Wisconsin Ave. Facade

Two controversial development projects received key approvals at the January 19th, 2011 meeting of the Common Council.

First, the development team for the $50 million Marriott Hotel project, which will be located near the corner of E. Wisconsin Ave. and N. Milwaukee St., won an appeal of the Historic Preservation Commission’s ruling that would have required a 15 foot setback for the upper floors of the building.  While the facades of some buildings along Wisconsin Ave. will be preserved or restored, this essentially approves the demolition of five buildings located in the East Side Commercial Historic District.  The 200-room hotel being developed by Jackson Street Management LLC. is expected to create 200 permanent jobs. It is being financed through the foreign investment via the federal EB-5 program, and if granted will utilized New Market Tax Credits.

Alderman Kovac discussed how the Historic Preservation Commission actually moved the process along quickly saying it moved “more quickly than your own front porch”.  He also reminded other council members that in 1983 the Common Council unanimously recommended these buildings for protection.

One significant change to the proposal was pushed by Alderman Wade.  He worked out an agreement with Jackson Street Management LLC. to a meet a level of EBE and RPP requirements on the project, following the pattern of the M.O.R.E. ordinance.

The appeal was approved on a vote of 13-2, with Alderman Bauman and Kovac voting against the appeal.

Corner Perspective

Also included in approvals at the January 19th 2011 Common Council meeting was an approval for the land sale and zoning for Greenwich Park Apartments. The $8.5 million apartment building, located near N. Farwell Ave. and Thomas St., will be 5-stories tall with 54-units, ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units, and include approximately 100 parking spots, of which 48 will be available for the general public.  This approval will allow Mercy Housing Lakefront, the project developer, to apply for WHEDA tax credits to assist in funding the project.

With these approvals in place, and likely support from Mayor Barrett, both projects appear to be poised to break ground this year.

Alterra's On-Street Bike Parking

Back on Park(ING) Day we wrote about the possibility of on-street bike corrals and how small changes to the built environment can help make for a better, more interesting Milwaukee.  But to create those small changes we need the City of Milwaukee and local businesses to work together to get things rolling.  Alterra is doing just that.  Alterra is working with the city to develop an on-street bike corral at Alterra’s Prospect Avenue location that will allow customers to safely and securely park their bicycle in a parking spot in front of the business.

On-street bike parking, similar to this proposal, has been tried in other cities such as Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle.  These cities have implemented on-street bike parking facilities because bike corrals help with traffic calming, provide a 10-to-1 customer to parking space ratio, improve the outdoor seating environment, welcome bike riders to an establishment, clear the sidewalks for pedestrians, and act as de facto curb extensions.  With this project Milwaukee will be added to the list of forward-looking, innovative cities that are exploring multi-modal transportation options, improving the built environment, and working towards better utilization of pavement.

Alterra’s project is a great step forward, but to continue the momentum, more will need to be done to change how parking spaces are viewed and to formalize a legal and affordable process to allow installations such as these within the City of Milwaukee.  For example, in Portland a formal process has been adopted for the creation of on-street bike corrals, and now more than 60 of these facilities have been installed.   One possible solution would be to make the approval process similar to that of outdoor street dining, by making it a special privilege, which would include a minimal annual fee and straightforward guidelines.

Early renderings of the bike corral were published on OnMilwaukee.com, but the project has continued to be refined and improved.  The updated renderings, by Chris Socha of Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc., are shown below:

America’s suburban landscape has become littered with empty blight inducing big-box stores.  As Walmart uses up a market, the company shutters stores and moves on to the next neighborhood, leaving hulking vacant boxes and thousands of empty, litter-filled parking spots in its wake.  This happens because Walmart places deed restrictions on the property to insure no possible competitor could purchase the property.

Isn’t this precisely what Milwaukee Public Schools is doing with vacant school buildings?

In response to this problem, Alderman Hines and State Sen Alberta Darling recently announced that they are working together to push for legislation that would change how land sales are handled by MPS.  Their efforts prompted a response from Milwaukee School Board President Michael Bonds making the comment that doing this would be “like asking the Coca-Cola Company to turn over its facilities to Pepsi so Pepsi can expand and compete with the Coca-Cola Company,” but quite frankly MPS isn’t Coke or Pepsi, it’s Walmart.  And that needs to change.

Being for charter schools, or being against charter schools is irrelevant, it seems to me that everyone should be against MPS holding on to these vacant properties that continue to blight our neighborhoods, because they fear a little competition.

Additionally, the current MPS land sale process involves hiring an outside brokerage firm and outside legal assistance.  This is an unnecessary duplication of resources that can be eliminated, as the City of Milwaukee already has a department with the expertise to sell these properties.  Certainly, this change to State Statue Chapter 119 will not resolve the big issues facing MPS, but it won’t bring MPS down if a handful of schools are able to re-purpose existing facilities either.  Hopefully the proposed change will get through the state legislature and signed by Governor Walker so Milwaukee can save some money and put these buildings back into active use.

January 19, 2011

Common Council Meeting

January 19, 2011 9:00 am

City Hall
200 East Wells St.
Common Council Chambers
Milwaukee, WI 53202[...]

Milwaukee County: Committee on Transporation, Public Works and Transit

January 19, 2011 9:00 am

The mission of the Department of Public Works, including the construction and maintenance of county highways, bridges and public structures are the responsibility of this Committee. Members discuss all matters pertaining to the policy of mass transit and the Milwaukee County Transit System, including fares, service routes and capital improvements. The Committee discusses all matters [...]

Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

January 19, 2011 1:30 pm

The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) administers Milwaukee’s historic preservation ordinance, adopted in 1981, which provides certain kinds of legal protection for buildings or sites that have been declared historic by the Common Council. The HPC is responsible for designating historic landmarks and historic districts and for approving Certificates of Appropriateness (COAs) for permission to [...]

January 20, 2011

Capital Improvements Committee Meeting

January 20, 2011 9:00 am

The Capital Improvement Committee is tasked to develop, maintain, and update a long-term capital improvements program for the City’s construction and maintenance of its infrastructure and facilities.

It is made up of the Commissioner of Public Works; the Department of Administration – Budget and Management Director; the Comptroller; the chair of the Public Works Committee; the [...]

January 21, 2011

Milwaukee County Executive Candidates Forum

January 21, 2011 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm

The major candidates in the race for Milwaukee County Executive will make their first joint appearance Friday, Jan. 21, at Marquette University Law School during a forum co-sponsored by the Law School and the Milwaukee Press Club.

The 75-minute event will begin at 12:00 noon and will be held in the [...]

Artworks for Milwaukee’s 3rd Annual Gallery Night Event “Art in the Neighborhood”

January 21, 2011 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Artworks for Milwaukee unveils the completed art work of our Apprentice Artists created in the two Fall 2010 programs: “Positive Influence Project” and “Safe Place Mural”.

Under the guidance of Lead Artist Kasia Drake-Hames, the “Positive Influence Project” give accolades to Milwaukee residents who make a difference in our communities.

The “Safe Place Mural” Program with Lead [...]

Gallery Night and Day

January 21, 2011 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Gallery Night and Day is the premier art event in Milwaukee for gallery hopping and art viewing. This January 21 and 22, the quarterly event showcases 47 venues throughout downtown. Admission is free to all participating venues during event hours. For more information, including venue event hours visit: http://bit.ly/GalleryNight or pick up a brochure at [...]

Sip stout in the Streets of Old Milwaukee, devour hors d’oeuvres with the dinosaurs, and rhumba in the rainforest during the 13th Annual Food & Froth Fest at the Milwaukee Public Museum. A celebration of all types of beer – from across town to halfway around the world – Food & Froth will also feature appetizers from a variety of local restaurants and caterers and music from local bands. www.mpm.edu

Purchase tickets today! This event sells out fast!
Call (414) 278-2728 or (888) 700-9069 during museum hours.

A block party in January? Yes! The Milwaukee Press Club is proud to celebrate the City of Milwaukee’s 165th birthday this year with The Ultimate City Neighborhood Block Party. The Press Club also will be unveiling the ultimate neighborhood trivia contest on January 10 that will lead up to the annual City of Milwaukee Birthday Party, to be held January 25, 2011 in the Expo Center at Potawatomi Bingo Casino from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

The ultimate neighborhood trivia contest, developed with assistance from Milwaukee historian John Gurda and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel neighborhoods reporter Tom Tolan, will challenge contestants in their knowledge of historical, fun and quirky trivia regarding Milwaukee’s storied neighborhoods.  In addition to complimentary neighborhood-inspired food and beverages, live local music and giveaways, party guests will also enjoy a short historical presentation by Gurda and Tolan, and join Mayor Tom Barrett, Common Council President Willie Hines and others in a toast to the City’s 165th birthday.

Those interested in attending or learning more about the Ultimate City Neighborhood Block Party can register immediately at www.milwaukeepressclub.org. Official contest rules and entry instructions will be available on the site beginning January 10. Information is also available by following the Milwaukee Press Club on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MKEPressClub, or follow the hashtag #MKEbdayparty.

The trivia contest winner’s name will be announced by at the event, to be hosted by the Press Club from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Expo Center at Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 West Canal Street. Admission is $25. Free parking is available in the garage south of the casino, or guests may take advantage of complimentary valet parking, courtesy of Potawatomi Bingo Casino.

The mission of the Department of Public Works, including the construction and maintenance of county highways, bridges and public structures are the responsibility of this Committee. Members discuss all matters pertaining to the policy of mass transit and the Milwaukee County Transit System, including fares, service routes and capital improvements. The Committee discusses all matters under its jurisdiction pertaining to railroads and public utilities in the county.

Meets at 9:00 A.M. on the 3rd Wednesday before the County Board Meeting

Agenda

City Hall
200 East Wells St.
Common Council Chambers
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Agenda

The Capital Improvement Committee is tasked to develop, maintain, and update a long-term capital improvements program for the City’s construction and maintenance of its infrastructure and facilities.

It is made up of the Commissioner of Public Works; the Department of Administration – Budget and Management Director; the Comptroller; the chair of the Public Works Committee; the chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee; the Common Council President; and a public member appointed by the Mayor. All except the public member may name an alternate. The public member is subject to Common Council confirmation to a three-year term. The President of the Common Council names the chair of the committee.

Agenda