May 14--A possible extended-stay hotel at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Innovation Campus development in Wauwatosa received a preliminary recommendation for approval Monday from county officials.

The hotel, with up to 128 rooms, would be developed on 3.5 acres at Innovation Campus, which is north of W. Watertown Plank Road and east of Highway 45, said Teig Whaley-Smith, county economic development director.

The hotel's operator and brand name isn't yet being disclosed. Innovation Park LLC, an affiliate of UWM Real Estate Foundation, which is developing Innovation Campus, wants the County Board to change its development agreement with Milwaukee County to allow the hotel to be built.

The foundation has a letter of intent to sell the land to the prospective hotel developer, foundation attorney Bruce Block told members of the board's Committee on Economic and Community Development. Changing the development agreement would allow the foundation to negotiate a sale contract, he said.

The committee recommended that change on a 6-1 vote, with Supervisor John Weishan the sole opponent. He said the board should use the request as leverage to seek money from the foundation, or changes in strengthening Innovation Campus' butterfly habitat.

Weishan said the hotel and its "low-wage hospitality jobs" would take away land that could otherwise be used for a research or office facility.

Whaley-Smith and other supporters, including Wauwatosa city officials, said the hotel would serve researchers and other people visiting Innovation Campus and the nearby Medical College of Wisconsin and other medical institutions. Supporters said it would generate property taxes, with the land sale providing cash for the foundation to make installment payments on the land it purchased from Milwaukee County for Innovation Campus.

Innovation Campus projects under development so far include ABB Inc.'s new regional offices and a business accelerator.

Hotels often locate in business parks. The nearby Milwaukee County Research Park includes a Crowne Plaza Hotel.

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