Public Comments and Questions from Meeting on UWM Dorms by Sura, July 31

3rd District Town Hall meeting on UWM Dorms, July 29, 2008

From the Chalk Board:
What’s the rush? Wait for Master Plan
Dorms Downtown (all)
Engineering School Dtown (all)
Protect River Corridor (all agree)
Better public Transportation
“Code of Conduct” expectations/ agreement
Chapter 17 & 18 changes * Fast
Increase Minority Enrollment – Reach out into inner city (west of Holton) Pabst, Tower Automotive
Explain how UWM is taxed
Limit size/beds as sites dictate
So Milwaukee: Drinking Overlay Zone
What is the TRUE need & timeline for beds/sites
Temporary Enrollment Cap?
Are “Buffer Zones” effective for UWM locations
Has Riverview existed long enough to judge true impact?
Adeq. Parking – it’s site dependent
Green Built
Do dorms residents get a night parking permit?
Why/what proof do they need 1,500 beds?
What about UWM’s Lake Dr. properties for dorms?

Comments from index cards:

• No moratorium on dorms! Why do we treat students like an enemy and not an asset?
• Concerns and Expectations: – Protect River corridor and viewshed  -“green building”  – adequate parking and public transportation  – reasonable “code of conduct” expectations for students  – university oversight over conduct with penalties for noncompliance  -community input on location, design, and compliance
• Criteria for sit selection: It’s very important that the site be buffered from existing residential neighborhoods. Noise, litter, student foot & car traffic can be very disruptive.
• Comments and Concerns :
  - Impact on environment with construction & then occupancy
  - Traffic impacts, parking for residents and visitors
  - Building design that will compliment the neighborhood it is built in
  - Construction lead the way with “green” building materials and maintenance
  - Better communication and interaction with UWM planners and neighbors in the development site/sites. Follow the vision/planning of SE WI Regional Planning Commission in preserving the river corridor.

• Consider large parking fees and use proceeds to fund free public transportation.
• Respect the Milw River Overlay District requirements, both in letter and in spirit. No new building on the river!
• 400 fewer new or freshman students enrolled this year. If they are having a lower enrollment, why are they building more dorms? We should wait to see if there is still a need in 2 or 3 years
• Extension of Memo of Agreement that WTLT has with UWM & Kenilworth Dorm to all new dorms. Chapter 17 expedited to occur in 2009
• Would encourage the “clustering” of students to encourage more active, urban lifestyles and reduce need for cars. So – Columbia Hosp, Prospect Mall, Park East, Hometown or Riverworks sites – where there is already student presence.
• We need neighborhood approved building design standards – should fit with the neighborhood.
• Slow this process down. What is the rush? They have been waiting years. They can wait 2 more years while good planning and neighborhood involvement will find well thought-out locations with good design.
• What is Bob Greenstreet’s role in dorm building? It seems to me that due to his relationship to the University, he should recuse himself from participating.
  Continue reading ‘Public Comments and Questions from Meeting on UWM Dorms’

31 Jul 2008 | 8:15 pm | 3rd District, Environmental Sustainability | No comments yet - Add your comments

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

[Please see the comment at the end of this post about the Milwaukee River Work Group.]

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, or 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. Continue reading ‘The Milwaukee River and upcoming development (more dorms?)’

17 Feb 2008 | 9:35 am | 3rd District, Development, Environmental Sustainability, Water | Read 1 comment - Add your comments