$80K Esperanza Unida Peace Mural Being Removed By Keystone Development

Southsiders began to notice that a large section from the Esperanza Unida Peace mural had been removed by Keystone Development at 611 W. National Ave.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 29, 2016

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Southsiders noticed that a section of the Esperanza Unida Peace mural was removed by Keystone Development who bought the building from the City of Milwaukee. The building will house 52 loft apartment units.
The developer is adding windows on the side where the mural is located and will definitely distort the mural.

The cost of the mural was paid by Esperanza Unida, Inc. and city taxpayers, which approximately $80,000 has been spent so far on its preservation, according to city records.

When contacted on Tuesday by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA), Manuel Pérez, the executive director of Esperanza Unida stated, that "Esperanza Unida no longer owns the 611 West National Building. The building is owned by Keystone Development." Keystone Development could not be reached for comment and has not released any information about what future is in store for the mural.

At the moment, the future of the $80K Peace mural is uncertain, but one thing for sure, the missing mural sections from the side of the building wall were not in the large trash, debris and waste container located in the parking lot.