As the US economy continued it slow recovery from the Great Recession, Milwaukee was left with a couple of failed development projects to complete or redefine, a changing real estate market, the opportunity to make small infrastructure changes, and questions about the future of transit.

At the December 13th, 2011 meeting of the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee, a zoning change and a proposed Development Incentive Zone (DIZ) overlay were approved to allow for future development of the Reed Street Yards. The 17-acre property, located between South 6th Street and South 3rd Street, is being redevelopment into a water research and development park in a collaborative effort between City of Milwaukee, the property owner Peter Mead, and General Capital Group.

At the November 22nd, 2011 meeting of the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee funds for the construction of new infrastructure within the Reed Street Yards were approved. The 17-acre property, known as the Reed Street Yards, is located between South 6th Street and South 3rd Street, and has been targeted by the City of Milwaukee and the Water Council as the future center of Milwaukee’s water industry.

Not only is there a planned ground breaking ceremony this Thursday, May 19th, for the Milwaukee Fix, but also a ribbon cutting for the redesigned S. 2nd Street. Both of these developments are ground breaking events for Milwaukee.

As we reported yesterday, Mercy Housing Lakefront’s planning a senior-housing apartment building to be located at the Southeast corner of 1st St. and Pittsburgh Ave. in Walker’s Point. At press time these additional renderings, by Korb Tredo Architects, weren’t available for publication.

Mercy Housing Lakefront is proposing a five-story apartment building, which would be located at the Southeast corner of 1st St. and Pittsburgh Ave. in Walker’s Point. This 55 unit apartment building is intended to serve independent adults 55 and older with incomes ranging between 30% and 60% of the area median income.

Momentum, development, and a touch of new life on South 2nd Street in Walker’s Point? Yes. The complete street redesign for S. 2nd St., was just the start. Although there is still work to be completed, the street has re-opened to two-way traffic, the bike lanes have been painted, the grass has been planted, and the wider sidewalks are in place. And now there are signs of new life on the street.

Bradley Tech, a fight, gangs, guns, and more squad cars than you can count. And no news. Why? What happened?

For years much of the crime reporting on the evening news worked like this: Listen to scanner, put out news story.

Kaufmann LeSage, led by Juli Kaufmann, plans to develop a four-story 30,000 square foot environmentally-friendly commercial building, located at 538 S. 2nd Street in the Historic Walker’s Point Neighborhood. The project, known as the Milwaukee Fix,will take green development to the next level, going beyond LEED standards.

What apartment projects are currently proposed, under construction, or have recently opened in Milwaukee? A little over a year ago we did a similar exercise, so it will be good to take a look and see what has changed in the past year.