It was recently reported that UWM is considering the Reed Street Yards as a potential site for the School of Freshwater Sciences.  Although. I still think the lakefront site offers the most prominent location which would have played well with the re-branding of Milwaukee but, the Reed Street Yards site does have many positives that make it a suitable location.  Simply put, if UWM were to build on the Reed Street Yards it could play a significant role in the revitalization of a neighborhood.

Another site under consideration is the existing Great Lakes Water Institute on E. Greenfield Ave., but this site is actually the worst of both goals, branding and revitalization.  The area does need revitalization, but there just isn ‘t much of a neighborhood to revitalize as the site is fairly isolated.  Further, the existing Great Lakes Institute is in reality a former tile factory, not a first-class research facility.

While E. Greenfield Ave. is fairly isolated, the Reed Street Yards is located in the center of an area that has seen significant recent redevelopment efforts, and adding the School of Freshwater Sciences to the mix could build upon these efforts.  This area has a supply of office space, such as the recently redeveloped project at 234 W. Florida St., that could be utilized by start-up research firms.  The area also has affordable rental apartments for students and staff to live in.  In terms of collaboration MMSD’s headquarters is located adjacent to the site, and the city has already put forward a plan that would utilize TIF funding not just to build the needed infrastructure, but also includes financial incentives to help land the first water business.  The biggest concern, and possibly the show stopper for this site, is if the boat access is insufficient, but if that challenge can be surmounted this site could be successful.

As I said in a previous article “The re-development of the Reed Street Yards is the next piece of the puzzle to the revitalization of Walker’s Point,” and building the School of Freshwater Sciences here, not only makes sense, but could be what gets this effort rolling.

Inspired by the success of Green Drinks Milwaukee. The idea is to get folks together to talk about sustainability, to network and build momentum for the sea change in sustainable consciousness that is on its way!

Buy your own lunch and/or beverages, and get in there and meet people! No RSVP necessary and feel free to pass this around.

Every fourth Tuesday at NOON held at the Milwaukee Public Market, 400 N. Water Street. Meet in the 2nd floor common area. For more information, contact Mike Mangan at ebikemike@yahoo.com

The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee reviews issues relating to city development, zoning, historic preservation, incremental tax financing, building codes and housing projects.

The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee meetings start at 9:00 a.m. and are held in the Room 301-B, City Hall, unless otherwise noted.

Agenda

The Sixth PechaKucha Night in Milwaukee is going to be something special.

Why? Because it will be free, the first 20 people through the door get a copy of “Pow!” by Andy Nulman, Shopkeeper Ken will be DJing, and you’ll hear and watch fast paced presentations (20 slides that change automatically every 20 seconds) on making beer, the global impact of coffee, green homes, why people don’t (and do) like to dance, technology and sausage, the fact that humans actually have three brains, and much more!

Presenters include Mike Brenner, James Carlson, Jim Chambers, Fred Gillich, Steve Hawthorne, Ryan Matteson, David Ravel, and Jim Warchol.

Mark your calendars and see you there!

Where:

Sugar Maple
441 E. Lincoln Avenue (Lincoln and Kinnickinnic)
414-481-2393