The Milwaukee River and upcoming development (more dorms?) by Sura, February 17

The Milwaukee River has become a huge issue in this race, and almost all the candidates talk about it.

Mandel Group has been floating the idea of more dorms, retail, and hotel space on the river at the Hometown site at North Ave.

The Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG), is pushing for protections of the river’s banks, bluffs, water quality and viewshed.

If you want a basic overview of the work of the MRWG, check out my response below to the question in the Riverwest Currents on dealing with the Hometown Site owned by Mandel.

Public Trust, Zoning and Development

Cities need development to thrive—not just housing, but economic, organizational, environmental and cultural development in balance. Too much development in one area causes taxes to skyrocket. Too little foreordains blight. Cities and local governments must foster a deeper sense of “public trust” in order to be effective. Zoning, as a public asset, is part of that trust. If we want sustainable development, then we can’t allow ourselves to be held hostage to developers or to equate development merely with fast-buck condo/dorm/hotel building. In this vein, I support development that goes hand in hand with public trust.

Mandel’s Hometown site is a gateway between River neighborhoods. Development there should create an aesthetic and meaningful transition between neighborhoods and engage the river with its multiple uses. Ideally, development anywhere along the river will promote pedestrian and water uses (strolling, canoeing, fishing, running, etc.) of the river. Not only developers, landlords, businesses and environmental groups, but neighboring stakeholders (including residents of Cambridge Woods, Riverside Park, the East Village and Riverwest), and those who love the river and believe it is worth preserving, need to be engaged. For over 10 years, along with many of these stakeholders, I have been working to protect the sensitive river bluffs. I am proud to be a working member of the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG), supporting proactive preservation of one of our district’s finest assets.

Milwaukee River Overlay District

MRWG has proposed a zoning overlay district” in the greenway corridor to retain natural experiences for those who use the area recreationally and to protect and preserve the ecosystem and its endangered species. This zoning prohibits building in the primary environmental corridor, and creates guidelines to control erosion and runoff, preserving native vegetation and wildlife habitat. It places conditions on new development in the form of setbacks from the bluff and height restrictions, protecting the “viewshed.” The purpose is to inspire long-needed stewardship and encourage activities that preserve our river.

Since most of the property in the overlay district is either parkland or exempt (single families and duplexes), the affected parcels are few, right now only the “Blue Hole” and Hometown. Logically, it makes no sense to create a mechanism for preserving the river only to exempt the sites it was meant to affect.

Imagine a Hometown Legacy

I am in favor of—and it is time for—the creation of environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development throughout Milwaukee. I welcome working with developers who have a forward vision, who can make money and benefit our city, neighborhoods, river and lake. I welcome developers who build green, work with neighbors, and are willing to sign Community Benefits Agreements.

As such, I support MRWG’s proposal. If Mandel can take this opportunity and build something compatible with its location along the river— particularly one that is architecturally integrated, green-built (perhaps LEED certified?), and compliant with height (under 45 feet) and setback (50 feet) restrictions, then they will have my support as well.

You can find all the candidates’ responses here.

17 Feb 2008 | 9:35 am | Water, Development, Environmental Sustainability, 3rd District

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