The Wisconsin Division of Health Services is shifting around 200 employees from Milwaukee’s central city to a northwest side building.
The state agency has signed a seven-year lease for 56,000 square feet of office space within a 375,000-square-foot warehouse at 6101 N. 64th St.
That’s according to an announcement from building owner C.H. Coakley & Co., which operates a moving and storage business.
C.H. Coakley bought the building, formerly used by years ago as an Outboard Marine Corp. factory, in 2021 for $6.5 million, according to city assessment records.
The company was attracted by the property’s central location, ample parking and “abundance of space” said President Mike Coakley, in a statement.
“This location highlights the hybrid leasing concept our clients are looking for,” Coakley said, “and enables us to create spaces that are customized for each of our individual clients.”
The move will involve approximately 200 employees, with the space to be converted from warehouse to offices by November, a company spokeswoman told the Journal Sentinel.
Those employees work in the DHS Division of Medicaid Services Milwaukee Enrollment Service, said Jennifer Miller, a department representative.
That division now leases space at the Milwaukee County-owned Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center, 1220 W. Vliet St., where it’s been located since 2010, according to information filed with the State Building Commission.
“DHS has identified a series of deficiencies with the location that negatively impact operations including: lack of adequate safety and security provisions, lack of ADA accessibility, deferred maintenance, and lack of adequate parking for clients and staff. In addition to these factors, DHS has also reduced the space requirements for the location,” the February commission report said.
County officials in December recommended spending $32.3 million in federal grants to make improvements to the center, which also houses county social service programs.
But that proposal didn’t proceed after County Board members raised concerns about it.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
