Depending on which news sources you follow, Milwaukee is going through either a “renaissance” or a “reinvention.” Or maybe it’s a “reboot” or a “reimagining,” like that crappy Tim Burton version of Planet Of The Apes. However you want to define it, it’s safe to say that Milwaukee is currently building a lot of new shit.

• A groundbreaking ceremony will be held August 24 for a new public waterfront park on the east end of Greenfield Avenue. The newly christened Harbor View Plaza will include “a canoe/kayak launch, a water feature, and a play structure for children and families.” Says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett:

“Harbor View Plaza is a step forward in a balanced approach to connect Milwaukee residents to the port area. Historically, land around the port was exclusively industrial, but the future will include additional access, like Harbor View Plaza, for recreation.”

The project is a collaboration between Harbor District, Inc. and Rockwell Automation. [Urban Milwaukee]

• Construction of Potawatomi’s second hotel tower is nearly complete. When it opens in 2019, the 19-story tower will contain 119 rooms—bringing Potawatomi’s total room count to 500. [Urban Milwaukee]

• Speaking of hotels, not one, but two new hotels could be replacing the existing structures on the corner of North Jefferson and East Michigan streets. The total number of rooms would top 300. [Milwaukee Business Journal]

• Last November, Milwaukee developer Josh Jeffers announced he would be replacing the parking lot at North Broadway and East Clybourn Street with a $30 million, 134-unit apartment building. Now, Jeffers has changed his mind and will build a nine-story office building instead. [Milwaukee Business Journal]

• Speaking of Jeffers, the roof of a building he owns—633 W. Wisconsin Ave.—could soon sport “the largest solar power array in downtown Milwaukee.” The $1.1 million roof would feature 1,100 solar panels, and would offset “an average of 37 homes worth of electricity annually.” [Milwaukee Business Journal]

• The plaza outside the big blue federal building downtown could get all activated and whatnot with new storefronts, a coffee shop and restaurant, and outdoor seating. [Milwaukee Business Journal]

• MillerCoors is paving over the historic Gettelman Brewery malt house and putting up a parking lot. [Urban Milwaukee]

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Matt Wild weighs between 140 and 145 pounds. He lives on Milwaukee's east side.