Billions of dollars in investment and thousands of new residential units later, Milwaukee is ready to update the plan for its downtown.
Jeramey Jannene reports on the initial push to update the Milwaukee Downtown Area Plan from the previous update approved in 2010. This would be third Downtown Plan update in as many decades, according to Jannene.
Milwaukee Downtown, the area business improvement district, is providing $100,000 to fund the process, and the city is chipping in $50,000. A previous initiative by MKE United has already completed some of the foundational work of building a "shared and inclusive vision for Downtown," explains Jannene.
The plan update is intended to respond to the area's change over the past decade:
“As you are all aware there have been significant changes to the downtown area in recent years,” said Department of City Development planner Kyle Gast to members of the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee on February 23rd. A DCD report says that, since the plan was last updated in 2010, there has been $3.5 billion in development and there are now 4,800 more residential units.
According to Jannene, the city has implemented or begun development on four of eight catalytic projects targeted in the 2010 update.
Four community meetings are already scheduled, and the update process is expected to take in 14 months.
FULL STORY: City Updating Downtown Plan
Project Team for Milwaukee's New Downtown Area Plan Takes Shape
A new plan for Milwaukee's downtown will build on a "major renaissance" in the area since the approval of the last version of the plan in 2010.
The Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Remake Downtown
Urban cores around the country were transforming into live, work, and play destinations before the pandemic. The pandemic was a setback for this transformation, but it could also be a rare opportunity. It’s up to city leadership to seize it.
With 2020 Democratic National Congress on the Way, Downtown Milwaukee Revitalizes
Downtown Milwaukee is getting makeover, from high-profile new buildings on the skyline to ambitious adaptive reuse projects and an emerging entertainment district.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie