Freeway razing sets stage for $250 million in development

New Urban News Article with images, 7/1/2004

The Milwaukee Common Council approved a plan on June 15 for redeveloping a mile-long corridor on an edge of downtown where the blighting influence of the Park East Freeway has been eliminated. Demolition of the freeway spur was completed about five months ago, bringing to fruition a longtime goal of John Norquist, who served as Milwaukee’s mayor from 1988 until January of this year, when he resigned to head the Congress for New Urbanism.

Where the elevated freeway stood on downtown’s northern edge, a ground-level six-lane boulevard, McKinley Avenue, has been constructed, adorned with trees and flower beds in its median and with granite pavers and more trees between the roadway and the sidewalks. The boulevard provides an attractive new gateway to the downtown and is helping to attract redevelopment activity. “We anticipate at least $250 million of investment,” said Martha Brown, acting commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of City Development. “There’s already great interest from residential, office, mixed-use, and retail developers.”

The 16 acres that the freeway occupied and nearly 10 acres along its borders have been knit back together as approximately 28 traditional city blocks. Several streets that the freeway had cut off have been reconnected. A new Knapp Street lift bridge will be completed in August, spanning the Milwaukee River. The city’s RiverWalk, which runs along the river downtown, will be extended into the redevelopment area.