From: Ann Brummitt
Date: Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Subject: Hometown Dorm proposal
September 25, 2008
Alderman Nic Kovac:
The Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG) would like to express its appreciation to you for hosting the public hearing on September 3, 2008 regarding the proposal for a UWM dormitory at the intersection of the Milwaukee River and North Avenue.
Continue reading ‘The Controversial Letter from the Milwaukee River Work Group’
30 Sep 2008 | 8:48 am | UWM, Green Spaces, Water, Development, Environmental Sustainability | Read 1 comment - Add your comments
Mandel insists that the viewshed will remain protected if they are allowed to build a high-density dorm at the Hometown site (700 students, 50% larger than Riverview). They say that the setback and the height restriction will protect it.
Is the Viewshed protected? Not if you can almost see the trail from Paperboard
But has an independent surveyor, i.e. one not paid by Mandel, tested this? Actually no.
I decided to see if I could figure out if this is true.
I went to Wisconsin Paperboard, just north and east of the Hometown property, and climbed to about 45 ft. I shot a few photos.
As you can see in the picture above, the trail on the west bank of the river is almost visible from that height. But Paperboard is much further back than the dorms will be. In other words, there’s a really good chance that closer to the river–where the dorms will be–one will be able to see the trail. And that, of course, means that someone on the trail can see the dorms.
Aside from the view over the trees, you can see the spaces in the trees themselves, meaning it’s pretty certain that the dorms will be visible during the summer months.
There are spaces in the trees
And setbacks and height restrictions won’t prevent the dorms from intruding into the viewshed from October thru May, when leaves are off the trees.
And let’s not forget that viewshed is really a superficial and somewhat elitist measure of river protection. If you don’t take into account things like use and density, well, let’s just say there are current residents near RiverView dorms who cannot speak for themselves.
Dead Butler Garter Snake
29 Sep 2008 | 2:20 pm | UWM, Green Spaces, Development, Environmental Sustainability | No comments yet - Add your comments
On Sept 5th, after an anesthetizing presentation by Mandel (the first question didn’t come until 1 hour and 40 minutes into the presentation) on a proposal to build a 700-bed dorm on the Milwaukee River, the Milwaukee River Work Group’s PR person, Jeff Fleming, helped draft a letter to Alder Nik Kovac praising the development.
Despite the fact that there are 3 proposed locations under consideration for dorms, the letter is in glowing praise of this high-density development on the river. This draft was sent out by Ann Brummitt, the coordinator of the group to her email list which includes Mandel and other developers, DCD and UWM reps.
In that letter, the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG) claims that Mandel “embraces both the public interest and the goals of our organization.” What?! It dismisses the concerns of many neighbors and environmentalists as “separate concerns” including those about “the density of the development, traffic on neighboring streets, safety, plans for the property beyond the useful life of the dormitory, and the impact additional students might have on the surrounding residential neighborhoods.”
Continue reading ‘The Milwaukee River Work Group Does Not Speak for Me’
24 Sep 2008 | 8:35 pm | UWM, Water, Development, Environmental Sustainability | No comments yet - Add your comments
From Eileen Collins of Prospect Avenue Association:
Time is running out before the final City decision on the proposed 26-story condo tower at the site of the historic Goll mansion at 1550 N. Prospect Ave. The Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee of the Milwaukee Common Council will meet on the issue at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Room 301-B of City Hall. The full Council will consider and decide on the matter at its meeting on Oct. 7.
For those who oppose the condo tower proposal, it would be very helpful if you would let your feelings be known to the mayor and your alderman before these meetings. For those living on the east side of Prospect Ave. south of Kane Pl., your alderman is Bob Bauman. Those on the west side of Prospect Ave., and on both sides north of Kane Pl., your alderman is Nik Kovac. Here are their e-mail addresses and phone numbers.
Mayor Tom Barrett
mayor@milwaukee.gov
414-286-2200
Alderman Robert Bauman
rjbauma@milwaukee.gov
414 286-2221
Alderman Nik Kovac
nkovac@milwaukee.gov
414-286-2221
There are many different arguments that can be put forth in opposition to this project, and you likely have your own favorites. It’s important to keep your comments brief and to the point. Among the objections we are hearing most often these days are these:
- The above-ground five-story parking structure is unprecedented along Prospect Ave. Built almost from lot-line to lot-line on the north and south, and taller than the Goll House, this becomes a terrible obstruction. It disrespects both the historic value of the mansion and the aesthetic value of the modern condo tower.
- Approving this project at a time of surplus condos on the downtown market likely means even more condo vacancy, or else delay of the project to see if the market for ultra-luxury condos might strengthen. Either way, this will further suppress the value of occupied condos in the area
- The location of the new building – far out of line to the east by contrast with most other tall buildings along the avenue – unfairly disadvantages owners and residents of those other buildings and jeopardizes the woodsy atmosphere of the county bike trail.
For further information, contact Dave Behrendt, coordinator of Goll Mansion Strategy Group, 1522 On The Lake Condominium Association, 414-276-1512
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To added or removed from the PAA email list for updates and information, contact eileen.collins1660@sbcglobal.net
21 Sep 2008 | 11:13 am | Development | No comments yet - Add your comments