Combine warm water, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Add remaining sugar, milk, eggs, and salt. Mix well until combined.
Cut the cold butter into the flour using a pastry cutter or food processor until the pieces of butter are no larger than the size of peas.
Add the cold butter and flour mixture. Stir together by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula until moistened and a shaggy mixture forms. The dough will be sticky.
Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Knead a few times using the parchment paper or plastic wrap to fold the dough onto itself until the dough comes together. Divide the dough into two evenly sized pieces. The dough will be sticky, but not too sticky to work with. If the dough is particularly stick, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours before proceeding so the butter can firm up.
Transfer one portion of dough to a generously floured surface. Press it into a square, then roll it out into a large rectangle roughly 24"x12", adding more flour as needed and using the bench scraper to slide under the dough and keep it from sticking to the work surface.
Fold the dough into thirds, like folding a letter roughly 12"x8". Roll it out again into a roughly 24"x12" rectangle, then repeat the process of folding it into thirds. Roll it out for a third time and fold it one more time for a total of 3 times. Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 but up to 24 hours or freeze for up to 2 months, then thaw in the fridge overnight before proceeding.