Feature
Photos From Top of US Bank Center
Yesterday, Dave Reid and myself were invited to the Brownfields Study Group 10th Anniversary Celebration. Now brownfield redevelopment is wonderful, and Milwaukee has some wonderful examples including the nationally-recognized Menomonee Valley, but we were a little distracted by the view from the event. The event was held on the 40th floor of the US Bank Center in the offices of Foley & Lardner.
Sep 10th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Zoning Committee Corrects TID #68
With the days short agenda, the item that stood out was resolution 080541. This resolution dealt with correcting an error within Tax Incremental District (“TID”) #68 (Fifth Ward – First Place). In 2007 the First Place on the River condominium development was assessed at $50 million which although it wasn’t challenged by property owner appears to of been set too high In 2008 it was re-assessed at $24 million because the project was still not completed. This change impacted the tax increment that TID #68 was to be able to collect. The resolution removes the property and re-adds it to the TID at the correct level, resetting the baseline value of the TID allowing it to begin generating increment. This change will still allow the TID to be repaid by 2029 which is within its legal lifetime. This item was approved and will now go before the full Common Council.
Sep 8th, 2008 by Dave Reid
Goll Mansion Project Prepares to Go Before the City for Approval
This project by New Land Enterprises proposes the construction of a 27-story 35-unit condominium development that would activate the Goll Mansion by utilizing it as the development's lobby. Controversy flared up at a recent neighborhood meeting over concerns from residents of 1522 On The Lake that some of their view would be blocked and from historic preservation groups that raised concerns about insuring the preservation of the historic Goll Mansion.
Sep 7th, 2008 by Dave Reid
UWM Faces Slight Opposition
This meeting was appropriately held at the Urban Ecology Center. It was appropriate because one of the key opposition concerns around the Hometown site was its location along the Milwaukee River. Although the location was different many of the same citizens were attendance.
Sep 4th, 2008 by Dave Reid
DPW Defends Pothole Filling Process
The hot topic of this committee meeting was a recent Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel article accusing the Department of Public Works (“DPW“) of having a racial bias in their handling of pothole filling. Jeff Mantes and Jeff Polenske laid out DPW’s process in regards to pothole repair. Explaining that they prioritize arterial roads higher than neighborhood streets because these roads impact more drivers and have greater safety concerns because of higher speeds on these roads.Alderman Joe Davis, Sr. and Alderman Ashanti Hamilton were clearly bothered by this article’s findings and let DPW know it. Alderman Hamilton stated that “my constituents can pay taxes but can’t get their potholes fixed on time” and further made his discontent clear saying “you have lost the benefit of the doubt”. Ironically he also pointed out that many of his districts major arterial roads have recently been rebuilt. This was key because representatives from DPW had explained that their priorities were to repair potholes along major arterial roads first and go into the neighborhood streets later. It was evident that the research for the article didn’t take this into account and as new roads wouldn’t need pothole filling the primarily work in this district revolved around neighborhood streets which DPW had indicated were a lower priority.The committee as whole appeared to question the report’s validity and the mayor’s staff pointed out a variety of methodology flaws. These flaws including errors that could over count requests or place requests in the wrong census track, both of which could significantly sway the outcome of the research. These concerns prompted Alderman Robert Bauman to question the article and pointed out how irresponsible an article like this is, if based on poor methodology. Alderman Willie Wade joined in expressing his displeasure with the article’s methodology saying “personally I think we’ve been had” and that “we are here because of an article from the Journal Sentinel with bogus data”. Generally the committee was concerned if the findings were valid but Alderman Bob Donovon seemed to wrap up the sentiment by repeating an old cliche, “you cant always believe everything you read in the paper”.
Sep 4th, 2008 by Dave Reid
UWM Prospect Mall Parking Lot Dorm Renderings
Boulder Ventures provided us with a rendering of their proposed dorm for the Prospect Mall parking lot on the east side of Prospect Avenue.
Sep 4th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Hot Meeting About Potential UWM Dorm Site
The Maryland Avenue School played host to a tension-filled meeting to discuss one of three proposals for the location of the new UWM dorm. The proposal on the table was the nearby Prospect Mall parking lot location proposed by Boulder Ventures.
Sep 3rd, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
One Way to Replace The Hoan Bridge and Build a Better Milwaukee
The replacement of the Hoan Bridge and its associated freeway ramps with a grade level route offers many opportunities but will also require the rerouting of a portion of the 40,000 motorists that travel over the Hoan Bridge each day.
Sep 2nd, 2008 by Dave Reid
Seven Reasons To Replace The Hoan Bridge
Both the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Business Journal of Milwaukee have covered the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's announcement that they're examining options for the future of the Hoan Bridge as the day nears when it will need costly repairs. We thought it was time to weigh in.
Sep 2nd, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Common Council Passes Vehicle Registration Fee
Senator Russ Feingold presented his upcoming legislation which focuses on encouraging innovation, growth in small business, creating jobs in green energy, linking business with education and capitalizing on research in the fresh water science. He received input into this legislation from local business leaders, Sheldon Lubar and Joseph Zilber, with the hope of finding solutions that can work nationally but also locally in southeast Wisconsin. The other item of note was the Common Council’s vote to override Mayor Tom Barrett‘s veto of the controversial $20 vehicle registration fee. The override needed ten votes and received eleven so the vehicle registration fee will be enacted. The vehicle registration fee will eliminate assessments, which have averaged $2500 per household, related to road reconstruction projects within the City of Milwaukee.
Sep 2nd, 2008 by Dave Reid
Senator Russ Feingold to Address Milwaukee Common Council
As part of the President's Speaker Series, Council President Willie Hines Jr has invited Senator Russ Feingold to address the Common Council on September 2nd. There is a reception before the meeting at 8:30 a.m., followed by the meeting at 9:00 a.m. The meeting and reception are both open to the public.
Aug 30th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Public Meetings On Final Sites For New UWM Dorm
Public meetings for each dorm site have been announced. At each meeting the development teams will explain the proposal. The developer of the proposed site and UWM representives will be available for questions at each meeting. As a refresher we have included our opinion on each of the sites as described (we have not see the proposals yet).
Aug 26th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
