Chris Socha

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

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

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

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

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

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

Developers Seek to Raze Historic Third Ward Tavern

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

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

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

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

10 Riverwalk Projects Will Greatly Expand System

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

Boone & Crockett Owners Building Public Riverwalk

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

Two Big Riverwalk Beer Gardens Planned

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

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

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

Zocalo Food Park Opens Saturday

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

A Town Square for Downtown Milwaukee

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

Meet the Deer District

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

$9 Million for Grand Avenue Replacement

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

Episode 003

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

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.

Grand Avenue Mall Lands Anchor Tenant

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

Nomad’s Worldly Beer Garden

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

Coakley’s $6 Million Makeover

The new water tower is just the cherry on top.

Coakley Installs Artistic Water Tower

Massive makeover of warehouse will include a shining beacon.

New Riverwest Brewery, Tosa Stone Creek

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

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

The 25 member firm has added five new equity partners.

Landmark Celebrates 90 Years

Celebration by classic bowling alley includes special Lakefront beers.

The Return of Jane’s Walk

Second annual event inspired by Jane Jacobs offers many activities.

A Lift For Brady Street, Swing Park

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

Nomad World Pub’s Expansion Approved

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

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

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

What’s Next for the Grand Avenue Mall?

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

Meet the New Grand Avenue

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to Fix Wisconsin Avenue’s Black Hole

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

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

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

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?

The Space is the Place

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

A Peek Inside Pizza Man

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

Whimsy Walks

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

The New Third Ward Alterra’s Design

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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)

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 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.