would negatively affect the area.

He said the plan for the specialty meatpacker to move from Franklin to the Milwaukee site presented an opportunity for job creation. Rainey also criticized the protesters, saying the people who showed up to protest weren't his neighbors and were demonstrating "selective indignation."

The plant would initially bring 250 jobs to Century City. Tied to the number of jobs created is up to $4.5 million in city financing that would be disbursed in annual payments generated by the new building's property tax revenue.

That measure and one allowing the sale of the 20-acre development site and possibly five additional acres for $1 were unanimously approved by the city's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee on Oct. 8. 

At Tuesday's meeting, the proposal was sent back to committee to allow further discussion.

Then on Thursday, the proposed plant received another endorsement from the city when the Redevelopment Authority board supported a land-use change to allow the slaughterhouse at Century City.

Rainey said in the statement that he had long supported the Century City development, saying it "represents an opportunity to align the city’s north side with the economic drivers of the future, not those of our past."

"In keeping true to the vision of Century City, and standing for the interests of the people in the neighborhood, I do not believe the Strauss meat processing plant is a good utilization of that space," he said.

Saying he was listening to the voices in his community, Rainey called on Mayor Tom Barrett and his fellow Common Council members to follow suit. 

"We will remain diligent and patient when it comes to creating a Century City that reflects the vision we as a community hope to achieve with this opportunity," Rainey said. 

In a statement, Barrett said, "I will continue to fight for family-supporting jobs at Century City. I will not stop my efforts to attract businesses and provide opportunities where jobs are needed most."

Barrett said he still supports the project. 

If city officials reject Strauss, Century City will likely face difficulties attracting other businesses, Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux said at Thursday’s Redevelopment Authority board meeting.

Like the land sale and city financing plan, the land use change for Strauss also needs Common Council approval.

The business park, which the city began developing 10 years ago, so far has attracted  two businesses that together have fewer than 50 employees: Good City Brewing and rail car refurbisher Talgo.

Century City, on the site of the former A.O. Smith and Tower Automotive complex, has been hurt by a location in a neighborhood marked by crime and poverty, and a relatively far distance from I-43.

About $40 million in public funds have been spent buying the site, razing buildings, doing environmental cleanup, and building roads and other public improvements.

That includes about $15 million in city funds that were to be repaid by property taxes generated by new developments at Century City.

But Department of City Development officials said that debt will need to be bailed out with revenue from other city tax financing districts.

Strauss Brands could not be reached for comment late Friday. After the protests at Tuesday's Common Council meeting, Randy Strauss, president and CEO, said in a statement that the company has been in the Milwaukee area for more than 82 years and has a reputation for being a good corporate citizen.

"Strauss Brands is proud of our reputation as one of the nation’s leading suppliers of ethically raised meats," he said. "We look forward to working with the city and the community to advance this important economic development project in Century City."

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.