The preliminary score is in. Yet one more development in a string of them along our river, moving north despite city promises that development would end at North Avenue.
In a move that has all the looks of a “done deal,” UWM has selected the Hometown site along the Milwaukee River as their next UWM dorm location.
The development, owned by Mandel, has the kiss of blessing from the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG) and Alder Nik Kovac, who told me just minutes ago that he hopes to support this project.
Continue reading ‘Developers-112, Milwaukee River-O: Hometown site is chosen.’
1 Oct 2008 | 2:40 pm | UWM, Water, Development, 3rd District | No comments yet - Add your comments
This is a response to both Ann Brummitt’s email (you can follow the thread below) and the letter that she sent out on behalf of the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG). I apologize for the length and I’ve tried to bulletpoint and highlight the basics, so you can do a quick skim if you don’t have time to read the whole thing.If you are opposed to unsustainable, high-density development along the Milwaukee River, please call (286.3447) or email Alder Nik Kovac (nkovac@milwaukee.gov) a.s.a.p. If you’ve already made your call, thank you.
Starting out with the tiresome disclaimers that anyone who is vocally opposed to this development has to parade out:
A. I am not anti-student. All the students who worked on my campaign, the students who ask me to speak on their panels, the students who ask for my endorsement for their projects or most importantly, the students who are also opposed to developing more dorms on the river will attest to this fact.
Continue reading ‘Rebuttal to MRWG’s support for more high-density development on the river’
1 Oct 2008 | 9:09 am | UWM, Water, Development, Environmental Sustainability | No comments yet - Add your comments
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, Development, Environmental Sustainability | No comments yet - Add your comments
Tuesday, July 29
7:00 pm
First public meeting
Urban Ecology Center
1500 E. Park Pl
(parking will be at a premium. please walk, bike or carpool.)
Where will UWM’s new dorms be?
- On the Milwaukee River?
- East Side?
- Brady St. area?
- Riverwest?
- Prospect Mall?
- Maryland Ave. School?
- Downtown?
- Capitol Drive?
UWM’s RFP (Request for Proposals) specified housing for 500-700 lower division students (RiverView Dorms house ~475 students).Will UWM show its commitment to our city and its residents? Is UWM using the UWM Foundation so they can bypass public process? How will the Dorms be designed? Will they be LEED certified? Will the Milwaukee River Overlay District be respected? Will the size of dorms be manageable? Is re-use of existing buildings being considered?
Come and find out more!
This is a resident-driven meeting. Alderman Nik Kovac will be attending to hear your concerns and answer questions.
We want a strong and healthy UWM, which will improve the health and vitality of our neighborhoods. Come hear the discussion and share your ideas about size, environmental impact, accountability, etc., with your neighbors and Alderman Nik Kovac.
On the agenda:
- Overview of process and how the community can get involved
- History/Impact of RiverView dorms
- Review of the Milwaukee River Overlay District
- Are there alternative locations?
- Feedback from residents (you!) on where or how to build the dorms
Tuesday, July 29
7:00 pm
UWM Dorms in our neighborhoods
First public meeting
Urban Ecology Center
1500 E. Park Pl
Sponsored by: Brady St. Area Assn., Cambridge Woods Neighborhood Assn., East Village Assn., Greenwich Village Neighborhood Assn., Mariners Neighborhood Assn., Murray Hill Neighborhood Assn., Prospect Ave. Assn., Riverside Park Neighborhood Assn., Riverwest Neighborhood Assn., Water Tower Landmark Trust and Milwaukee River Neighbors
21 Jul 2008 | 6:44 pm | Development, 3rd District | No comments yet - Add your comments