Historic Third Ward

Downtown Milwaukee: “Old World Charm, New World Class”

A Plan to Revitalize and Grow Milwaukee’s Downtown: Minus the Downtown Streetcar

The Ghost Sign That Wasn’t

A bit of fake Milwaukee history, some questionable MATC ads, and debunking a war on pot.

Six Stories of MIAD Students

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design releases plans for new residence hall that brings students back to the Third Ward.

Stacy Klotka

A marathon runner and trained chemist says Milwaukee's vast manufacturing sector makes work fun.

“Everyone is a Charlie Here”

Club Charlies aims to be the friendliest bar in town.

A Cheers-like Community?

How the Historic Third Ward Association helped create a unique neighborhood.

Milwaukee to Host 2013 and 2014 USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships

The nation's top amateur triathletes will compete in Lake Michigan and downtown Milwaukee

Dear MKE Film Series Continues with Arts Focus

Local Artist Reginald Baylor tells his story

The Old Made New

Three projects near downtown are helping to rebuild a neighborhood and regenerate a river.

MilwaukeeHome Grand Opening!

MilwaukeeHome takes its brand to the next level, and opens a store in the Third Ward.

Gala Gallery Night

Our new format captures the sights and sounds of Gallery Night and Day, with photo slides and accompanying audio.

Streetcar Meeting on Tuesday

Public invited to ask questions about project.

Dear MKE Film Series Debuts

Milwaukee Icons, an Unlikely Artist and an Epic, 24-Hour Bike Race Now Online at www.DearMKE.com.

Wonder Wonder Sound

A Third Ward studio sweats the details to create and mix unique tunes and sound effects.

An Action-Packed Weekend

So much to see: A party on a bridge, 120+ open houses, and President Obama's speech.

Reginald Baylor

The Milwaukee native has become a top-selling artist and successful businessman.

Alderwoman Milele Coggs’ 35th Birthday Party

Ald. Coggs celebrates her 35th birthday with friends.

Erie Street Plaza (space as art, or almost)

How successful is the urban plaza on the edge of the Historic Third Ward?

New Bike Transit System?

A city committee votes to support a system of bike-sharing kiosks. Other cities have cut auto traffic this way.

Catalano Square

Examining the Historic Third Ward's most prominent park.

MCTS Is Your Ride to Summerfest

Traffic and parking are a breeze when you ride to Summerfest on the bus! The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) offers several choices for an easy and convenient ride to Summerfest, Wednesday, June 27 to Sunday, July 1 and Tuesday, July 3 to Sunday, July 8, 2012.

Banish the Freeway’s Gloom!

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

The Bicycle Sharers

On Monday B-Cycle did a bike-sharing demo in the Third Ward. Soon, 25 bike sharing stations could be spread through Downtown.

15th Annual Mayor’s Design Award Winners Announced (Photo Gallery)

The winners of the 15th annual Mayor's Design Awards have been announced with projects ranging from a high-rise housing tower to a complete street redesign taking home awards.

Historic Preservation, Miller Park Sales Tax, The War on Bob Donovan, and More

Welcome to the sixth installment of Eyes on Milwaukee. This week I take an initial look at Alderman Witkowski's attempt to redefine Milwaukee's historic preservation ordinance, the Miller Park sales tax's sunset, the ugly turn Juarez versus Donovan has taken, and more.

Sales Tax, Bradley Center Transportation, The Moderne, and More

Welcome to the third installment of Eyes on Milwaukee. This week we take a look at Milwaukee's sales tax rate compared to other major cities, the Bradley Center's new transportation option, UWM's continued insistence on growing parking subsidies, and a whole lot of development news.

Third Ward Riverwalk Advances at Committee

At the February 22nd, 2012 meeting of the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee a previously held file was approved that will allow the City of Milwaukee to fund a short section of the riverwalk in the Historic Third Ward.

Key Riverwalk Project Held at Committee

Most of Milwaukee's riverwalk system has been built as a public-private partnership as new developments occurred, but a file before yesterday's Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development committee proposed that the City of Milwaukee fund a short section of the system. City staff determined that an 80-foot stretch along Erie St., between River Renaissance and Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, is unlikely to see new development in the foreseeable future.

Historic Third Ward Broadway Streetscape Extension Nears Completion

In 1992 the first portion of the Historic Third Ward's streetscaping plans were completed. That $3.5 million project included the mid-block parks on Broadway, Catalano Square, 285 pedestrian light poles, and two arches that designate the gateways to the Historic Third Ward.

Brighten the Passage Design Charrette

During the lunch hour on Wednesday, there will be a design charrette for the Brighten the Passage project. If you're like to stop by to contribute, the group will be meeting on-street at the corner of Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

Brighten The Passage

Walking from downtown to the Historic Third Ward can be an uncomfortable experience. I-794 and the sea of surface parking lots on Water St., Broadway, and Milwaukee St. create an isolated and intimidating dead spot that deters pedestrians from walking between the two districts.

Milwaukee Streetcar at Apex

The Milwaukee Streetcar is finally poised to move forward. Following last May's approval of a preliminary engineering study by the Milwaukee Connector Study Group, the Milwaukee Streetcar project has progressed to the next step in its development. In late June the Public Works Committee and Steering and Rules Committee will take up the project on subsequent days, followed by the full Milwaukee Common Council in early July.

John Norquist Milwaukee Tour – Congress for the New Urbanism

One day before the start of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) 19th annual conference in Madison, former Mayor and current CNU President & CEO John Norquist returned to Milwaukee with a number of his former deputies to offer a tour of many of the urban projects started during his tenure as mayor.

MSOE Students Present Design Concepts for Lakeshore State Park Interpretive Center (Renderings)

The original plans for Lakeshore State Park called for an interpretive center to be built on the park at a time when funds are able to be raised to pay for the development of the facility.

Can Downtown Milwaukee Support a 24-Hour Gym?

Downtown Milwaukee is blessed with four full-service, affordable fitness centers. The Wisconsin Athletic Club, Downtown YMCA, Bally Total Fitness, and newcomer Gold's Gym most of which are located along the Wisconsin Avenue corridor that is the heart of the central business district. They vary in size and services, but all are large gyms that provide personal training services. Given that downtown is well served by three full-service gyms, is there a market for a small, no-frills 24-hour gym?

How Urban are Marquette, MIAD, MSOE, and UWM?

Milwaukee is lucky to have a number of higher education institutions in its most urban neighborhoods.

City Committee Approves Financing Agreement for Summerfest South End Project (Renderings)

Earlier this week the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee recommended the approval of a Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee financing agreement with Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

Milwaukee Apartment Update

What apartment projects are currently proposed, under construction, or have recently opened in Milwaukee? A little over a year ago we did a similar exercise, so it will be good to take a look and see what has changed in the past year.

Refurbished Streetcar-Stops Tie Milwaukee’s Past to its Future

On Wednesday September 29th, 2010 the Friends of the Hank Araon State Trail celebrated the return to service of two refurbished historic car-stops as functioning pieces of history.

Erie Street Plaza

Much like the recently opened Zilber Park, the new Erie Street Plaza differs from a typical park in Milwaukee, as it isn’t a lot of grass and trees, but it is certainly a unique space. The design as implemented has changed significantly from originally planned, it was to have bamboo, but was built with quaking aspen trees due to budgetary concerns, neighborhood opposition, and failed test plantings.

Milwaukee Downtown Dining Week Starts Tomorrow

The single greatest week of eating in Milwaukee starts tomorrow. The fifth edition of Downtown Dining Week will kick off on June 3rd and run through June 10th. Lunch meals are available for $10, and dinner is available for $20 (or $30 at a handful of places) at numerous downtown restaurants. If you're looking to sample a lot downtown eateries, this is your week. All meals are three courses.

More Parking for Summerfest. Really?

Summerfest recently announced plans to acquire additional land in the Third Ward for more parking.

Rebuild the Grid

A variety of infrastructure improvements can be utilized to build a quality city, big items such as well designed parks, and little things such as eliminating unnecessary curb cuts can all play a role. Recently, the City of Milwaukee has been moving forward with street improvements such as the "complete street" reconstruction of S. 2nd Street in Walker's Point which is scheduled for construction this summer, and the conversion of one-way streets to two-way streets such as the E. State Street project currently under construction, but there is more that can be done to enhance streets in Milwaukee to build a better city.

Apartment Development is Strong in Milwaukee

Regardless of what neighborhood it is, the development of new apartments is a growing trend in Milwaukee. Currently there are two prominent projects vying for City of Milwaukee financial support in one form or another, the Bookends and The Moderne. Outside of the two proposed towers there are numerous other projects at various stages around urban Milwaukee.

Misconceptions on the Hoan

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Patrick McIlheran recently took a swing at my Hoan Bridge article, Hoan Bridge: Tear Down Another Freeway in Milwaukee?. While getting things wrong about the article, such as missing that I would maintain the highway as a spur out of the Marquette Interchange that would land east of the Milwaukee River, he did manage to get one point spot on. "... it reduces the Lake Parkway into a conduit useful only for reaching downtown."

Tear Down Another Freeway in Milwaukee?

The debate over the reconstruction of the Hoan Bridge is one that has ignited controversy in Milwaukee for almost a full year now. Southsiders under the direction of Supervisor Patricia Jursik have united around the Save the Hoan Coalition. Meanwhile, Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman has presented a differing vision for the future of the Hoan with eight principles that should be followed in any reconstruction effort. There is an awful lot of confusion around the issue, and the manner in which WisDOT has handled it is far from their usual course. This article examines the potential source of the debate, and a potential outcome that is a win-win scenario for both the City of Milwaukee taxbase, and southside and suburban commuters.

More Thoughts on Grand Avenue

Milwaukee Talkie, the blog of the Public Policy Forum, examined the urban retail market and how to best utilize the hiring of Deanna Inniss as a business recruiter by BID #21, Milwaukee's Downtown Business Improvement District. They noted that one large thing wasn't on her task list, the inside of Grand Avenue Mall.

Street Food… Finally.

Great cities have great street food.

Can’t Beat Milwaukee in the Summer

Normally we would greet you on Monday with an urban advocacy piece, but we were a little too busy enjoying all that urban Milwaukee had to offer this weekend. While normally just one of these events would pass as a big entertainment attraction across every other Wisconsin city, urban Milwaukee had at least eight organized and noteworthy events going on this weekend.

Where Do All The Cars Fit?

All the cars fit downtown on Suburbs Day, why can't they fit any other day?

Growth is Good. Let’s Keep it Going

Good news. The City of Milwaukee has been growing over the past decade, albeit slowly, but this recent trend is better than the decades long slide from a high point of 741,324 in 1960 to a recent low below 596,974 in 2000. Since 2000 Milwaukee has seen a small, but significant increase to 604,477 residents. Yes, a growth rate of just 1.3%, but it is a start.

Expect The Hoan Bridge Debate To Heat Up

Like the temperature outside, the Hoan Bridge reconstruction debate will heat up over the next few weeks. Alderman Robert Bauman, who represents downtown Milwaukee and the north end of the bridge, recently issued a press release that details how the city will likely position itself on the issue with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).

Scene on the Street

A few items suitable for reading prior to a long weekend.

Revitalize Broadway with Street Improvements

Broadway is the center of the action in the Third Ward, it works for business, pedestrians, and even automobiles. But just across I-794 it is a wasteland of surface parking lots and empty storefronts. While there are surely numerous factors in place that have hurt the vitality of this street, an area that can be addressed by the city to make it more attractive to business is to improve the pedestrian environment.

Accents on the Interstate, Lipstick on a Pig

If accent lighting on the interstate isn't the perfect definition of lipstick on a pig, I don't know what is. That said I'm not opposed to it. In fact, I think dressing the Marquette Interchange for the prom was a positive step forward. There is, however, only one thing I wish would have happened differently.

Who Lives in Milwaukee’s Condos?

The UWM Center for Urban Initiatives and Research (CUIR) undertook the first comprehensive study on Milwaukee's "condo boom" to understand who was actually living in the condos stretching from the northern part of Walker's Point up to North Avenue on the East Side.

Milwaukee’s War on Fun

It was just a few years ago when Milwaukee was named the #2 Party City in America, and although that might seem like a funny or insignificant title it was actually a well deserved and beneficial honor.

WisDOT Open House on Future Parking Lots, Parks, or ?

WisDOT is taking the steps to prepare to issue an RFP for airspace leases underneath the Marquette Interchange and Interstate 794. They're looking for public input on what should be included, and this is our chance to really say we want something better underneath the freeway that separates the Third Ward and the Milwaukee Intermodal Station from the rest of downtown.

Watch The Lake Express High Speed Ferry Dock

While the title may not sound that exciting, the Lake Express High-Speed Ferry docks in the Menomonee River valley for the winter. So to get there, it must travel in from Lake Michigan. They created a time-lapse photography video to show the journey and published it online. If you've got two minutes, it's interesting to watch the bridges rise and see what your view would be like if owned a yacht (or coal barge).

Development Continues in the Third Ward

At the corner of N. Jackson St. and E. Menomonee St. the construction fences have gone up and preliminary work has started on the Jackson Square Apartments. The five-story Jackson Square Apartments project with have approximately 80-units, and 9,000 square feet of retail space.

Common Council Expands BID Board

To begin the proceedings Don Smiley the CEO of Summerfest gave a presentation regarding this year’s Summerfest during which he pointed out two items of interest. First, they have demolished the Harley Davidson Roadhouse and constructed a new stage that will open on June 26th. They’ve opened up that stage to the lakeside and created a 3,000 square foot deck so the general public at large can enjoy the lake front while enjoying the music. Secondly, Smiley made it clear that part of Summerfest’s marketing would be to tie the marketing to the City of Milwaukee. These improvements should be applauded and hopefully Summerfest will continue to improve the grounds and connection with the City of Milwaukee. The first items taken up at the Common Council meeting were to complete unfinished business from the previous cycle. Although all five appointments had been held at the encouragement of Alderman Nik Kovac specifically included in this was the appointments of Boris Gokhman and Joel Lee to BID #41. The delay provided time to expand the board from five to seven members and with the history between New Land Enterprises and Alderman Kovac it at least gives the appearance that this board expansion was done to dilute the influence that New Land Enterprises may have on BID #41. The Common Council also approved resolution 080121 which would accept funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities 2008 grant. The City of Milwaukee is one of twelve cities selected for this grant which will be used to provide training for solar panel installation and funds for educational materials to help promote solar technologies. Alderman Tony Zielinski sponsored and encouraged these efforts and it is clear this is just the beggining of his attempts to “green” the City of Milwaukee.

Committee Approves Land Sale

Resolution 080183 was brought forward to authorize a land sale of approximately 7.8 acres in the Menomonee Valley to Charter Wire for their future relocation.

Third Ward Construction Continues

Water Taxi Component of RiverWalk Plan Comes to Fruition

Planning for the RiverWalk system dating back to 1992’s RiverLink Guidelines called for the creation of a mixed-use activated destination that would include shops, restaurants, lookout points, and a variety of boating functions. Specifically the guidelines argued that “in fact, the most vibrant and interesting kind of urban riverwalk is one that winds its way past a range of uses/activities appealing to a broad spectrum of people, allowing passersby to drop into shops and restaurants, go sight-seeing on a water taxi, fish, boat or just sit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfront.” Many components of this initial planning effort have been completed and the benefits can be seen in the increase in business along the RiverWalk but the water taxi component has before this summer never become a reality. This summer water taxi service provided by Milwaukee Water Taxi will begin operation along the RiverWalk fulfilling a long planned need. Business partners Aaron Kelly and Aaron Brock see the service as a amenity that will add new life and vibrancy to downtown. Kelly said that “we are trying to change Milwaukee” expressing his belief that this service will be beneficial to continued development efforts and raise the image of the city. The service plans to have eight stop and will run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. One way fares will be $5 and an all day pass will be available for $10 allowing customers to explore downtown extensively. This new service builds on the success of the initial planning and continues the momentum of re-development in downtown Milwaukee.

What’s Going On In The Third Ward?

OnMilwaukee.com’s Julie Lawrence has a good review of some of the retail and tavern activity in the Third Ward.

Condominium Sales Update

A sampling of projects in varying states of completion showed that over 200 recently completed or under construction condominium units have not been sold. A look at the data indicates that In many cases the high priced units have gone un-sold. Clearly the market downturn has slowed sales but this may also indicated a demand for units priced at an affordable level. Development # Units % Sold Status City Green 44 20% Ready to Move In First Place on the River 184 56% Ready to Move In Park Terrace Bluff Homes 16 56% Ready to Move In Park Terrace Row House 21 71% Ready to Move In Residences on Water 31 29% Under Construction River Renaissance 81 55% Ready to Move In 601 Lofts 83 61% Ready to Move In Sterling 112 98% Ready to Move In University Club 56 89% Ready to Move In Data was not available for the The Breakwater, Park Lafayette, Flatiron, Union Point, The Edge, and Kilborn Tower

Cramer-Krasselt Moving To Third Ward

Milwaukee Ale House, Water Buffalo, etc, etc. Originally uploaded by compujeramey The nation’s third largest independent advertising firm Cramer-Krasselt, who as you may remember was supposed to move to a Robert Ruvin-development in the Park East neighborhood, has announced that they’re moving from Van Buren Street to the Third Ward. The firm will move to a 50,000 square feet location at 224 E Chicago St above Rubin’s Furniture. They will barely gain any space, but will have what they think is a much more efficient layout (what exactly that means they haven’t too clear about, but let’s assume it’s not a cubicle farm). While the move isn’t a sign of improving health for urban Milwaukee, because they’re simply trading one space for another, it does help cement the fact that the creative types are certainly calling the Third Ward home. The bigger question raised is what type of businesses will call the Park East neighborhood home?  Cramer-Krasselt moving into the undeveloped neighborhood certainly would have been a large boost for creative firms, but may not have been as good for the city. The concentration of similar firms seems to be a key ingredient of economic success (see Silicon Valley, Wall Street, or even all the biotech firms in Madison). While for the most part that is seen on a macro level (Silicon Valley is a huge swath of land and includes a few different cities), similar firms locating close to each other in Milwaukee is a strong recruiting tool for each firm and for new startups. It’s going to be a whole lot easier to convince someone from Boston to come to Milwaukee if they know they’re going to be working (and hopefully living) in an area that is filled with like-minded individuals. If they can visit the city and see all the companies in one neighborhood versus being sprinkled all over there will be a lot better first impression made. While the Third Ward continues to draw in creative firms, who will occupy the stretch from the old Pabst brewery eastward?

Brew Pub Legislation

Milwaukee Ale House Viewed From the Milwaukee River Originally uploaded by purpleslog A anti-capitalism, pro-lobbying law was snuck into the state budget. It had been protested already this summer by Milwaukee Ale House owner Jim McCabe when the idea was floated originally. I’ll let you form your own opinion, but I can’t figure out a reason why this law should exist. Under current law, a Wisconsin brew pub can operate only two locations if it produces more than 4,000 barrels of beer a year. The budget proposal lifts that production ceiling to 10,000 barrels and allows up to six locations. That change was sought by Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., a Madison-area brew pub operator that opened its third location earlier this year. Meanwhile, McCabe’s new brewery, at 613 S. 2nd St., is designed to ramp up production of the Louie’s Demise brand for sale in packaged form at liquor stores and other retail outlets. Other regional craft brewers, including Chicago-based Goose Island Beer Co. and Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Co., started as brew pubs, and McCabe wants to follow that same path. However, the new law “caps our overall growth,” he said. Also, the new law bans a licensed brew pub operator from also owning a brewery that produces beer for packaged sales, said McCabe and Russ Klisch, president of Lakefront Brewery Inc. McCabe said that might force him to convert the 2nd St. brewery into a brew pub – a move that would require a large investment. Klisch said he fears the production limit might require him to close Lakefront Palm Garden restaurant, which operates at his brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St. Lakefront Brewery this year will produce around 9,600 barrels and is expected to exceed 10,000 barrels in 2008, he said. The new provision could be changed by Gov. Jim Doyle through the line-item veto process, McCabe said. Another possibility is filing a lawsuit to challenge the law, he said. The proposed limits initially surfaced this summer and are supported by some of the state’s craft brewers and brew pub operators. The changes also are supported by the Wisconsin Beer Distributors Association Inc., whose members buy beer from breweries and then sell it to retailers. The law could help fend off possible lawsuits challenging the lack of a state brew pub license, association officials say. The wholesalers group also said the 10,000-barrel limit allows plenty of room for brew pubs to grow. The only places I can imagine that are in favor of it are Great Dane and Water Street Brewery because they don’t appear to be interested in selling their beer off-site via production at a brewery. I can’t figure out why this law exists. It seems anti-business and anti-logic to not allow Milwaukee’s (and Wisconsin’s) only locally-owned breweries from expanding their operations in ways that increase employment and generate tax revenue. They produce a quality product and are assets to both the restaurant and brewing community. Urban Milwaukee supports the repeal of this ridiculous […]

The Governor’s Party

Governor Jim Doyle was the guest of honor at a fundraiser at Mocean's on September 16.

Buffett Tour on Hold

“Spirit – The Seventh Fire” has been put on hiatus.

Kennedy Walks

Substantial Fine for Possession of Forged Artwork

Feds Stop Funding School, Library Internet and Phone Service

Two months ago, the federal grants stopped.