Chris Socha is a Shorewood-based architect.

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Content referencing Chris Socha

Draft & Vessel Owner Plans Cafe at Vel R. Phillips Plaza

Draft & Vessel Owner Plans Cafe at Vel R. Phillips Plaza

Entrepreneur Nat Davauer has big plans for key downtown space.

Eitel Cancels Plans For Vel Phillips Plaza Cafe After Council Questions, Public Opposition

Eitel Cancels Plans For Vel Phillips Plaza Cafe After Council Questions, Public Opposition

After Milwaukee Turners "pilloried" Eitel on Tuesday, things appear to have snowballed behind the scenes.

Developers Donate Third Ward Building To Preservation Alliance

Developers Donate Third Ward Building To Preservation Alliance

Preservation battle ends with preservation advocates receiving 1884 tavern building.

See Designs, Name For New East Side Music Venue

See Designs, Name For New East Side Music Venue

Pabst Theater Group unveils venue that will replace The Back Room.

Third Ward Tavern Saved… For Now

Third Ward Tavern Saved… For Now

Developer says it won't appeal denial of its demolition request by Historic Preservation Commission.

Historic Commission Says No To Wrecking Former Wreck Room Tavern

Historic Commission Says No To Wrecking Former Wreck Room Tavern

Common Council will decide fate of building, a survivor of 1892 Third Ward fire.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Developers Seek to Raze Historic Third Ward Tavern
Eyes on Milwaukee

Developers Seek to Raze Historic Third Ward Tavern

Repairing fire-damaged, sinking structure would only result in 'Disney-like imitation.'

Bar Exam: Lakefront Brewery’s New Riverwalk Patio
Bar Exam

Lakefront Brewery’s New Riverwalk Patio

Lovely new covered patio offers great views of the river, city and Holton Street Viaduct.

Four Options To Transform Brady Street

Four Options To Transform Brady Street

Business improvement district releases study, seeks feedback. The goal: 'to create one of the world's great streets.'

Third Ward Tavern Would Be Replaced By 2-Story Building

Third Ward Tavern Would Be Replaced By 2-Story Building

1884 building, one of ward's oldest, has no options for preservation say developers.

Eyes on Milwaukee: 10 Riverwalk Projects Will Greatly Expand System
Eyes on Milwaukee

10 Riverwalk Projects Will Greatly Expand System

Three-mile, award-winning corridor is becoming far more than a downtown amenity.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Boone & Crockett Owners Building Public Riverwalk
Eyes on Milwaukee

Boone & Crockett Owners Building Public Riverwalk

Owners will create first riverwalk segment along Milwaukee's inner harbor.

Two Big Riverwalk Beer Gardens Planned

Two Big Riverwalk Beer Gardens Planned

The Tap Yard finds new home and Lakefront Brewery plans to rebuild its outdoor space.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Urban Spaceship Will Land In Milwaukee
Eyes on Milwaukee

Urban Spaceship Will Land In Milwaukee

National urbanism conference on November 9 on the future of cities. Urban Milwaukee members can get free tickets, while supplies last.

3rd Street Market Hall Opening in October

3rd Street Market Hall Opening in October

Owners of new food hall trying to create a destination experience.

Friday Photos: Zocalo Food Park Opens Saturday
Friday Photos

Zocalo Food Park Opens Saturday

New food truck park will bring six vendors to Walker's Point.

Eyes on Milwaukee: A Town Square for Downtown Milwaukee
Eyes on Milwaukee

A Town Square for Downtown Milwaukee

City proposes Vel R. Phillips Plaza along W. Wisconsin Ave. with cafe and streetcar stop.

Plats and Parcels: Meet the Deer District
Plats and Parcels

Meet the Deer District

Bucks developing area around Fiserv Forum, and The Avenue gets a new $3 million entrance.

Eyes on Milwaukee: $9 Million for Grand Avenue Replacement
Eyes on Milwaukee

$9 Million for Grand Avenue Replacement

Redevelopment Authority approves TIF district to support The Avenue's public areas.

City Beat: Episode 003
City Beat

Episode 003

Architect Chris Socha joins the show to discuss the redevelopment of the Grand Avenue Mall.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Meet Grand Avenue’s New Food Hall
Eyes on Milwaukee

Meet Grand Avenue’s New Food Hall

Local restaurants will replace fast food chains, goal is to be one of top food halls in U.S.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Grand Avenue Mall Lands Anchor Tenant
Eyes on Milwaukee

Grand Avenue Mall Lands Anchor Tenant

$90 million mall redevelopment attracts engineering firm GRAEF, to lease 35,000 square feet.

Bar Exam: Nomad’s Worldly Beer Garden
Bar Exam

Nomad’s Worldly Beer Garden

The Nomad is a Brady Street fixture and its patio has become a destination in its own right.

Friday Photos: Coakley’s $6 Million Makeover
Friday Photos

Coakley’s $6 Million Makeover

The new water tower is just the cherry on top.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Coakley Installs Artistic Water Tower
Eyes on Milwaukee

Coakley Installs Artistic Water Tower

Massive makeover of warehouse will include a shining beacon.

Now Serving: New Riverwest Brewery, Tosa Stone Creek
Now Serving

New Riverwest Brewery, Tosa Stone Creek

And Third Ward's Hinterland closes after 10 years in business.

Plenty of Horne: 19th Century Third Ward Tavern Saved
Plenty of Horne

19th Century Third Ward Tavern Saved

Decrepit Erie St. tavern predating great 1892 fire will get historic renovation.

Prominent Wisconsin Architecture Firm Announces Leadership Transition Plan, New Seattle Office
Press Release

Prominent Wisconsin Architecture Firm Announces Leadership Transition Plan, New Seattle Office

The 25 member firm has added five new equity partners.

Plenty of Horne: Landmark Celebrates 90 Years
Plenty of Horne

Landmark Celebrates 90 Years

Celebration by classic bowling alley includes special Lakefront beers.

The Return of Jane’s Walk

The Return of Jane’s Walk

Second annual event inspired by Jane Jacobs offers many activities.

Plenty of Horne: A Lift For Brady Street, Swing Park
Plenty of Horne

A Lift For Brady Street, Swing Park

Casablanca gets old lift station for dining patio; Swing Park area gets redesign.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Nomad World Pub’s Expansion Approved
Eyes on Milwaukee

Nomad World Pub’s Expansion Approved

East Side soccer bar will get one heck of a beer garden under a major expansion plan.

Plenty of Horne: Mayor’s Design Awards
Plenty of Horne

Mayor’s Design Awards

The 2016 Mayor's Design Awards recognized projects from every corner of the city.

Norquist to Speak at Jane Jacobs Event

Norquist to Speak at Jane Jacobs Event

May 10th event will explore ideas of urban visionary and her impact on cities like Milwaukee.

What’s Next for the Grand Avenue Mall?

What’s Next for the Grand Avenue Mall?

"We're going to have to stop calling it a mall," Jeramey Jannene tells WTMJ.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Meet the New Grand Avenue
Eyes on Milwaukee

Meet the New Grand Avenue

From dead mall to vibrant city center, see the plan for Grand Avenue Mall

Eyes on Milwaukee: Designing a New Grand Avenue
Eyes on Milwaukee

Designing a New Grand Avenue

Downtown mall's new owners select design & management team that hints at its future.

13 Ways to Revive Grand Avenue

13 Ways to Revive Grand Avenue

Experts offer ideas to transform downtown’s long-struggling mall

Plenty of Horne: 89-Unit Complex Would Face Swing Park
Plenty of Horne

89-Unit Complex Would Face Swing Park

Approval sought for river-side complex with 4 townhouses and 85 apartments embracing Swing Park.

Funds endorsed for $2.3M Fifth Street rebuild in Walker’s Point
Citation

Funds endorsed for $2.3M Fifth Street rebuild in Walker’s Point

Is the The Spot 4MKE A Success?

Is the The Spot 4MKE A Success?

Creative Alliance Milwaukee has added life to 4th and Wisconsin, but dare we ask for more?

Finally, a Beer Garden Disguised As a Polish Flat

Finally, a Beer Garden Disguised As a Polish Flat

The Nomad’s "Faux Flat" design is approved, but noise is a concern for neighbors

How to Fix Wisconsin Avenue’s Black Hole

How to Fix Wisconsin Avenue’s Black Hole

Creative Alliance Milwaukee has plans to activate 4th and Wisconsin. Will they work?

Plats and Parcels: Plans Proceed to Enhance Lakefront
Plats and Parcels

Plans Proceed to Enhance Lakefront

An internationally unique visitors center announced for Lakeshore State Park. And the Lakefront Gateway Project proceeds.

Architecture Firm to Create UrbanLab in Support of Downtown Milwaukee Initiatives
Press Release

Architecture Firm to Create UrbanLab in Support of Downtown Milwaukee Initiatives

UrbanLab to be led by TKWA architect and prominent urban Milwaukee advocate, Chris Socha.

Plenty of Horne: Horrors, Look At Those Building Vents!
Plenty of Horne

Horrors, Look At Those Building Vents!

East Side Architectural Review Board shudders at unapproved venting on new building at Oakland and North. Is there a solution?

In Public: The Space is the Place
In Public

The Space is the Place

How the owners of Comet, Hi Hat and Bel Air Cantina have changed the city.

Photo Gallery: A Peek Inside Pizza Man
Photo Gallery

A Peek Inside Pizza Man

The new Downer Avenue restaurant is almost done, as our photos show.

Friday Photos: Whimsy Walks
Friday Photos

Whimsy Walks

Milwaukee's first whimsy walk arrived on Cathedral Square this week. More to come?

Eyes on Milwaukee: The New Third Ward Alterra’s Design
Eyes on Milwaukee

The New Third Ward Alterra’s Design

Here are the renderings of a design that embraces the street and bicycle culture.

Friday Photos: Bay View Alterra is Open for Business
Friday Photos

Bay View Alterra is Open for Business

Alterra's new Bay View location is a creatively cozy addition to Milwaukee.

Banish the Freeway’s Gloom!

Banish the Freeway’s Gloom!

Design winners attempt to brighten the gloomy passageway between downtown Milwaukee and the Historic Third Ward.

PARK(ing) Day 2011!

PARK(ing) Day 2011!

Once again this year UrbanMilwaukee.com will be hosting a PARK(ing) Day event in downtown Milwaukee PARK(ing) Day takes place on September 16th, 2011 and is quite simply a public space intervention. The UrbanMilwaukee.com installation will be located near the corner of Mason Street and Milwaukee Street from noon to 2 p.m.

Cafe Hollander Opens Milwaukee’s Third On-street Bike Corral

Cafe Hollander Opens Milwaukee’s Third On-street Bike Corral

Last week marked the installation of another on-street bike corral in Milwaukee. The newest on-street bike corral is located at Cafe Hollander on Milwaukee's East Side.

Alterra Opens Milwaukee’s First On-Street Bike Corral

Alterra Opens Milwaukee’s First On-Street Bike Corral

Cities such as Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, and Minneapolis have install on-street bike parking in recent years, and now you can add Milwaukee to the list.

Storefront Design Updates

Storefront Design Updates

Two small projects, one in East Town and the other on the East Side, are currently taking an existing poor design situation and attempting to activate the street through new designs.

Alterra to Introduce On-Street Bike Parking to Milwaukee (Renderings)

Alterra to Introduce On-Street Bike Parking to Milwaukee (Renderings)

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 opts for new construction in Bay View project (Renderings)

Alterra opts for new construction in Bay View project (Renderings)

Alterra Coffee Roasters Inc. recently dropped plans to retrofit the Maritime Bank building, located between Kinnickinnic Ave. and Howell Ave., in Bay View, opting for new construction.