Walker's Point Strategic Action Plan MILWAUKEE
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MILWAUKEE comprehensive Department of City Development Plan • June, 2015 Walker’s Point Strategic Action Plan A Plan for the Area ii Acknowledgments Neighborhood Associations and Continuum Architects + Planners Interest Groups Ursula Twombly, AIA, LEED AP Arts@Large Walker’s Point Association GRAEF The Mandel Group Greater Milwaukee Committee Larry Witzling, Principal The Harbor District Initiative Craig Huebner, Planner/Urban Designer 12th District Alderman Jose Perez University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Urban Development Studio City of Milwaukee Department of City Development Carolyn Esswein, AICP, CNU-A, Faculty Member in Charge Rocky Marcoux, Commissioner Vanessa Koster, Planning Manager Sam Leichtling, Long Range Planning Manager Mike Maierle, former Long Range Planning Manager Greg Patin, Strategic Planning Manager Dan Casanova, Economic Development Specialist Janet Grau, Plan Project Manager Nolan Zaroff, Senior Planner GIS, Eco- nomic Development Jeff Poellmann, Planning Intern (Urban Design) Andrew Falkenburg, Planning Intern (GIS/Mapping, Editing) City of Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority David Misky, Assistant Executive Director - Secretary Department of Public Works Mike Loughran, Special Projects Manager Walker’s Point Kristin Bennett, Bicycle Coordinator Strategic Action Plan Historic Preservation Carlen Hatala, Historic Preservation Principal Researcher iii Plan Advisory Group Sean Kiebzak, Arts@Large Juli Kaufmann, Fix Development Dan Adams, Harbor District Initiative Joe Klein, HKS/Junior House Dean Amhaus, Milwaukee Water Council Anthony A. LaCroix Nick & JoAnne Anton, La Perla Scott Luber, Independence First Samer Asad, Envy Nightclub Barry Mandel, The Mandel Group Luis “Tony” Baez, El Centro Hispano Megan & Tyler Mason, Wayward Kitchen Tricia M. Beckwith, Wangard Partners Robert Monnat, The Mandel Group Kristin Bennett, Bike Ped Coordinator Cristina Morales Brigette Breitenbach, Company B Lorna Mueller, The Realty Company, LLC Mike Brenner, Brenner Brewing Co. Tim Murphy, Tim Murphy Studio Suzanne Campbell, Miller and Campbell Rachelle Nelson Dan Casanova, Department of City Anne Nordholm Development Andy Olson, Stamm Technologies Marcia Caton Campbell, Center for John O’Neill, The Mandel Group Resilient Cities Anna-Marie Opgenorth, The Mandel Jacques Chaumet, Chez Jacques Group Jose Chavez Larry Pachefsky Bill Cobb, Atlas Development Corp Manny Perez, Esperanza Unida Bailey Copeland, VJS Development Group Ann Pieper Eisenbrown, Pieper Properties Sara Daleiden, Greater Milwaukee Joe Poeschl, Startup MKE Committee Guy Rehorst, Great Lakes Distillery Rick D’Aloia Peter Sandroni, La Merenda, Inc Romke de Haan, Spreenkler Jill Sebastian, MIAD instructor & resident Eric Dick, Elementis Leather Tanning Dave Schwartz, Stamm Technologies Tim Dixon, Iron Horse Hotel Dave Stamm, Stamm Technologies Diane Dowland, The Monkey Bar Steven JStrzok, Rockwell Automation Michael Falkenstein, Iron Horse Hotel Teri Sullivan, Arts@Large Robert Feind, National Warehouse Tim Syth, Bucketworks Lilith Fowler, Harbor District Initiative Tony Teich, Mill Valley David Garman, UWM School of Valerie Tergerson Freshwater Sciences Gary Tuma, WPCA Lori Gensch, Metropolitan Real Estate Fritz Usinger, Usingers Sausage Bill Hansen, Hansen Storage Laura Van Heijningen, Blue Jacket Keith Harenda, KPH Construction Corp. John Vetter, Vetter Denk Jane Harrison, UW Milwaukee Stewart Wangard, Wangard Partners Tyler Hawley, HKS/Junior House James Wasley, UWM School of Arch. and Heather Heaviland, IFF Urban Planning John Hein, Plant Two Corporation Carolyn Weber, Coast in Bikes Karen Johnson, MLG Dieter Wegner, Altec Commercial Roofing Brian Jost, Lindsay Building Scott Williams, American Design Joey Wisniewski Acknowledgments Kevin Wondra, Walker’s Point Association Jose Zarate, La Fuente Ltd. John Zizzo, Usingers Sausage City of Milwaukee Office of the City Clerk 200 E. Wells Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 Certified Copy of Resolution FILE NO: 141266 Title: Resolution approving the Walker's Point Strategic Action Plan and amending the Near South Side Area Comprehensive Plan to include the Strategic Action Plan as part of Milwaukee's Overall Comprehensive Plan, in the 12th Aldermanic District. Body: Whereas, A detailed strategic action plan has been prepared, which is titled the Walker's Point Strategic Action Plan, a copy of which is attached to this Common Council File; and Whereas, Recent developments in the Walker's Point district have necessitated a more refined analysis and updated strategy to further the goals of the Near South Side Area Comprehensive Plan and related projects in the district; and Whereas, The Strategic Action Plan was created to supplement the City's existing Comprehensive Plan that contains the Walker's Point district in order to identify priority sites susceptible to change in the district, determine infrastructure needs and establish implementation strategies to best achieve economic success in the district; and Whereas, The creation of the Strategic Action Plan involved extensive public outreach, input and cooperation with the public and district stakeholders similar to the public process followed in the development of the City's thirteen Area Comprehensive Plans; and Whereas, On September 21, 2004, the Common Council adopted File No. 040565, setting forth an Evaluation, Update and Amendment Procedure for amending Area Comprehensive Plans; and Whereas, That procedure, including a properly noticed public hearing, has been followed; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, approves the Walker's Point Strategic Action Plan as recommended by the City Plan Commission and amends the Near South Side Area Comprehensive Plan with the inclusion of the Strategic Action Plan as an element of the City's Overall Comprehensive Plan; and, be it Further Resolved, That the amended Area Comprehensive Plan, as approved, shall include, as an appendix, a text reference to consult the Strategic Action Plan as a supplement to provide further guidance and serve as the basis for decision-making by the Common Council in its consideration of matters related to and located within the Walker's Point district; and, be it City of Milwaukee Page 1 Printed on 7/6/2015 Certified Copy of Resolution 141266 Further Resolved, That the Department of City Development, the Department of Neighborhood Services, the Department of Public Works and other appropriate City departments and agencies are directed to work toward implementation of the Strategic Action Plan; and, be it Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Department of City Development is authorized to send copies of the Strategic Action Plan to the parties identified in it as having responsibility for implementation of said Strategic Action Plan for their reference and use. I, James R. Owczarski, City Clerk, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a(n) Resolution Passed by the COMMON COUNCIL of the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 23, 2015, published on May 13, 2015. July 06, 2015 James R. Owczarski Date Certified City of Milwaukee Page 2 Printed on 7/6/2015 iv Executive Summary This strategic action plan for Walker’s Point, home to some of Milwaukee’s most creative businesses and organizations, was undertaken primarily to accomplish the following: (1) Create a template (value statements, guidelines, and actions) that will allow for new development, but also keep the Walker’s Point neighborhood livable and affordable, and preserve its best features as perceived by the people who live, work, invest, and arguably have made it the desirable place that it is. (2) Working with the Department of Public Works, develop a series of improvements to streets and other public rights-of-way to improve the walkability and bikeability of the Walker’s Point neighborhood. (3) Discuss possible solutions to ongoing challenges for the neighborhood: affordable hous- ing, lack of neighborhood-serving businesses, the need for a business organization to shep- herd growth, and others. (4) Discuss ways to reinforce (not lose with an influx of new development) the character that people find desirable and continue to provide real support for a neighborhood that is in the words of many of its longtime residents--diverse, LGBT-friendly, affordable, sustain- able, self-reliant, inventive and authentic. (5) Pursue catalytic projects capable of sparking new investment. Reinvent S. 5th and S. 6th Streets and National Avenue as a Creative Corridor--a kind of arts, culture and entertain- ment district with broad appeal to residents and visitors to the area. Consider the merits of a local historic district on S. 2nd St. Promote an “Innovation Initiative” (the integration of mixed use, creative collaboration and high tech). As new riverfront projects come online, extend the riverwalk with public access and green space. Use the creative place making techniques suggested by UWM students to enliven commercial corridors. (6) Consider suggested remedies for a parking shortage from a Parking Study conducted by GRAEF Engineers, Architects and Planners, along with some comparisons between Mil- waukee and other cities. For example, the Study mentions a shortage of shared or public parking, not a shortage of parking lots. (7) Establish goals for development that the city can use as a guideline for approving (or not approving) new development in Walker’s Point--specifically special or limited uses and De- tailed Plan Developments. For example, as the city reviews post-industrial