Depending on which news sources you follow, Milwaukee is going through either a “renaissance” or a “reinvention.” However you want to define it, it’s safe to say that Milwaukee is currently building a lot of new and wonderful things! Here are some of them, brought to you by GTG Home Buyers!
• Remember that proposal before the Milwaukee County Board to lease 5.5 acres of McGovern Park to the nonprofit Jewish Family Services? That proposal where JFS would use private funds and state tax credits to redevelop the existing McGovern Park Senior Center, plus construct a new building—with up to 55 units of affordable senior housing—on McGovern Park? That proposal where Milwaukee County would retain ownership of the park land, and would lease it to JFS for $1 per year, for 60 years? Well, with a vote of 10-7, the County Board rejected the proposal. Park supporters were happy. Other folks were not.
“Today’s vote does not solve the underlying problem,” Milwaukee County Supervisor David Crowley said in a statement. “The truth is stark: there is no funding available to address the growing maintenance issues at the current facility or the other county senior centers. Without intervention, this building will continue to deteriorate, eventually becoming a blight on McGovern Park and a loss for the older adults who rely on it.” [WISN 12]
• In less-contentious (?) park news, five county parks may soon be fitted with electric vehicle charging stations. The parks are Lincoln Park, Washington Park, Veterans Park, Mitchell Park, and Wilson Park. The Zoofari Center at the Milwaukee County Zoo would receive a charging station, too. “With the exception of the Veterans Park station, they will be built out on existing parking spaces,” says Urban Milwaukee. “In Veterans Park, concrete will be poured over grass at the eastern end of the lot near the Gift of Wings Kite Store.” [Urban Milwaukee]
• The 35-story 100 East office building at 100 E. Wisconsin Ave. is going to be converted into apartments. [Department of City Development]
• The 20-story Gas Light office building at 626 E. Wisconsin Ave. might be converted into apartments. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Since 2018, Milwaukee Recreation has been renovating various playgrounds and playfields throughout the county. The latest spruced-up location is the Modrzejewski Playfield, 1020 W. Cleveland Ave., which will be unveiled at a grand opening ceremony on Tuesday, July 8. [OnMilwaukee]
• Carmen Schools of Science and Technology is currently building a $55 million high school at 2005 W. Oklahoma Ave. “When completed in time for the 2026-2027 school year,” says Urban Milwaukee, “the new building will allow Carmen to merge its South and Southeast high schools. The charter school network currently consists of five schools, four of which are located on the south side and cater to a largely Hispanic student population.” [Urban Milwaukee]
• File this one under “All the once-new and once-wonderful things that now face sheriff’s auctions”: The Iron Horse Hotel, 500 W. Florida St., faces a sheriff’s auction. [Urban Milwaukee]
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