Feature

MCTS Adds New Bus Route

MCTS Adds New Bus Route

MCTS, empowered by a veto override by the Milawukee County Board in November, has added (in reality restored) a bus route to their service offerings, offering service from the Downtown Transit Center through downtown and out to 60th Street via Vliet Avenue.

Commission Approves Change to MPS Property Sale Process

Commission Approves Change to MPS Property Sale Process

The first was a step in the formal process of Milwaukee Public Schools (“MPS”) selling properties that have been deemed surplus to their needs.  Specifically, MPS is moving forward on three properties, the Delaware Service Center, Clairmont, and the Happy Hill Elementary School. Unlike other properties held by the City of Milwaukee when MPS is involved the process involves hiring an outside brokerage firm and legal aide to facilitate the process.  Additionally, unlike other City of Milwaukee land sales these sales will prohibit a private schools that participates in the parental choice program from purchasing the property, and prohibits a tax free use of the property unless a PILOTS is created.  This file was approved and will now go before the Public Works Committee. The other item of interest was the proposed rehabilitation of Highbridge condominium building envelop.  This rehabilitation has become needed because of several failures in the construction that has lead to extensive leaking throughout the building.  The brick on the upper floors will be clad over with EIFS to create a new weather barrier, and new windows will be installed throughout the building.  Kelly Thompson, the architect from Facility Engineering, who was hired to render repairs to mitigate these failures stated his desire to insure the rehabilitated building doesn’t take away from the neighborhood by saying “we really don’t want it to look like the Hampton Inn out on the west side of town.”  This file was approved and will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.

Grand Avenue Mall – A New Implementation

Grand Avenue Mall – A New Implementation

As the retail market struggles nationally and the Shops of Grand Avenue struggles locally, it's time to ask what retail should be in downtown Milwaukee in the next five years. Is it worth investing public dollars in the form of a TIF in Grand Avenue or other mall-like projects downtown, as has been done in the past? Or should the standard be that all retail must interact with the street?

M.O.R.E. – Common Council March 25th, 2009 Meeting Notes

M.O.R.E. – Common Council March 25th, 2009 Meeting Notes

The M.O.R.E ordinance was the most widely debated action taken at this Common Council meeting.

Vote For Your Favorite Milwaukee Streetcar Route

Vote For Your Favorite Milwaukee Streetcar Route

The submissions are in, and it's time to pick your favorite.

Kitty Corner, Across the Freeway

Kitty Corner, Across the Freeway

This is how County Executive Scott Walker described just how close UW-Milwaukee's new Engineering School could be from the Milwaukee County Research Park.

Design Your Own Streetcar Route

Design Your Own Streetcar Route

UrbanMilwaukee would like to issue you a challenge.  With the announcement that Mayor Tom Barrett with the help of Congressman David Obey and Senator Herb Kohl managed to get 60% of the $91.5 million for his streetcar vision, it’s time to think about what the final route may be. There is a simple reality any Milwaukee streetcar proposal must deal with though, there is only enough money for an initial 3 miles. So here’s the game. 1. Create a Google Account or use an existing one. 2. Create a route (not longer than 3 miles) using Google Maps.  Don’t know how to do this?  There is an introductory video. 3. Paste a link to your route in the comments of this post. 4. Wait until Wednesday afternoon, at that point we’ll put together a poll so we can vote for the best one. Can’t wait to see what you come up with, whether it’s a line to Bay View or UWM, or perhaps a completely different loop around downtown.

M.O.R.E. Ordinance Approved by F&P Committee

M.O.R.E. Ordinance Approved by F&P Committee

The controversial M.O.R.E ordinance which had been sent to committee at the previous Common Council meeting was further debated at this Finance & Personnel Committee meeting.

City Moves Forward With Water Initiative

City Moves Forward With Water Initiative

Planning for the future of Milwaukee as the Fresh Coast appears to be moving ahead.

Five Reasons to Look Forward to Summer in Milwaukee
Car Culture: You’ll Never Drive Drunk If…
Car Culture

You’ll Never Drive Drunk If…

St. Patrick's Day is always one of my favorite days of the year, though often the day after is one of my least favorite, because everybody comes out and has a good time.

Hard Hat Tour: The North End – ONE
Hard Hat Tour

The North End – ONE

UrbanMilwaukee.com was recently taken behind the construction fence for a tour of the first building, ONE, to be complete in Mandel Group's The North End project.