Which Came First: the Road Diet or the Reinvestment?

According to a recent article in Urban Milwaukee, plans for a road diet have preceded a wave of reinvestment in the Walker's Point neighborhood.

1 minute read

July 19, 2016, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"The wave of development in Walker’s Point has been extensively covered, from a grocery store and apartment building that will replace a brownfield on the east to a dilapidated landmark building that was renovated to into apartments on the west," according to an article by Jeramey Jannene.

Amidst the redevelopment of the neighborhood, a key component of the ongoing investment has been overlooked, however: the reconfiguration of S. 5th Street between W. Virginia Street and W. Washington Street. According to Jannene, the city recently approved a plan to widen sidewalks from 7.7 feet wide to 18.5 feet wide. The roadway will be widened and angled parking will be reoriented to parallel parking.

Jannene notes that since the city announced the street's reconfiguration, "a number of businesses have opened on the street including the two breweries, Juiced and the art gallery The Suburban." The price tag for the street project comes to $2.7 million, to be financed with tax increment financing for the area and from Department of Public Works funding.

Friday, July 15, 2016 in Urban Milwaukee

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