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Milwaukee has
much to celebrate. Milwaukee has chronic problems that must be addressed if we
are to become a truly great city. These twin themes seem to dominate public
discourse in our community and for good reason. They are both true.
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3 Bridges Park in spring |
Likewise, the
City of Milwaukee, Menomonee Valley businesses and other stakeholders are
celebrating the successful completion of the 1998 Menomonee Valley Land Use
Plan by initiating a new plan, which is called Menomonee Valley 2.0. The new
plan is intended to address on-going redevelopment challenges.
You can help
draw new maps and create the new plan. First a very brief overview.
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6th St. Bridge from Harley-Davidson Museum |
The city,
Valley stakeholders and the general public can all take genuine pride in the
success of earlier efforts. These include the creation of Menomonee Valley
Partners to spearhead redevelopment, replacing the 6th St viaduct with dramatic
and inviting new bridges that lead into the Valley, extending Canal St. through
the Valley, the redevelopment of the former Milwaukee Road Shops into the
Menomonee Valley Industrial Center, rehabilitation of the Menomonee River, and
the creation of new parklands. Among the many positive consequences of these
successes have been increases in employment and recreational opportunities in
the Valley. The Urban Ecology Center, Harley-Davidson Museum, and Global Water
Center, among others, have all located in the Valley. Potawatomi Bingo &
Casino and The Hank Aaron State Trail both have experienced major expansions.
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Topping off the new hotel, July 1, 2014 |
Menomonee
Valley 2.0 is intended to build on this momentum and provide a new vision for
the future of the Menomonee Valley. To date the process has involved compiling
information from stakeholders, focus groups, and neighborhood groups, as well
as a public workshop that allowed participants to pore over maps and make
specific suggestions.
Here’s how you
can help:
Menomonee
Valley Partners has created an interactive mapping page on its website. You can
go online (click here) and add your ideas to the Valley map. It’s easy! I did
one. It looks like this:
However,
before you go ahead and join in the fun of mapping, you may want to read on so
that you will have a better grasp of some of the specific issues the planners
want to address.
Five key
Valley redevelopment areas have been identified. These areas are either
vacant or likely to change in the next 10 to 15 years. They are also areas
where it is hoped that solutions and ideas can be extrapolated to other
areas of the Valley. Here is a map of the five sites:
Below are
descriptions of the five sites. There also are links to my photo albums of each
site so that you can see the issues more clearly. (Of course I have
photographs! Too many to post with this story.)
1) I-94
Reconstruction area: Yes, I-94 is going to be reconstructed. It is
planned for 2019. Challenges and opportunities involve making connections from
the freeway to the Valley and across the freeway between the neighborhoods to
the north and south. Can these connections be made more pedestrian and bicycle
friendly? Link to photo album.
2) St. Paul
Avenue: St. Paul serves as a gateway to the Valley from both I-94 and the
Third Ward. The avenue currently includes light industrial and retail outlets
as well as some vacant properties. St. Paul Avenue between the Milwaukee
Intermodal Station and 25th Street is being re-envisioned to build on these
assets. Link to photo album.
3) Mount
Vernon Waterfront Sites: More than 10 acres of waterfront property is
tucked between Mount Vernon Ave. and the Menomonee River. This site is challenged
by lack of access and infrastructure. The Marquette Interchange also separates
it into two parcels. Link to photo album.
4) East
Gateway: Canal Street immediately east of the 6th Street bridge is a
major gateway to the Menomonee Valley. There are two large, vacant properties
on either side of Canal St. in the shadow of the High Rise Bridge. (Currently
they accommodate hundreds of nesting herring gulls!) Link to photo album.
5) Pierce and
Bruce district: This district, defined by Pierce and Bruce Streets between
the I-43 High Rise Bridge and 16th Street, has challenges involving land use
conflicts and inadequate access between the Valley and surrounding neighborhood.
It also includes the Burnham Canal, which is slated for rehabilitation as a
wetland. Link to photo album.
This
post is one in a series that relates to my Menomonee Valley Artist in
Residency. For more information about the residency and links to
previous posts and photographs, go to MV AiR.