$150,000 Near South Side Area Plan Released

Development plan could lead to gentrification in the area

By H. Nelson Goodson
March 19, 2009

Milwaukee- Last Tuesday, the Contract Management Team and a Plan Advisory Group held an open meeting to showcase what they call the “Near South Side Area Plan” at the Harley-Davidson museum. The South side comprehensive development plan had been on the works for the past three years. The Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) along with the Southside Organizing Committee and advisory group crafted the plan.
The plan focuses on mass development of South side areas, and most likely lead to gentrification, a process of renewal accompanying the influx of middle-class people into deteriorating areas that often displaces earlier poorer residents within the South side. Properties will most likely be sold at below market price and later sold at higher prices making the South side area a marketable land grabbing scenario. Downtown is most likely expanding to the South side, as seen through the development of the Menomonee Valley where the new Harley-Davidson Museum is located on Canal St.
Vacant lots and deteriorating properties will be targeted for development to the highest bidder such as corporations, companies, manufactures, and real estate investors willing to develop an area between S. 43 St. to S. 1st St. and from W. Montana St. to the Soo Line Rail Road boundary in the Menomonee Valley.
Affected by the project will most likely be the predominately Latino community. Once the project is approved by the Common Council on May 27, 2009, prospective investors and developers will begin converting the area. Latinos and residents will most likely be driven to other Milwaukee affordable areas to live, since property values will increase dramatically and property taxes will also increase as a result of developing the area.
Residents who reside in the area mentioned should provide an input and become part of the inevitable change, the expected gentrification, and development in progress.
The City of Milwaukee awarded $75,000 and the Plan Advisory Group raised another $75,000 to match the funds for the project. Consultants HNTB and Abrazo were paid nearly $150,000 to head the initial plans and provide services such props and other items to help explain the project. HNTB is a multidisciplinary firm known and respected for our work in transportation, bridges, aviation, architecture, urban design and planning, environmental engineering, water and construction services. Sub consultants are ABRAZO, ¡Aquí!, and The Center for Neighborhood Technology.
The funding partners are the 5th Ward Association, Associated Bank, Continental Savings Bank, Council for the Spanish Speaking, E & Co., Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Hope House, Layton State Bank, Lincoln Neighborhood Redevelopment Corporation, M&I, Mitchell Bank, Rockwell Automation, Sonag Company, Inc., Thomas A. Mason Co., Tri City National Bank, U.S. Bank, and Vidal & Associates, according to DCD.
Next public hearings will be held on April 20, at 1:30 p.m. at the City Plan Commission, 1st floor Board Room, 809 N. Broadway. The next meeting at, the Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee, on May 19, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 301 B, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. Finally, the Common Council is scheduled to vote on the plan on May 27, at 9:00 a.m. in the Common Council Chambers in Room 301 B at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. in Milwaukee.