The Milwaukee Post

By DAVE FIDLIN Special to the Post MILWAUKEE — After a year of study, scrutiny and soliciting feedback, the wraps have been taken off an extensive report that envisions a range of possi- bilities for portions of the South 27th Street corridor. Last spring, the city of Milwaukee's Department of City Development partnered with staffers within the city of Greenfield and the Historic Route 41 Business Improvement District to study the range of possibili- ties along a four-mile stretch of 27th Street, between Oklahoma and College avenues. After holding a series of public input sessions that were aimed at exploring the broad-brushed list of possi- bilities, the consensus seemed unanimous: Many areas of the corridor appear tired and in need of a refresh. Nolan Zaroff, senior plan- ner with the city of Milwaukee, shared high- lights of a lengthy strategic action plan on Tuesday with several dozen residents, business owners and other interested participants at the JB's on 41 bowling alley in the heart of the area of scrutiny. "We've been looking at a lot of new concepts and pro- gramming options," Zaroff said. "We've taken feedback into account, and we're try- ing to envision what this might look like 10 years from now." The nonbinding plan envi- sions a refreshed corridor that offers a new smattering of retail and restaurants. Green space accommoda- tions for bicyclists and pedestrians are also baked into the document. While government is lim- ited in what it can impose on already established private businesses, the strategic plan does serve as a call to action and encourages com- mercial owners to consider updating buildings. Zaroff pointed out the city and the Historic Route 41 BID each have mechanisms available to offer façade and other grants for spruce-ups. Last summer, the city of Milwaukee partnered with a firm, Community Design Solutions, whose staffers compiled a list of conceptu- al ideas in some of the most tired areas of the corridor. CDS' recommendations have been incorporated into the strategic plan document. CDS' report touched on six specific locations — four in Milwaukee and two in Greenfield. The specific sites in the report include: ■ 3700-3736 S. 27th St., which currently houses the South Towne Center shop- ping center ■ 3774 S. 27th St., the site of the historic — but unoc- cupied — Wildenberg Evergreen Hotel ■ northwest corner of West Coldspring Road and South 27th Street intersec- tion, which includes a mix- ture of occupied and vacant buildings, many with faded facades ■ 4560-4624 S. 27th St., which includes the active Suburban Motel property and the shuttered Chancery restaurant ■ northwest corner of West Layton Avenue and South 27th Street, the site of an active Guaranty Bank and an underused shopping center ■ the Wilson Creek corri- dor, which runs along much of the area of study. Although private property owners hold most of the con- trol in refreshing the corri- dor, Zaroff said there are steps the city and other organizations can take in improving it as well, partic- ularly when it comes to green space improvements. "This is the Garden District," Zaroff said. "We can do things to improve sig- nage and aesthetics." Attendees at this week's meeting were overwhelm- ingly supportive of the plans and recommendations encapsulated in the report, though several participants indicated not all concerns have been mitigated. The overall safety and maneuverability along 27th Street, from the standpoint of the motorist, was cited as an ongoing concern. Alderman Terry Witkowski, who represents the corridor, said many of the features along the actual road are outside the city's control because it is under the auspices of the state Department of Transportation. "We can suggest things to the DOT, but we obviously can't dictate anything," Witkowski said. Zaroff said his office is now completed with the action plan, and it is avail- able for viewing on the city's website at www.city.milwau- kee.gov/south27thstreet. "At this point in the process, we'll be bringing this to the Common Council and the city Plan Commission," Zaroff said. If all goes as anticipated, Zaroff said the South 27th Street action plan will be incorporated into the much larger master plan for all sections within Milwaukee's borders and will serve as a guide for future policy deci- sions. File photo The public saw the action plan for South 27th Street on Tuesday. It involves increased green space and room for bicyclists and pedestrians as well as redevelopment of vacant or underused retail space. Plan for South 27th Street's future possibilities unveiled More green space, better retail mix among wish list items March 31, 2017 • Milwaukee County Post • 3 PACKARD PLAZA MALL - In Cudahy 5656 S. 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