Feature
Could Robert Ruvin Have Saved RiverSplash?
While it certainly sounds ridiculous, I think it's a distinct possibility that Robert Ruvin could have prevented most, if not all of the trouble stemming from the Saturday night fiasco at RiverSplash on Old World Third Street and Water Street.
Jun 3rd, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Urban Milwaukee and Milwaukee Development Update Combine Efforts
Over the past month Texo Development, LLC and Fresh Coast Ventures, LLC have been working to bring together Milwaukee Development Update and Urban Milwaukee. The goal is to create Milwaukee's source for urban news and continue Urban Milwaukee's mission of "Championing Urban Life in the Cream City". The news and stories you've come to expect are still here and more...
Jun 2nd, 2008 by Dave Reid
Nik Kovac Getting First Test From Riverwest Resident Group
The Riverwest Neighborhood Association is going to test Alderman Nik Kovac early in his term.
May 30th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Milwaukee Pollutes Less Than Madison
The Milwaukee metro area produces less carbon per person than Madison
May 30th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Public Works Committee Holds Alley Vacation
Resolution 071564 proposed the vacation of two “paper” alleys to support the Palomar development project within the Park East. Apparently Alderman Bob Bauman read Mary Louise Schumacher‘s article in the Journal Sentinel, History lost in Park East bait-and-switch, because he stated that “I see this as a bait and switch” referring to the dramatic change in design that the Palomar project has undergone since it was originally proposed before Milwaukee County. The original design included the utilization and preservation of both the Sydney Hih and the Gipfel Brewerys whereas the latest design would demolish the Sydney Hih structure and move the Gipfel Brewery to another site. The committee voted to hold this file in attempt to exert some influence over this development. Normally the City of Milwaukee would have influence over development projects that involve land sales and zoning changes but as the new design required neither this is an unusual course of action. Resolution 080211 was a communication from the Public Policy Forum regarding their report on the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). The report indicates that in coming years MCTS will have completely spent all of a $44 million reserve of funds and will be projecting deficit spending. It goes on to show how MCTS has spent capital funds to support operational budgets and by doing so has deferred the purchase of 150 new buses. These deferments have pushed maintenance costs higher and will help create a $18 to $20 million dollar hole in upcoming budgets.
May 29th, 2008 by Dave Reid
Whitney Gould Day (May 29th, 2008)
Mayor Tom Barrett today utilized his power of mayoral proclamation to declare it Whitney M. Gould Day in honor of the long-time Milwaukee Journal Sentinel urban landscape and architecture columnist who recently accepted a buy-out from Journal Communications and now serves as a Commissioner on the Historic Preservation Committee.
May 29th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Milwaukee Post Office To Move Next Door To Airport
In one of the worst kept secrets surrounding the future of downtown Milwaukee, an announcement finally arrived today that the out-of-place and severely dated United States Post Office located on St. Paul Ave, next to the brand spanking new, gorgeous Milwaukee Intermodal Station, is moving south to be closer to the airport in a new, more efficient facility. This is a huge win-win for both areas. First, this should increase commerce surrounding the airport by adding a labor-intensive business near a large retail stretch. Second, it’s obviously going to be a boost for efficiency for moving mail in-and-out of Milwaukee. With a significant amount of mail moving through the air, this should get it sorted and on-and-off planes faster and reduce costs for USPS. In regards to downtown Milwaukee, the Third Ward, and the Menomonee Valley, this is the start of a huge boost that has been a long time coming. The new Milwaukee Intermodal Station that is quickly becoming a well-known gateway to Milwaukee is in a terribly misused and underused area. Eliminating the Post Office and replacing it with nearly any mixed-use building would be a huge boost for the area and trigger development in underused buildings and surface parking lots across the street. The land that Milwaukee’s Central Processing Facility for USPS currently occupies is not only in a great location because of the proximity to the train station, but it sits on the Menomonee River immediately adjacent to where it merges with the Milwaukee River. Any development on the site will certainly seek to reconnect the neighborhood with the river and further foster urban Milwaukee’s image as an area that is increasingly connected with its natural capital. If you want to consider the kind of visual impact replacing the Post Office will have, consider the Harley Museum set to open soon just across the river. Not only has that development triggered another development in the Iron Horse Hotel, but it’s taken a long underused property and made it a legitimate piece of the city again. Replacing the Post Office will not only trigger development north across St. Paul Ave, but will increase the value of the Harley Museum and all of the land along that stretch of the rivers.
May 23rd, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Committee Approves Appointments
The items that stood out the most on the agenda were resolution 071355 and 071358. These resolutions would appoint Joel Lee and Boris Gokhman respectively to the Business Improvement District Board #41. This BID represents Downer Avenue which has been at the center of a continuous development project by New Land Enterprises. These appointments were approved but at May 20th Common Council meeting because the BID intends to rework some details and BID boundaries.
May 21st, 2008 by Dave Reid
Zoning Committee Halts Empowerment Village
Although, this Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee meeting had a light schedule it did have one item of significance. Resolution 071292 and resolution 071181 made up the proposal for the re-zoning and sale of the city owned land located at the intersection of South Fifth Court and West Rosedale Avenue. This project which is better known as Empowerment Village pitted members in support of affordable housing versus environmental groups over a piece of city owned land. The environmental groups challenged the city’s right to sell the land and argued that during the Southeast Side Planning process this land had always been planned as a green space that would include a bike trail along the Kinnickinnic River. Alderman Michael Murphy pointed out that “we have to balance the needs”. But despite his words and Cardinal Capital‘s efforts to work with the environmental groups to alleviate their concerns by decreasing the size of the building, by paying for the bike trail to be built and by putting a conservation easement in place to protect much of the land as open space a compromise couldn’t be found. The committee voted to place on file these resolutions essentially denying this project from moving forward. The site location is pictured below via Google Maps Street View. View Larger Map
May 17th, 2008 by Dave Reid
Commission Approves Vacating ‘Paper’ Alleys
This was one of the shorter and less volatile City Plan Commission meetings in recent times. Resolution 071564 proposed vacating two alleys in the Park East redevelopment area to allow for construction of the Palomar. These alleys were referred to as “paper” alleys indicating that they had been plotted but never actually constructed. The commission unanimously approved this resolution and forwarded it on to the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.
May 16th, 2008 by Dave Reid
Pabst Brewery Redevelopment Update
Over the past couple of years I have followed the redevelopment of the former Pabst Brewery intently.
May 16th, 2008 by Jeramey Jannene
Public Works Committee Holds Registration Fee Resolution
The most significant item to come out of this Public Works Committee meeting wasn’t even heard. Resolution 080034 was held to the next committee meeting because Alderman Willie Wade was unavailable for this meeting and Alderman Robert Bauman wanted the entire committee to hear the item. The goal of the resolution is to resolve an ongoing problem with the payment breakdown for city street repairs. Regularly the city proposes the reconstruction of a specific street but the property owners turn down the project because of how the cost is shifted onto the property owners. The intent of this resolution would be to move the burden of street repair from property owners to automobile users allowing for more street repair projects to move forward. This resolution should come up again at the next Public Works Committee meeting on May 29th, 2008.
May 15th, 2008 by Dave Reid
