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 and wonderful things.

• Developer Zuwena Cotton wants to demolish a two-story, 47,000-square-foot building at 1101-1113 W. Historic Mitchell St. and replace it with a five-story, 55-unit mixed-use apartment building called [throws dart at New Apartment Building Names dartboard] The Encore. No, not THAT Encore.

The current Art Deco-style building dates back to at least 1937, and was once the home of the Grand Department Store. (It’s currently the home of Mitchell Beauty Supply Store.) The Encore, pending historic review and the approval of low-income housing tax credits, would be, according to the developer, “a combination of Art Deco and modern chic. By erecting the new development, we will bring an encore to the once thriving commercial district that was known as the ‘second downtown’ of Milwaukee. The Encore will symbolize not what we had, but the possibilities of what we can become.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

• Plans for a long-in-the-works apartment tower at 1550 N. Prospect Ave. have been changed. Instead of a 28-story beacon of East Side living, the tower will now be a 25-story beacon of East Side living. It’ll be a little narrower, too. [Urban Milwaukee]

• The Marcus Performing Arts Center recently unveiled its renovated Community Grounds—a.k.a. that nice sprawling outdoor lawn where that sunken/dingy chestnut grove used to be. The overall renovation also includes a new war memorial on the corner of Water and Kilbourn. [OnMilwaukee]

• The Historic Third Ward Architectural Review Board gave a thumbs-up for Foxtown Landing—a.k.a. a new location for Foxtown Brewing AND A NEARBY DOG PARK planned for the corner of Plankinton and St. Paul along the Milwaukee River. [Urban Milwaukee]

• The Deer District has its own Bublr Bikes station now. [OnMilwaukee]

• “The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‘s former home is now high-end apartments,” says, well, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Here’s a look inside.” Sigh. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

• “Despite opposition from some nearby residents…” So begins Urban Milwaukee‘s report on the approval of a plan to turn the long-empty Carleton School at 4116 W. Silver Spring Dr. into 30 apartments and 18 nearby townhouses. Let’s be honest: “Despite opposition from some nearby residents” is such a common refrain in these stories that we’re strongly considering using it as the new name for this column. [Urban Milwaukee]

• And what did we learn this week? Well, they’re always building something. Isn’t that right, old song from my old band?

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