Tom Daykin

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The redevelopment proposal for downtown Milwaukee's Grand Avenue mall includes a proposed kidney dialysis clinic, according to plans filed with city officials.

The Fresnius Medical Care operation would use more than 12,200 square feet on the mall's ground floor. It would be just across the corridor from Walgreens, with frontage on N. 2nd St.

"The proposed medical office use fits within the mixed use nature of the community services that are inherent in the fabric of a successful neighborhood," according to a filing with the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals.

The proposed $1.95 million clinic's N. 2nd St. frontage is obscured by the Grand Avenue's parking structure and a bridge over the street which connects the mall's two buildings, the filing said.

That makes the space "relatively useless" for a store or restaurant, it said.

The redevelopment plans for the Grand Avenue are focusing on activating the property's W. Wisconsin Ave. frontage with a future grocery store, as well as restaurants and taverns, the filing said.

Those plans were announced in April by the Grand Avenue's new owners. The plans also include converting the upper floors into offices.

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The Fresnius center would be the latest new use for the Grand Avenue, which lost several stores over the past decade or so.

In January, Bublr Bikes announced it was moving its bike-sharing operations to the Grand Avenue. Also, Brew City Crossfit has since opened there.

Meanwhile, Bon-Ton Stores Inc. has agreed to keep operating its corporate offices and downtown Boston Store for at least another 10 years at a separately owned building adjacent to the Grand Avenue.

However, anchor office and supermarket tenants, which would drive much of the redevelopment effort, haven't yet been announced.

The dialysis center needs a special use permit. The zoning board will consider that request at its April 6 meeting.

Fresnius Medical Care's North American operations are based in Waltham, Mass. The company operates several other Milwaukee-area clinics, including a downtown location at 200 W. Pleasant St., in Schlitz Park business park.

A Fresnius spokesman couldn't be immediately reached Wednesday for more information.