Living Building. 538 S. 2nd Street, Milwaukee, WI

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 groundbreaking events for Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee Fix, a four-story, 30,000 square-foot building, is being developed by Kaufmann LeSage, and is the first new development along this stretch of road in quite some time.  The building itself is groundbreaking as it was designed to meet the Living Building Standard which includes requirements such as the building needs to be net zero energy, operate carbon neutral, and seeks to reach zero waste.  Additionally, the building has a long list of tenants lined up including the Clock Shadow Creamery, Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic, The Healing Center, and CORE El Centro.

The celebration will also feature a ribbon cutting of the newly redesigned S. 2nd Street, which again is groundbreaking in its own right because the redesign represents a shift from old ideas in traffic engineering to new ones.  In particular from concepts that always favored traffic speeds and flow, to ones that considers walkability, the role that the built environment plays in creating value, and to value other modes of transportation.  It took the combined efforts of local business and property owners, with the vital assistance of the Department of Public Works to accomplish this change, and here at UrbanMilwaukee.com we applaud this effort.

These efforts celebrate the continuation of economic development, and positive momentum in Walker’s Point, in particular on S. 2nd Street. Stop by the event on Thursday, May 19th, at the SE corner of Bruce and S. 2nd Street. and at the Milwaukee Brewing Company, to help the neighborhood, and the city, celebrate this progress.

Event Activities:

4:30 pm … Milwaukee Fix groundbreaking on the SE corner of Bruce and 2nd.
5:00 pm … Milwaukee Brewing Company doors open for celebration.
5:30 pm … S. 2nd St. ribbon cutting ceremony and speeches.
6:00-9:00 pm … Local music, food, beer, spirits and businesses.

INdustry Cafe's location close to proposed Milwaukee Fix.

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.

Three new businesses are preparing to open or have opened recently on S. 2nd St., including two restaurants, and a bike shop, all of which are establishments that could take advantage of the new street improvements.  The first business to open, a new restaurant, INdustri CAFE, recently opened in the former Fuzion Cafe location, and of note, the owners included concepts for the street redesign in renderings for the new facility, indicating a desire for cafe seating on the street.  Aytan Luck is working to open a second location for Truly Spoken Cycles at 219 S. 2nd St. Luck told UrbanMilwaukee they hope to “make it easier for people who live near to downtown to get their bike serviced,” and explained that they wanted a location that people from the neighborhood could walk to if they needed repairs.  He added that “certainly the bike lanes made a difference” in regards to choosing a location.  And yesterday Molly Synder, of OnMilwaukee.com, reported that Zak’s Cafe is soon to open at 231 S. 2nd St.

In addition to the new businesses opening, a green development project is being planned just down the street from these ventures.  The Milwaukee Fix development continues to receive approvals from the city and could become a new anchor on the street in the near future.  This project has a solid list of tenants lined up, including Clock Shadow Creamery, Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic, The Healing Center, and CORE El Centro.

UPDATE:  Milwaukee Fix should break ground this Spring… more on this soon.

Living Building. 538 S. 2nd Street, Milwaukee, WI

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.

The design calls for the building to obtain a Living Building certification, which is more difficult to obtain than LEED certification and looks at the building as an organism with a life cycle to manage.  To achieve this high level of recognition, the building will be designed to be net-zero energy, carbon neutral, and have zero storm water discharges. The building will incorporate a rooftop urban farm, on-site food composting, on-site water treatment, a greywater system to reduce water usage by 80%, and will capture rainwater with a cistern located under the building.  To meet the energy requirements it will utilize daylight harvesting, passive cooling, renewable energy, on-site geothermal, and off-site wind turbines.  Materials used to construct the building will include salvaged structural steel from local sites, and all materials will be acquired from within 500 miles of the site.  Further, during construction the goal will be to eliminate 95% of construction waste.

When asked why build a Living Building?  Juli Kaufmann responded, “On the one hand, it’s just a building.  On the other hand, it’s an opportunity to contribute what we want to our shared culture, environment, and community.  Why would we do anything less than the very best we can for Milwaukee?  It may not be perfect, I am sure people will quibble over this or that, but in the end, we can say we cared, we committed to make a difference, and we did not create just any building.  We transformed a place for our neighborhood.”

The financing of the project is a a collection of environmental and energy grants, tax credit, loans, social investors., and tenant investment.  Specifically, the project has been awarded grants from Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and a $900,000 Redevleopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee brownfield remediation loan.  The project was eligible for brownfield funds as the site was a former scrap yard and will require a level of environmental cleanup.  The project’s likely tenants, make up 75% of the building’s available space for rent, and include Clock Shadow Creamery, which would make cheese on the first floor of the building, Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic, The Healing Center, and CORE El Centro.

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Sabbatic

After years of working with the Department of Public Works, neighborhood residents, property owners, and business owners were able to convince the City of Milwaukee to redesign S. 2nd Street to fit the needs of the neighborhood.  To look beyond building freeways through our city, and instead to focus on people instead of cars, walkers instead of speeders, neighbors instead of commuters, and active businesses instead of boarded-up warehouses. The plan included ideas such as wider sidewalks, street trees, bike lanes, and the removing a lane of automobile traffic.

While construction has been on-going for several months now, the first stage of construction is complete and the second stage is underway.  The second stage includes the reconstruction of the eastern section of the roadway and sidewalk, and installing new grass, trees, and lighting.  Although the time during construction is difficult for local business, and is certainly an on-going struggle, the redesign was widely supported in the neighborhood.

Here at UrbanMilwaukee.com we’re happy to see these kind of quality of life, urban improvements moving along and want to do our part to help businesses through the construction. So please join us for our first UrbanMilwaukee.com S. 2nd Street Happy Hour.  We’ll be having it at Sabbatic on Friday, October 15th, 2010 starting at 5 pm.  Stop in for one before you head out for Gallery Night.

Preliminary construction work for the S. 2nd Street project.

2010 appears to be the summer of road construction, more so than any summer in recent memory anyhow.  The S. 2nd Street project, which was approved in December 2009 by the Common Council despite Alderman Dudzik’s last minute attempt to derail the project, officially gets going today.

This isn’t simply another street repair project.  Members from the Historic Walkers Point Association, neighborhood residents, and property owners pushed the City of Milwaukee to fundamentally change the character of the street from an automobile sewer into a pedestrian paradise.

Although the final design didn’t include everything requested by the neighborhood it will include many design features intended to make it more appealing to pedestrians and more conducive for local business.  Specifically, it will be narrowed from 58 feet to 50, bike lanes will be added, the street will be built with one travel lane in each direction, the sidewalks are to be expanded, street trees will be planted along the street, and it will have improved lighting.  Because of this design, places such as Philly Way, Sabbatic, and other establishments along the street will have space to add outdoor seating.

Although this project by itself doesn’t guarantee the creation of a vibrant district it does put some of the required pieces in place, and certainly it is a win for the residents of Walker’s Point, local business, and the built environment of the City of Milwaukee.

In response to Alderman Dudzik’s motion, Alderman Bauman explained that the Department of Public Works, the Department of City Development, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District and even the Wisconsin Department of Transportation had endorsed the project.  MMSD supported the project both as a entity located on S. 2nd Street, and because the plan fits within MMSD’s storm water management principles.  Defending the process involved Alderman Bauman stated, “understand there have been numerous neighborhood meetings,” and went on to say in regards to the motion to send back to committee “what new information our we going to garner?  No information.”

Alderman Witkowiak responded to the motion explaining that “it was a long process,” and that “it’s clear that my vote remains in support of this project.”  He also pointed out that votes taken by the local neighborhood association put support for project at about 75%.  He went on to point out that “2nd street is already restricted before you get to Greenfield,” indicating S. 2nd Street doesn’t actually act as an arterial, because it narrows at Rockwell anyhow.

Alderman Dudzik’s motion failed on a 5 to 9 vote, and the subsequent vote on the committee file was approved leaving only Mayor Barrett’s approval before Milwaukee can move forward on the redevelopment of S. 2nd Street.

Department of City Development Commissioner, Rocky Marcoux, appeared before the committee to lend his support for the project saying, “we believe very strongly that this is the right way to go.”   Alderman Wade gave his support saying “I think this is a great, grand idea.”  When referring to earlier concerns that this change might lead to increased congestion, he added “I hope we have traffic problems,” because as he explained traffic problems or congestion, generally indicates business activity on a street.   Representing the neighborhood Alderman Witkowiak gave his support for the project and explained that S. 2nd Street “has all the bones to be a destination street.”

MMSD executive director Kevin Shafer spoke in strong support of the project, noting that MMSD has numerous employees that commute by bike to their location on S. 2nd Street daily, and went so far as to say that he wanted to “compliment the city on their design in this effort.”  He added that “It’s good for the environment, the economy and the social values of the region.”  Finally, he pointed out that projects such as this one can actually help MMSD “reduce the districts costs.”

Many property owners and stakeholders appeared and spoke in support of the project, citing improved aesthetics, environmental considerations, and the value they will receive for their tax payer dollars.  Ann Pieper, of Pieper Properties, summed it up well saying, “I believe it is the best use of our tax-payer dollars.”

Joe Sanfellipo, who was representing Walker’s Point Mobil and American United Taxi Cab, spoke in opposition to the project and questioned the traffic studies, but his most telling statement was when he said, “I’m the only person here speaking against the project.”

The street reconstruction was approved, with only Alderman Dudzik voting in opposition, it will now go before the full Common Council on December 22nd.

“The right of way doesn’t just belong to cars,” he said. “It belongs to pedestrians and bicyclists as well.”

- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

For decades the common belief regarding streets has been that they exist simply to serve the automobile, to move cars from A to B.  Certainly, this is a a task of streets, but as Transportation Secretary LaHood’s words show us, this mindset is changing back to what it once was, that streets are a place to serve the needs of people.  This change has started to come about because of groups like the Livable Streets Initiative, and the National Complete Streets Coalition which have been working on the local, state, and national level to point out the error in the common belief and provide solutions.  Again, the error is that “we” forgot that streets are for people.

Locally, the Walker’s Point Association has been working with the City of Milwaukee to bring life back to S. 2nd Street, by rebuilding the street for people.  The plan includes wider sidewalks, that will support green initiatives or local business with expanded sidewalk space for patio seating based on the individual property owners preference.  Additionally, the project has applied for and received funding for new lighting to insure an enjoyable safe night time experience.  The biggest changes are the reduction of automobile travel lanes, and the addition of bike lanes.  These features are designed to create a district that is open and inviting to multiple transportation methods, and encourage more traffic, albeit of people, not just cars.

There are certainly some people that still believe the purpose of a street is to move traffic and serve the automobile, but this mindset doesn’t serve the residents of Milwaukee.  It certainly doesn’t serve the business owners looking for foot traffic, the property owners looking to develop vacant properties, or the customers hoping to, walk the neighborhood, shop in the stores, or visit their local tavern.  Additionally, it doesn’t serve the residents that might choose to bike to destinations along S. 2nd Street or throughout Milwaukee.  As with any project there will be detractors, but in this case this project serves both the desires of the majority of stakeholders on the street, and the larger goals of the city.

Quite simply, complete streets and the S. 2nd Street project are about, more choice, more options, and more access, for people.

The design includes many of the features of a complete street, including one travel lane in each direction, bike lanes in each direction, parallel parking on both sides of the street, and wider sidewalks to allow for pedestrian activity.  The sidewalks allow for more green space with sodded sections and trees, or if the abutting property owner prefers it will be setup as a full sidewalk area to support retail functions.  Additionally, a variety of street trees will be planted along S. 2nd Street as part of the streetscaping.  Finally, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Phase Three funds of more than $500,000 were approved at the Joint Finance committee to be utilized for pedestrian lighting.  Other features such as bioswales will likely not be part of the project due to cost, and the street’s contamination which would reduce the environmental benefits.  Planters and other street furniture will also not be included in the state contract though as Allison Rozek , of the Department of City Development, suggested a Business Improvement District (“BID”) could be formed by property owners to handle these elements, and further “dress up the corridor.”  The reconstruction, if all goes well, would break ground after next summer’s Summerfest with the goal of having the majority of the work completed by November with sodding and some finishing work to occurring the following spring.

Unlike many public meetings, the fear of change was minimal.  In fact most of the questions reflected individual business owners trying to figure out if they wanted wider sidewalks or the sod, or even if they could acquire additional street trees.  One owner even pushed to include the area from Rockwell to National Avenue in the reconstruction project.  Unfortunately, as this section isn’t due for re-pavement the improved sidewalks will wait until a re-paving project is appropriate, though this section of the street will have some improvements including the painted bike lanes, and the reduction of travel lanes.  There were some concerns regarding parking during the reconstruction, and one business owner was concerned over the loss of travel lanes, but overall the members in attendance were in strong support of the project, in fact applauding the efforts at the end of the meeting.

This meeting was just the first of many meetings to come regarding the redesign, but this project is both a signal that the City of Milwaukee views Walker’s Point as a critical neighborhood, and a sign that neighborhood business owners and residents believe Walker’s Point is ready to grow.

The complete street option is valuable, because it takes people in mind when constructing a street, not just automobile traffic, with the thought of creating a livable community, and spurring economic development.  Juli Kaufmann, a partner with Pragmatic Construction Co., described the concept saying “it looks at street as, a community, a neighborhood in itself,” and added that “it’s an economic opportunity.”  The idea being that a complete street is more than a street, it is a place, where people are comfortable to walk, sit out, chat, and interact.  It accomplishes this goal by utilizing street trees to create shade and shelter from the rain, by narrowing streets and minimizing travel lanes to slow traffic and increase pedestrian safety, and with aesthetic improvements to make the overall experience more appealing.  Alderman Witkowiak explained that by making these type of improvements “we can have some real quality development, if we treat the street properly.”  The idea of utilizing TIF funds if the state wasn’t to support the project was suggested and championed by Alderman Bauman as a way to insure this project moves forward.

Beyond rebuilding the street with people in mind, the investment itself sends a signal to developers and potential entrepreneurs that the City of Milwaukee is willing to invest in this area.  For an area of the city that hasn’t seen a lot of public investment, this could be a catalytic project that spurs new private investment and grows the neighborhood.  Nathan Bernstein, a property owner on S. 2nd Street, suggested that this plan could accelerate his plans to redevelop his property.  Although today it might not be obvious that the potential for economic development along S. 2nd Street is there, it is clear that local property owners and developers see the potential, and that with a push from the city the redevelopment of S. 2nd Street could begin.

To get and idea of the buildings that currently exist along S. 2nd Street, and the potential for redevelopment we’ve provided a photo gallery of the area.

Unfortunately, high profile random acts of violence can sometimes create an unwarranted negative perception of an area, especially to those who infrequently visit the city.  Sometimes this can lead to disinvestment in an area, and bring real decline.  In the case of the former Northridge Mall, an allegation was made that a woman was attacked by an African-American in the parking lot.  Later this was proven to be untrue, but the perception remained. With this in mind the Milwaukee Police Department was quick to point out that this was a rare act, and although the area has had issues in the past, this level of violence is far from the norm.

As this truly is a neighborhood on the rise, not decline, Walker’s Point should work to move forward on projects such as the proposed redesign of S. 2nd Street, because it could be the catalyst to propel the area to the next level.  As a first step in this effort Alderman Bauman has scheduled a communications file which will be presented by the Department of Public Works at the June 24th meeting of the Public Works Committee.  This file should help paint a clearer picture regarding the City of Milwaukee’s future plans for S. 2nd Street, and might be an opportunity to encourage the Department of Public Works to help remake S. 2nd Street for the better.  Clearly the City of Milwaukee is facing serious budget issues, and to suggest rebuilding a street sounds like a new cost that we don’t need and can’t afford, but this is a project worthy of the investment.  It is worthy of investment in the long run to insure future investment by businesses and residents, and long-term growth to the tax base of the city.  Further, S. 2nd Street is likely to see repaving in the next year or two so the timing to do is right.  At the very least, it is time to get things planned so Walker’s Point can move forward in the future.

The organizing and obtaining of funds to complete the street is a significant challenge, but the concept itself is truly very simple.  Add street trees, bike lanes, and planters, remove a travel lane or two, update some lighting fixtures, and shake vigorously.  These ingredients when mixed together change the physical environment from an automobile freeway, that is hostile towards the pedestrian, to one that is not just conducive to people, but welcoming to people, be it for walking, biking, shopping, or siting at a cafe.

Unfortunately, the idea may seem radical to traffic engineers who’s only concern is how fast can the traffic flow, or to politicians afraid to go to bat over funding, but for those who are actively working on creating a better urban environment that would support local business, it makes complete sense.  Hopefully this idea can come in number one where it matters, within the Department of Public Works, the Wisconsin DOT, and the Milwaukee Common Council.