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Our Main
Street - 27th Street
Theo Lipscomb
The city of
Milwaukee is adding a new economic tool to its development tool belt - the 'Main
Street Milwaukee' program. Mayor Tom
Barrett has made Main Street Milwaukee
a priority in the city's efforts to redevelop neighborhood commercial
districts. "We know that some commercial main streets need a jump start and
with the Common Council's approval today (approved November 3, 2004), we're
ready with the jumper cables," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "I believe the Main
Street Milwaukee program will harness investment and energy in ways that will
boost our local neighborhood shopping districts."
Main Street
Milwaukee is a collaborative effort to revitalize Milwaukee's older, traditional
neighborhood commercial districts. Milwaukee has taken a proven national model
and crafted a unique program that will help build sustainable, walkable,
thriving commercial districts as anchors to our city's residential
neighborhoods.
The Department
of City Development (DCD) will partner with the Milwaukee Local Initiatives
Support Corporation (LISC) to provide a comprehensive range of support services
and funding to local partners. The program concentrates financial and technical
assistance, offering expert guidance in architectural design, marketing,
district planning, urban planning and small business development.
Under the
program, $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds will be matched
with private resources contributed by LISC, State Farm Insurance, Bank One, the
Helen Bader Foundation, the Bradley Foundation, Potawatomi Community Foundation
and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Up to four neighborhoods within
federal block grant boundaries would be eligible to receive Main Street
Milwaukee
designation.
There are
several examples of the assistance that can be provided through a Main Street
program. In 2003, LISC hired Quorum Architects to produce façade improvement
drawings for two commercial buildings – 954 North 27th and 2622 West
State Street. West End Development Corporation recommended these two properties
for assistance because each was a long vacant building with a new or prospective
owner willing to undertake major renovations. 954 North 27th,
renovated by owner Hausmann Enterprises, includes a new storefront, entry way
and colorful mural on the south wall. The building is available for upper floor
residential, and/or retail or office use. 2622 West State is a City owned
former laundry that is slated to become Brew City Forge – a studio and small
gallery space for three metal workers. This project is expected to proceed in
2005. These projects illustrate what can be accomplished with technical
assistance, funding for commercial revitalization, and local partners.
So how do we make sure
that 27th Street is one of the four commercial districts that will
get access to the resources of the Main Street Milwaukee program in 2005? Well,
an important first step was taken in March 2004 when the city of Milwaukee
adopted the Near West Side Plan. One component of the Plan is a “main street”
type of revitalization effort for 27th Street - SOHI (SOuth of
HIghland). This recommendation is one of the catalytic projects that will take
a long time to fully implement but can get started right away - if people are
willing to get involved!
Toward that end, West
End Development Corporation and Avenues West BID held a meeting in October to
reintroduce the main street concept to area businesses, property owners and
neighborhood groups (such as HCNI). Four Main Street working committees are
currently being formed in order to prepare ourselves for the application
process. The four committees in the Main Street Approach to Commercial
Revitalization are: Organization, Design, Promotion and Economic Restructuring.
Volunteer committees
are the heart of the Main Street Approach. If you are interested in
participating, email the volunteer contact for the committee that interests you:
Organization
organization@westendmilw.org
Design
design@westendmilw.org
Economic
Restructuring
economic@westendmilw.org
Promotion
promotion@westendmilw.org
Obtaining Main Street
Milwaukee designation will be a very competitive process. Although 27th Street
is an excellent candidate with solid prospects, only four districts will be
designated in the first round. When you get involved with one of the volunteer
committees, you will be working to ensure that 27th Street is one of
the original four commercial districts to get “Main Street” resources for
revitalization.
Please join with me and
other concerned neighbors. Let’s transform 27th Street by shaping
our neighborhood, creating added value and new economic opportunity.
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