Developer Mark Irgens intends to buy the former Ruby Farm site on Calhoun Road near Interstate 94 in Brookfield and build retail and office buildings. He would like to incorporate the original farm buildings seen here. Katherine Michalets/Special to The Freeman

BROOKFIELD – The former Ruby Farm site along Calhoun Road will likely be redeveloped as office and retail buildings in the next couple of years, but developer Mark Irgens would like to incorporate the farm house and other buildings into the design.

Irgens, CEO/president and manager of Irgens in Milwaukee, said he has a contract to purchase the land and hopes to complete the sale by the end of the year. Development of the approximate 66 acres along Calhoun and Bluemound roads likely won’t happen until about mid-2014, he said.

A land planner, real estate brokers and Brookfield city staff are being consulted to determine what is the best plan for the site, Irgens said. The initial idea is to construct retail-orientated buildings on the front third of the property along Bluemound Road. The portion along the Interstate 94 on the Calhoun side would be used for corporate land uses.

Irgens said the property hasn’t been actively available until recently when the bank that owns the property sent out requests for proposals. Irgens’ bid was successful. The portion along Calhoun Road was once Ruby Farm and the section along Bluemound Road was the former WTMJ tower site, Irgens said.

The ability to develop one of the last large pieces of property in Brookfield is an opportunity, Irgens said. He also liked that it is centrally located in Waukesha County, “which is a great place to be.”

“We hope to start having discussions with the city once we have done some of the initial planning,” he said.