Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee - Regular Meeting

I am acting as chair today on Stephanie Bloomingdale's behalf as she has an excused absence. Commissioner Rennell Washington. Present. Commissioner Tariq Moody.

Present.

Commissioner Willie Smith.

Present.

And Commissioner Gonzalez and Crane are both excused as well. We will begin today with some reminders on our virtual presentation.

Sounds good. Today's City Plan Commission meeting will be carried out in a hybrid format, which means we are accepting public testimony both in person at 809, excuse me, we're not at 809 today, at City Hall and online in GoToWebinar. If you're joining via GoToWebinar, please keep yourself on mute until you are called. If you would like to provide testimony during any of the public hearings, please click the raise hand function and you can see that on the screen right now. During your agenda item of interest, click the raise hand function and our staff assistant Chris Lee will call on you during the public testimony portion of the item. If anyone is watching on channel 25 and would like to participate in the hearing, you will need to log into the GoToWebinar platform to do so. You can do this by going to the website at city.milwaukee.gov slash CPC. Again, it's city.milwaukee.gov slash CPC. And from this webpage, you can log into GoToWebinar and provide testimony during any of the public comment items. Whether you're providing testimony in person or remotely, please state your name, address, and affiliation with the item for your testimony. Thank you for your participation. Thank you, Tanya.

Beginning today with item number one, review of our meeting minutes from our previous meeting of July 20th, 2026. Commissioners, have you had a chance to review the minutes as prepared? And do we have a motion for approval?

Commissioner Moody reviewed the minutes and I motion for approval of minutes.

Do we have a second?

Second, Commissioner Smith.

All those in favor?

Aye.

The motion carries. The meeting minutes are approved. Item number two, a substitute ordinance correcting the mixed zoning of the parcel located at 1919 South Muskego Avenue.

Chris, can you start the broadcast, please?

Okay, we're going to hold for a second while we start the broadcast.

The broadcast is now starting. All attendees are in listen-only mode.

Do you want to review the online participation? Yeah, I can do that.

Okay. Today's City Plan Commission meeting will be carried out in hybrid format, which means we're accepting public testimony both in person at City Hall and online in GoToWebinar. If you would like to participate and go to webinar, please go to city.milwaukee.gov slash CPC. Again, that's city.milwaukee.gov slash CPC. And from this webpage, you can log in to go to webinar and provide testimony during any of the public comment items. Whether you're providing testimony in person or remotely, please state your name, address, and affiliation with the item for your testimony. Thank you very much for your participation.

And then jumping back to item number two, zoning public hearing regarding a substitute ordinance correcting the mixed zoning of the parcel located at 1993 South Muskego Avenue.

Oh, those are the meeting minutes from the last meeting. Whoops. All good. I have too many pieces of paper here. We have a lot of paper today.

Here we go, got it. Item number two, for real. Item number 260481, resolution approving the request to deviate from the performance standards established by the Port of Milwaukee Sub Area B North Development Incentive Zone, DIZ. to allow an assembly hall use within a portion of the existing building located at 1120 South Barclay Street on the east side of Barclay Street, south of East Washington Street in the 12th Aldermatic District.

Okay, great. Hi everyone, I'm Tonya Fonseca. I serve as City Planning Director and I'll present this item for us today. So the Port of Milwaukee Development Incentive Zone Overlay or DIS was established in 2011 and includes both the permitted use list and design standards to guide development in a manner that supports the growth of the Harbor District. Subsequently, the Harbor District Water and Land Use Plan, or what we call the WALUP, was approved in 2018 and further established the vision and goals of this area. This site last came before the Commission in September of 2024 and prior to that in May of 2019. In 2019, a company called Fomation that made cheese heads was manufacturing its product within the building and they began offering tours and space for small gatherings. That event space grew beyond what was considered an ancillary function and it was determined that a deviation from the development incentive zone or DIS overlay was necessary as an assembly hall is a prohibited use within the overlay. Though the event space had grown to a capacity of 200 to 300 people, it was intended to remain accessory to the light manufacturing company as a means to support it. Because of the accessory nature of the event space, this commission approved the deviation. Fulmation moved its operations out of the building in May of 2022, three years after the deviation was approved and subsequently closed altogether in 2023, unfortunately. The event space continued to operate as a primary use within the building and the applicant owner, who is present with us today, continued to make improvements to the space, which now currently hosts events for up to 400 people. This was unfortunately contrary to the 2019 deviation approval and once we became aware of this in August 2023, the Department of City Development and Harbor District Inc worked with the owner to create a plan to bring additional uses to the building that are aligned with the development incentive zone overlay use list and the wallop and the vision for the area to help balance the assembly hall event space with an emphasis on arts and maker focused tenants. The owner presented that plan to City Plan Commission in September 2024 and requested a new deviation to allow the event space to continue to operate within a portion of the building for a period of two years while the applicant implemented the plan that entailed the following. Reserving eight spaces within the building for non-event uses that align with the Diz and the Wallop. Sharing the event space with the arts and maker focused tenants, creating a synergy between these uses. And at the time that this item went to City Plan Commission in September 2024, the owner had already identified two arts and maker-focused tenants to occupy two spaces within the subject building, as well as space in the adjacent building at 1132 South Barclay Street that the owner also owns. The 2024 approval expires on September 30th, 2026. and the owner has applied for a deviation to extend the allowance of the event space within a portion of the building. Since the approval in 2024, the applicant has stated that they have filled seven of the eight non-event spaces with one creative related tenant continuing to occupy two of the office space spaces in addition to the portion of the building next door. And six additional tenants whose uses are general office, which is an allowable use. One space remains vacant. Other physical improvements have been made to the building, including alterations to separate the event space from the non-event spaces. And additional building and site improvements are anticipated over the next year. The detailed plan of operation for the event space has been updated to reflect changes and remains largely unchanged. The average event entails approximately 150 guests. There are typically between 25 and 40 events per year. The parking plan has been updated to reflect the off-street parking available for the event space, and additional information has been added regarding the loading plan, garbage pickup, and its alcohol policy consistent with the detail typically required for an assembly hall requiring a Board of Zoning Appeals approval. The applicant has provided responses in the exhibit to the four deviation criteria outlined in the zoning code that must be met in order for a deviation to be approved by this body. And these criteria include the purpose of the overlay zone being met, The deviation improves the aesthetics of the site. And if applicable, the deviation addresses one or more unique site factors that make application of the standard impractical. And finally, that the deviation is consistent with the comprehensive plan. Let's see here.

We have one person who is interested in speaking. I believe it's the property owner, Maylyn Nelson. And I have just a few more notes to share before we get there. I apologize. There was a pause.

Yeah, I wanted to advance the slide. Sorry, a delay. So criteria one of the deviation criteria, the applicant notes that the purpose of the overlay is met by creating a synergistic group of businesses, including light manufacturers, artists, and design studios that will leverage the event space to showcase and promote their wares. Additional information has been requested regarding events that have been held to achieve the synergy with the art spaces and maker type businesses that would be aligned with the purpose and were committed in that 2024 plan. For criteria two, the applicant continues to state that improvements made to both the interior and exterior of the building and grounds have it enhanced the property and stabilize the long-term ownership by adapting the property to a modern post-COVID business model that will energize this part of Barclay Street. Creation and installation of artists' murals and various art sculptures and streetscapes is anticipated. Staff note that this response remains unchanged from 2024 and we agree that physical improvements have been made and are positive. We are requesting a timeline for making the additional improvements including the artist murals and art sculptures as committed to in 2024. And if these improvements are no longer proposed, the applicant can confirm this and identify whether any additional aesthetic or public facing improvements are planned. For criteria number three, the applicant states that they intend to reactivate the non-assembly space within the building with an emphasis on light manufacturing and maker-type businesses in the building, and that the new collection of businesses has the potential to offer a more sustainable long-term solution for repurposing the building, and that this deviation would allow the maintenance of a viable business and provide potential for future, sorry, further enhancement of the advanced adjacent vacant properties. Staff note that this response remains unchanged from 2024 and we do understand that reoccupying multi-story post-industrial buildings with industrial uses is challenging and allowing a wider mix of complementary uses to occupy this building might be necessary. The exhibit notes that one creative tenant occupies two office spaces within the building as well as a portion of the adjacent building. The other current non-assembly spaces are occupied by office uses, which are allowable uses. Staff have requested additional information on the timeline of the remaining leases with the existing tenants and the applicant's experience over the last two years with trying to attract maker and arts-related tenants for these spaces. Criterion number four, the applicant states that the proposal is consistent with the wallop, which is the comprehensive plan for the area, and describes the proposed deviation as an ancillary use to the job creating artist studios, light manufacturing, and general office uses. The Wallop envisions the Barclay Street corridor as a light industrial maker corridor. The addition of a creative business within both buildings provides and helps carry out this vision. The event space has an opportunity to further implement this, and the 2024 plan outlined anticipated ways to accomplish this. As stated previously, this site is located within the Wallop, and that was adopted in 2018. And again, The primary recommendation for this area of Barclay is envisioned to support maker type businesses and identifies the area as light industrial area that provides employment and innovation opportunities with flexible building forms that can adapt to a variety of businesses, including makers. Entertainment and retail uses are generally discouraged unless part of a make or sell arrangement or other use complimentary to the light industrial maker corridor. As such, the deviation request for approval of the assembly hall use as a principal use within the building while the building owner continues to finalize plans for the remainder of the building for uses that are allowed by the Diz are consistent with the recommendations of the plan. In summary, an assembly hall use was approved for the site in 2019 as an accessory element to an existing light manufacturing company, which did eventually leave. The assembly hall continued to operate as a standalone use within the building and the applicant worked with DCD and Harbor District Inc. to create a plan to fill the spaces within the building with uses that align with the plan's vision for a maker corridor. In September 2024, the applicant received a two-year deviation approval to continue operating the event space while implementing the plan, including securing additional tenants and collaborating with the creative community to utilize the event space to further the vision of the plan. Over the last two years, the applicant has continued to make improvements to the building and has secured leases with office tenants to fill several of the non-assembly spaces. Staff has requested additional information regarding how the event space within the building has been shared with the arts and maker focused tenant and other organizations creating a synergy. Staff also recognized that market conditions, tenant demand and operational needs may affect the feasibility of securing only creative or maker or production type tenants within this building. Staff feel that more detail is necessary to determine whether the 2024 plan has been implemented or if an updated plan is needed that reflects current leasing conditions while still advancing the broader goals for activation, compatible occupancy, and reinvestment along Barclay Street. Staff support a one-year approval of a deviation to continue to operate the assembly hall within a portion of the building while the applicant secures the final tenant and demonstrates that the existing leases will be renewed and spaces remain occupied and work with DCD to refine that feasible plan for the remaining spaces and the role of the event space. And staff further recommend that the applicant demonstrate how the event space has been and remains available to supplement or complement the creative type businesses referenced in their exhibits. For these reasons, staff recommends approval of the file for a term of one year conditioned on the following, that the applicant apply for a longer term deviation for the assembly hall use within one year from the day of approval, providing an exhibit that includes all information, requested information in this report and informing DCD and the Harbor District Inc of any changes to the plans outlined in exhibit A attached to this file. Thank you.

Okay. Now we will hear from Malin Nelson. If you could introduce yourself for the record.

Hi. Malin Nelson. Anything else you need from me?

And you're the property owner?

Property owner. I've been operating the business at the location, former partner of the formation folks. Okay. Which is a great, it was a great concept if I can deviate a bit from what had happened. Initially when... formation came into the Milwaukee area, which was a really great addition to the area. They had great aspirations to continue on manufacturing cheeseheads globally, which was kind of cool to be part of that. I came in in 2019 to kind of help them financially figure out how to make their operation, which is a manufacturing operation, be successful in such a big building that had a lot of overhead. And the path they were going on wasn't great. In fact, the Sunday I met, they were ready to close on the Monday after. We developed a plan to create the event space to enhance tours, which we did. We had 8,000 tours the first year that we operated, which was pretty fun to see. A lot of school groups, a lot of retirees coming through. There were a lot of activities with corporate clients coming in. Long story short, COVID came along. And within a week, we lost 99% of our business, that being the packers, the airports, all the tourists, and all the tours that came through the groups. So we tried to stay open. We didn't obviously shut down operations on the retail side shortly after 2022 and then 2023 had to shut down operations. So in that time frame, our partnership became more of a, Who's going to take the building, the bank or me? So I did take over the note of the building, continued on the operations on the event side, which we barely actually finished our construction in 2021, did our first event May of 22, and continued to use that avenue as a way to pay the bills. sort of thereafter met with the city and they asked us to develop a plan to to keep things going on the events that I had invested quite a bit of time and money a lot of time a lot of sweat equity bought the building next door in concert with the building to kind of marry the two together to offer a place for our shipping and inventory to go to and The plan for the city, which I can take a step back, they've been very helpful and sympathetic to our issue, but also business-like, and I appreciate that. We did end up carving out two-thirds of the warehouse to artist groups. In the past two years, they've created six different artists workshops in the building, and we use the other portion for parking. I've done that at a very, very sharply below market rent. So my giving back to this process was to pay the bills on both buildings but create this artist enclave. So they've done that and we haven't had a chance to implement our murals and our streetscapes because we've been busy trying to get that building under control as well as the main building getting it rented which we're able to acquire some tenants in that space. so the moving moving forward process the one year that they are proposing is to continue on that path and say well the murals will happen on the barclay building i'm not sure if folks know the barclays corridor but it is quite blighted every day we have carts of folks up and down heading to the junkyard which is part of part of what i bought into So we're going to keep that pocket between Cermak and my building going and brightening it, continuing to brighten it. The Barclay building at 1120 is a great building. It's an amazing building. I'm very fortunate to be part of it and owning it, me and the bank. um so we're going to continue on that path so we have no desire to to quit or not go back on our word but we we feel that we can be a very vital part of starting jump starting that corridor the building to the north i've been in conversation with mr kravitz to to buy the building and do something i just need to have more uh it's 1100 south park claim okay to figure out what we could do viably and financially with that building. I know the building across the street was just purchased by a very nice young man who is renovating it. I don't know that he has a plan, but I believe in the next maybe five, seven years we can brighten up that whole corridor from Cermak to Washington. So I'm just here to further the process to get the one year, which it won't take us a full year to get things going. We already have a mural artist lined up and just keep going. And that's my story.

The lease spaces, I think, is the other issue.

yeah so uh so my day job i'm a money manager should be watching the market right now um and i have an office in brookfield i've worked in this building since 2019 when i became part of formation because that's where i had to relocate my business to keep going so i have two offices i have bringing staff down to the barclay location we have an engineer who's taken two offices and we have the artists that took two spots the artists unfortunately aren't paying any rent they can't afford it So they're living rent-free in the building, and I don't have a problem with that because, again, it's part of this collaboration process. So the engineer financial planning and investment advisory is three releases each. The artists are month-to-month, but they literally are going to be there for the long term. So that's our plan. Again, appreciate the city being part of the process. They put a lot of work into this, more than I probably have. So...

Wonderful, yeah. Commissioners, any questions for the applicant or staff? Hearing none, is there a motion on this item?

This Commissioner Washington, our motion to approve our motion to close the public hearing. And approve the item as presented. Second Commissioner Smith.

Okay. Any further discussion? I'll do a roll call vote. Commissioner Washington?

Aye.

Commissioner Moody?

Aye.

Commissioner Smith?

Aye.

The motion passes. Thank you very much and best of luck to you. Thank you. All right, I think I'm on the right agenda now. So public hearing on item number three, number 260294. Okay, great. Thank you, Chair.

The applicant, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, has requested this rezoning change to allow a wider mix of commercial uses on this site, which is proposed to become the Metcalfe Park Liberation Hub. The applicant team is here to provide a more detailed overview of their plans for the site, but in general, uses are anticipated to include community serving commercial, residential, and service uses such as a community bookstore, cafe, soup kitchen, meeting and partner spaces, laundry facilities, flexible community rooms, outdoor spaces, and two residential units on the second floor. Most of these uses are allowed within the NS2 zoning district, which is what we're proposing to change the zoning to, though the uses that fall within the community center use definition will also require a special use approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals that they always do. Their plans also include renovating the existing building and constructing a building addition. This is a base zoning change, so specific development plans are not part of this file, though the applicant team will be sharing some of their conceptual plans and renderings with you all during their presentation today. This site is within the Fond du Lac and North area, which was adopted in 2021. and the plan supports small-scale commercial uses in residential neighborhoods, primarily for smaller businesses that serve local residents in the immediate area. Office, retail, restaurants without a drive-through are all allowable uses within the NS2 or Neighborhood Shopping 2 zoning district, and a community center is a desirable use in a traditional residential neighborhood. The plan recommends expanding access to healthy food and fostering a culture of healthy eating. It also supports commercial and industrial building owners and tenants wishing to make improvements to their buildings or to repurpose vacant commercial and industrial buildings for new uses and encourages the renovation of existing commercial buildings throughout the Metcalfe Park neighborhood. The proposed zoning change is consistent with the Fond du Lac and North Area Plan. This site is within the 15th Aldermanic District and Alderman Stamper is a sponsor of the file and has indicated his support for this proposal. And staff recommend approval of the file. And with that, we'll turn things over to the applicant.

Welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Okay.

Good afternoon. Happy Monday. My name is Melody McCurtis. I'm the deputy director and lead organizer at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges. And we are happy to be here today to present the Metcalfe Park Liberation Hub. First, I want to thank the community that, you know, really dreamed up this hub. We've been doing this work for 15 years. One of the things that we looked at is that what are the things in our neighborhood that we don't have? Currently, we don't have a cafe. We don't have a bookstore. We don't have a soup kitchen. We don't have an intergenerational community hub that everybody can go to. You got the Boys and Girls Club. That's just for the youth, right? They don't have a space for everybody to come and connect. And then we do have one laundromat, but your clothes might not get clean at the laundromat that we got in the neighborhood, right? But you waste the money.

trying to wash your clothes so um that's all i really got you don't add anybody want to add to that well i can add to um anthony with kg development group uh it's definitely been a pleasure to work with uh macai park community bridges uh they definitely one of the non-profits out here really doing a lot of work in the community uh they have several initiatives going on in the community with home ownership models This Liberation Hub, so really just here excited to help, you know, see the project through. We have Engberg Anderson, but as a design team, I left the contractor, and then Elaine, familiar with Beyond Scope Consultants, so I really have a team here that can, you know, get the project done, see it through, and ready to bring it to the community.

Hi, I'm Will Manley. I'm a senior associate with Engberg Anderson. I guess I can just talk through some of the images we're seeing here. In this rendering, you'll see the existing building, which is a two-story brick building that is both duplex. There'll be the cafe on the first level, bookstore as well. Then to the north of it will be the addition where that would have the laundromat and community room. Altogether, those things form a courtyard that spills out from the community center that just kind of brings the community together and allows them to have some flexibility indoors, outdoors. There will be accessible entrances provided to the site from that courtyard and also from the north. And the site is pretty much well thought through to just be a good hub for the community. Yeah.

Anything, Elaine?

Sure. Elaine Famiglia with Bianco Consulting. I'm the owner's rep for Metcalfe Park Community Bridges on this project. Just wanted to add, as mentioned before, this is a two-phase project where the first phase we will focus on renovating the residential units, those Two units will be affordable housing units, the bookstore and the cafe, and then a small kitchen for phase two. We would then do new construction, that's the new construction focus, where we'll be expanding that kitchen into a full commercial kitchen. We'll have the laundromat, we'll also have four offices on site, and then also a community meeting space that also has access into that central courtyard so we can use the courtyard as well weather permitting, of course, because we live in Wisconsin. But yes, and then also I just wanted to mention also that this project, not only does it bring a hub for the community, it's also going to be a home for Metcalfe Park Community Bridges. Because if you know today, their office space isn't the best that they have. And this is actually what the plan here is to make it their home hub. So those offices will, you know, be homes for their work and the work that they do for the community every day.

Thank you.

Anybody in the community? No.

There's a whole lot of people that want to speak. Also, yes, we do have support from the community here as well. We have State Representative Margaret Arney and Representative Haywood. We got community members online, in person.

Sheila Milton has said that she wishes to speak.

Is that mic right there?

Before we go into the public testimony, Commissioner Moody is asked if we could ask a couple questions.

Can you explain what's on the roof going on?

On the roof of the existing building, it's a proposed rooftop terrace for primarily the occupants of the residence. It's just a seating area, nothing too glamorous, just sun sail covering just to block shade and provide covering that way. And then on the roof of the new phase, there will be some solar panels and, you know, just planning ahead because I think that's something that the client wants to put there. Great.

And then as far as the facilities, the laundromat and the bookstore, would that be operated by your organization? Yes.

Come on. I'm the implementer.

This is the brains. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges will be operating. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Janelle Cross, the executive director of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges. Metcalfe Park will be operating the bookstore. At this time, we are looking at some of our catering partners that have been doing some really great work for us to be able to take on that space of the soup kitchen. But if we can't get who we want, which is anomaly catering to do it, then Metcalfe Park will be handling it. Thank you. The only other thing that I think that I want to add is this, is that yes, we have been doing this for 15 years. One of the things about Metcalfe Park is that we are led exclusively by the direction of the Metcalfe Park community members. It was in our plan in 2011, we did a plan for the community and they said that they needed their own space. That's what they wanted. They wanted a space that our young people can get resources, job connections that our elders can access. Right now, our building is not accessible for our elders. And so, this plan has been designed and dreamed up by the community. We are the ones that's implemented it, but this is what they've asked for.

Thank you. Any other questions from the commissioners? All right. Shall we take some public testimony? Elaine, you've already spoken, right? Yes, correct. Danielle Cross, already spoken, right? I just want to make sure I... Okay.

I'm leaving. No, no, no.

You don't have to leave. I don't want you to leave. I just want to make sure that I gave you the opportunity to speak and didn't skip over you. Sheila Milton. You want to just come up to the microphone and introduce yourself for the record?

Hi, my name is Sheila Milton. I'm a resident of Metcalfe Park, and I truly believe that this will be positive for our community, for our youth and for our elderly to be able to use and to be helpful to them because there's no other places in the area that have that consistent for us to have anything there.

Thank you. Pastor Vincent Montgomery. Whoops. As opposed but does not wish to speak. Rosenda Perez. I do not have whether or not you want to speak or not. Abara. Okay, we'll skip over that one. I don't know who it is. Michael Orlowski, you still don't want to speak, correct? Representative Margaret Arne. Is it?

Hello. Hi. I am Margaret Arney. I represent the 18th Assembly District. And as a state partner with Metcalfe Park, especially with the Food Justice Collective, I'm so glad to see this zoning change being proposed. I think it's a great step forward, there's a lot of good things that are happening and the zoning change is needed. It's helpful in bringing about a new vision for what can happen in these spaces and it's a first step in a long road. And my district starts at 35th Street. So I share it with my fellow representatives. And I have to say our elected officials are very well engaged. The neighborhoods are very well engaged. Lots and lots of community partners are engaged. And I'm very, very impressed with the quality of the work and the um just dedication to true community voice in every aspect of what happens here so all right thank you and tanya has been to a bunch of meetings too so um state representative kaylin hayward hey good afternoon

Katelyn Haywood, State Representative for the 16th District, also the Assistant Leader in the State Assembly. As I'm here today, I sent a letter in support already, but I wanted to show up today and make sure I show my support in person as well. I think what's happening with Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, or Metcalfe Park as a whole, It's truly inspiring work that they're doing. A lot of times we talk about issues in Milwaukee, talk about growing the city and also how do we take care of folks who are actually in the city. We are seeing grocery stores close, pharmacies close, resources leave the community every day. But you know, we can say it needs to change and talk about change needing to happen. Residents in Metcalfe Park are taking that action, making sure the change actually comes about. They're not waiting for someone to come save them, someone to come in with a plan and a cape on to figure it out. They are doing the work. They've been planning, they've been working a bunch of meetings, but really building the community support. I think, like, I wish I could take what's happening in Madcap Park and use it around the county, use it around the state, and let folks see what's happening. This is the blueprint. So if you want to come in and support, This plan is addressing a lot of community needs that we see need to happen and see change about. So I was happy to be here to support Metcalfe Park residents. Thank you all so much for consistently advocating for yourselves. And again, not waiting for someone in the Cape to come save us, for making sure we can save ourselves. So thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Corin Dennison.

Hi, good afternoon, everyone. I'm Corinne Dennison and I know it's okay. I'm an owner occupant in Metcalfe Park and I am fully in support of the shift in zoning restrictions and the procuring of the liberation hub. because as a resident and as someone who has a stake in our neighborhoods, I second what Kaylin Haywood says is that Metcalf Park residents and the leaders at the organization are not waiting. We are recognizing people as resources and not something that's external. Somebody has to come and bring something. We need to cultivate what already is and exchange the human's You know what I mean? Our gifts amongst one another. And this will be a space where folks get to identify their gifts, share their gifts, receive love and gifts from other people. And I think it's totally worth it. And that's like I'm talking hugs. I'm talking eye contact. I'm talking like having your whole personhood be recognized after my clothes get washed. after I eat and after I might get some other type of formalized training. But it's also a space to be loved on, a space to show up with extra love and really get that radiating throughout the community, especially in a neighborhood where people like to say, oh, it ain't nothing.

It ain't nothing over there.

You know, and just kind of counterbalancing those stereotypes and limiting beliefs about black folks and poor black folks specifically. We can save ourselves if we are allowed to structurally. And the Liberation Hub aims to do that. Thank you.

Thank you.

I believe that concludes everyone who has asked to speak unless there is someone here that checked the wrong box. Commissioners, are there any further questions for the presenters or anyone who has spoken? Hearing none, can we have a motion on this issue?

Commissioner Moody moves to approve item 260294.

Commissioner Smith?

Second.

Thank you. Any further discussion? If not, I'll do a roll call vote. Commissioner Rennell Washington?

Aye.

Commissioner Tariq Moody?

Aye.

Commissioner Willie Smith?

Aye.

Motion passes, congratulations. Beautiful project and we wish you well.

Okay.

Item number four. Comprehensive planning public hearing. Item number 260437.

Okay. So item 260437 is a resolution creating a neighborhood improvement district number 13 for Metcalfe Park, approving its initial operating plan and authorizing expenditures in the 15th Aldermanic District. With us are Sally Svetic and Melody McCurtis and I forget your name. So I'll let you. To present more about the NID.

WONDERFUL. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SALLY, AND I AM A NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CITY DEVELOPMENT, AND I ALSO WORK AS THE COMPLIANCE LIAISON WITH THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS AND WORK WITH FOLKS WHO ARE PROPOSING NEW NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, AGAIN, TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE, EDUCATE, AND WORK THROUGH THAT LEGAL CREATION PROCESS THAT IS OUTLINED IN THE WISCONSIN STATE STATUTE. I did want to give an overview comparison between what a neighborhood improvement district is and what a business improvement district is especially because the next file is relating to the bid as we call it the business improvement district. On the screen here, you'll see the similarities are that bids and nids are both special assessment districts allowed by Wisconsin state statute. Bids are allowed to assess just the commercial portion or exclusively commercial properties in the district. And NIDS can assess any property that is taxable. Neither BIDs or NIDS can assess properties that are exempt from paying property taxes. There are some differences between the Board of Directors for BIDs. Board members are appointed by the mayor's office and serve three-year terms. The board must be comprised for both at least five members and for a bid, those members must have a majority of owners or occupants in the district. Compared to NIDS, then, NIDS must have boards that are comprised exclusively of members who own or occupy property in the district. Board members are elected annually and serve one-year terms and they are elected by, again, folks who own or occupy property in the district. They must have at least five members and those seats are divided among the commercial and residential properties in proportion to the valuation of those properties for the district. And then finally, both bids and nids require a mailing to go out, that's a class two mailing, I'm sorry, a certified mailing, to go out to all of the property owners in the district. And so for both of this file and the next file in front of you, a certified mailing has been sent out at least 30 days in advance of today's public hearing that notifies property owners of today's public hearing as well as a map and the full proposed operating plan that is being proposed today by the NID organizers. A second certified mailing is required after the hearing and before the creation goes to the Common Council. Right, so that's some overview information about bids and nids. The creation process is relatively similar. So while this says the nid creation process, these steps are essentially the same for the bid on the next file as well. And so the first step is a group of organizers deciding that they are interested in creating a nid in their neighborhood. They would contact us and we would walk them through this process, what is allowed, and they would formalize themselves as the organizing committee. Then it is our job in DCD to educate those folks and the public in general about what bids and nids are, and again, the creation process. Then it's also the responsibility of the organizing committee to educate their residents and property owners and work directly with the community to develop the operating plan. While that operating plan is being developed, we work closely with the organizers to make sure that it is in compliance with state statute. And then the city attorney's office, once the proposed operating plan is finalized, does review for additional compliance and provides their opinion that the operating plan is in compliance with state statute. Then that final operating plan would go through a process of petition signatures. And so the organizers for the NID in front of you today and the bid in the next file have provided petition signatures both in the operating plan packet and then additional that have been uploaded to the file. And from my understanding, all of those signatures have been in support of the NID creation. So we will work on, as I mentioned, the certified mailing, making sure that that has gone out and we do have the proofs of those certified mailings going out. Then it leads to today's public hearing. If it passes today, it goes to the Community and Economic Development Committee and then to the full Common Council and to the Mayor's Desk for final approvals. Once and if the NID is created, they would hold their first election and be able to operate and receive their assessment funds generally in March, by mid-March of the following year.

I keep going too far, okay.

And so this is a map of the proposed Metcalfe-Nid boundaries, and I would love to turn it over to Melody and Corinne to explain what's being proposed here.

Yeah, so Metcalfe Park is 27th to 38th Street from Senator North Avenue. So that really is what informed the boundary map. That's all I got.

Yep. All right, and then the objectives.

Yeah, so the goals of our NID are essentially to compile resources to beautify our neighborhood, to reduce vacancy, to activate community and business engagement, and essentially make Metcalfe Park a thriving place to live. And we've identified some of those barriers to thriving in our neighborhood, which include, like I said, vacancies, tree assessments, like trees. literally cleaning up and then also installing things that make people feel communal pride. And those are the goals or the priorities overall of the NID. But I know that our first years post-establishment will be to establish our bylaws, will be to establish kind of like what is possible within the container and establish the NID itself before we are to begin seeing the evidence of our work in year two. there is a assessment structure, right? Which is how needs generate and pool the money. And we have a pretty mature and nuanced assessment structure here. And essentially during our meetings where we were kind of getting community input, we had a six part series where we were all coming and convening to talk about the data that describes our and how we could use that data to build out our need mindfully. And what we came up with was basically a $50 tax increase annually per household. We took inventory of how many single-family homes were in our neighborhood, how many duplexes, how many fourplexes, how many multiplexes. And then we wanted to start a conversation about occupied and unoccupied in order to encourage vacancies. Or wait. To decrease, decrease vacancies, right. To encourage folks to get people living in their homes, which one it would be like, do you need a resource in order to get someone living in your home? Or there might be a real barrier getting those folks who may not live in Milwaukee into a conversation. access to those resources to bring in community members who can add in the power of us and love it on our neighborhood. And that's kind of how we came up with these numbers.

So it looks like, if you can bear with me, that it's almost twice as much for the unoccupied as for the occupied?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am.

And so in theory...

It was to understand the strategy beyond, you know, trying.

Yeah. So it'll be like, hey, what's this? And then we either start that conversation is like, hey, why? You know, this is what this is and this is what this money will be used for. Do you want to contribute to that? Are there barriers to you getting someone in your home? What conversations maybe have just kind of been on the back burner that now can be up front and center if there are queries in that way? And if not, you know, we know that sometimes people have stakes in other cities and are elsewhere, and they might be able to have a portfolio that sustains that holding of a property. And that's okay. Go ahead and give us the coins on the taxes then. But if there's something, some other different circumstances, then we should be able to talk about it and connect those folks with those resources to move toward getting healthy, happy neighbors in our healthy, happy neighborhood. All right. Was there another thing? Okay, so boom. outreach would it look like or did I skip a part? I included this information from the operating plan you know I think it just re-emphasizes yeah how we define yeah what what when we say occupied or unoccupied how are we defining it and that was actually a pretty big conversation over a couple meetings that we were having and it was just like if someone's transitioning and there's you know it's been vacant for two months is that occupied or unoccupied and we determined that That would probably be occupied, or if you have a duplex and one unit is vacant and the other is occupied, that is an occupied unit. However, there are full homes that have boards up on them that, from the outside looking in, look like someone could live there. Again, now what's that conversation with that? owner look like and we are committed as far as Metcalf. We know that the DNS like online record isn't always current isn't always accurate. So this summer and every summer moving forward. We've committed to putting our eyes on every single vessel in our unit in our neighborhood. to determine if it's vacant or unvacant. And we would make that determination based on, like I said, boarding of doors and windows, but then also like if it doesn't have a roof, nobody lives there. You know what I mean? In those kinds of ways. And we are ensuring that that data is collected and maintained through the work of the NID because we know that the data source can have gaps.

And we use re-grid and we're also a part of RON, which is reclaiming our neighborhood. So we were able to do every parcel in the neighborhood. So we were able to track and then we can compare the data from DNS to see if it's accurate or not.

Can I just do one procedural thing because it's a separate item. Can you both reintroduce yourself for the record?

Yeah, I'm Corrine Dennison. K-O-R-E-N-D-E-N-N-I-S-O-N. Thank you. And then I'm Melody McCurtis. Yeah.

And you're both residents of... Yeah, I'm an owner resident of Maycat Park. And then I work at Maycat Park Community Bridges. We're pretty much like the administrative support. And then we also hold property and parcels in the neighborhood as well. Okay.

Wonderful. Thank you. Yes. Yes.

Commissioner Moody, on the occupied statement, what if, let's say a landlord says, hey, I come once a week to do some office work. Is that considered occupied or unoccupied?

We're really going based off the look, right? So we're in a neighborhood every day. If your property is boarded up, how are you doing any office work in there? If the lights is not on, if all the windows are busted out, And it's filled all inside of your parcel.

So you're not judging. It's based off look. Nothing like if someone looks nice, it's occupied. Is that what your rules are?

It's not that it looks nice. It looks like this could be a home that can be occupied in a safe way. Boards is not safe, right? Because what we're seeing in the neighborhood is we have all of these boarded up properties. As you all know, we have 42 vacant properties right now in the neighborhood that are all boarded up. They've been boarded up for two years. They pay the fee sometimes. Sometimes they don't, and they just sit. And then some of those homes are catching fires, burning up other neighbors' homes. So we really want to reduce. Or being vandalized. Or being vandalized. Or we have squatter situations that start fires. So we're really looking at is it boarded up or is it not boarded up? And that's how we're determining occupied and unoccupied.

I think in that particular case, it would be a conversation. You are occupying the space for business purpose, but it should still look like I could go.

I'm just bringing it up because I can see a landlord do something like that. I'm just, you know.

Yeah.

And second question. So basically, if this is approved, this would be part of their property tax bill, correct?

Yes. It would increase by the amount on that chart, which, like I said, is approximately $50 per home. Yeah.

Or a single family.

I see commercial. So a commercial can be also part of a NID as well as, even though a bid, there's no residential, correct?

Yeah, that is correct, yeah. And there are 10 existing NIDs in the city of Milwaukee. And the first NID is like really typical mixed use, the brewery NID. And then the rest, primarily residential, but definitely have some mixed use focus and kind of overall community programming, especially if they choose to assess the commercial portions.

And we do have a ton of unoccupied commercial properties in the neighborhood. We got pick and save. Those are boarded up. There's also for sale signs. So we know that that's not occupied. We have master lot. that just went into a, not a bid, folks could bid on it. So we know that that's unoccupied. So our whole 30th Street corridor is mainly unoccupied. So again, we're gonna do those physical checks, with those physical checks we take pictures too and somebody can say hey this is occupied they can reach out to us and say hey you have me down as unoccupied and then we can have those conversations and that verification is done by october 1 every year and you said so pick and save the master lock who have big spots will pay the same amount as somebody with a small spot For commercial, unoccupied would be $500.

So, none of the size?

Nope. It's not about the size. It's about unoccupied and occupied. I'm sticking with that. That was the clearest way. Each neighborhood is different. Some neighborhoods, there's one neighborhood where it's like 50 homes and they pay a lot of money in for those 50 homes. Every neighborhood is different. Everybody's makeup is different. The clearest way that we could do it is unoccupied and occupied because we have so many unoccupied properties in the neighborhood.

Just a follow-up to that. You speak about wanting to really talk to people and have this be a vehicle for trying to encourage occupancy. If you could elaborate a little bit about what that looks like.

yes so even before we got to this point as well uh... one of the things that we have been working on is making sure that some of the properties in the neighborhood have had uh... opportunities to get work done on their homes we fit ran into a lot of roblox because a lot of these uh... programs are not accessible so for the t if somebody got along from the city twenty years ago they can't get that long again so they can fix their house launched two pilot programs. We got all of our funders together. We have been doing critical home repairs for property owners that haven't been able to use these other resources. We've tried to send folks through the anti-displacement fund. Folks don't qualify in our neighborhood because the anti-displacement fund, your taxes have to be paid to even qualify for that, and our neighborhood is not in there. So we've tried to use these other systems and vehicles that are not meeting the needs of what community members want. So they want to utilize this as a vehicle to really create those programs and projects that's going to get at the root of what folks need. Right now we have a critical repair program right now and we're just focused on roofs and porches and we're working with private partners to do more. So right now we're in that pilot. So we do have support for folks and then we have been talking to folks at DCD. There's a lot of support for commercial businesses that they might not know about, right? But it's hard to talk to folks who are property owners but they don't live in Milwaukee or they don't live in Wisconsin. So we really look at this as a way to bridge that gap, have those conversations. It might start off as anger conversation, but we might get somewhere after that, right? After that tension. Thank you.

I think our next thing was how were we reaching out to residents to know that this was happening and to gauge what they want out of it and how they could potentially benefit it if it goes forward. And so to develop our... planning documents that needed to be submitted for it to even be real. We had a series, and I think it was a six-week series, where every evening on Tuesdays we were meeting for two and a half hours to even talk about what kinds of vessels make up Metcalf Park, what does the data say about our neighborhood, like how many one families, how many duplexes, what is the income level of this, how many in-state owners, how many...

Thank you.

like this is what we came up with so far check it out right here or let us know if you have the feedback right here or we've also had stations at our community facing events like barbecues and the we outside campaign a lot of this information has been readily available and people who are in those discussions are also present to have the conversation so it's not just like pamphlets and kind of being shoved in people's faces, there are opportunities to actually chew on what it is that we're talking about as it's been being built. We've got community newsletter coverage outside of the grapevine. It is, you know, garnering a little bit of positive attention in press. And overall, the process has been resident-centered and resident-led. So as we say, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges is the container through which it's like, I, Corinne, didn't know what a NID was. I didn't know what a NID was. So Metcalfe Park was like, oh, okay, bet. But am I already kind of invested and willing and wanting to convene with my neighbors? That was there. And just kind of having that information on like, I don't, I don't even know what's possible oh that's what's possible okay bet let me get comfortable in my little setup and you know to empower myself and my neighbors to build something for ourselves um and that's been really cool actually it's been really cool I've met so many of my neighbors and oh there I go I ride hard for my neighborhood and I love it here. And I know a lot of people love it here, but a lot of people don't love some of the truths about our neighborhoods. You know what I mean? And I guess the establishment of the NID is just like, we actually have the power to change it. We don't just have to deal. We don't just have to take it on the chin. And this is what that looks like. It might take two years, but get in. We about to do it.

And one of the things I will add, too, is that when we started doing that consensus building, we also looked at other needs. We looked at their assessment makeup. We looked at their operating plans. We looked at what they were able to do. So we studied other parts of the city. We also did team building exercises as well, because we had neighbors that's been in the neighborhood for a long time. And we had new neighbors. So they were able to build those connections. And that's been the most powerful thing, I believe.

Great. One follow-up question on sort of your amortization schedule here or whatever you want to call it. Nonprofits that own real estate,

yeah i don't pay taxes speak to that yeah so if uh if the property owner um essentially files the correct paperwork and it's approved they would be listed as exempt as their property class and they are not able to be assessed is there any encouragement you know to for payment in lieu of taxes you know i mean um just

That's a great question. I don't think we've thought of that. No, I don't think we've thought of that. Okay. All right, we can.

There are NIDs who do have pilot agreements for properties, yeah.

Commissioner, one last thing. It's not a big thing. It's just how do you set the vacant lot at $25? Why $25? I was just curious.

We used it, again, the prices of the assessment structure of other NIDs. That one was one that was just like, okay. Okay, and also some of the vacant lots are city-owned. Some of the vacant lots are, like, purchased as yards next to some people's homes, and we didn't want to, like, double, triply incur a burden on enthusiastic neighbors who do want to put it in here. We didn't want to overburden, you know, the people who were doing the right thing. We kind of wanted to just, like, more bring up a little yellow flag for those who have disengaged from the conversation.

Yeah, and then the last...

slide yeah so this is just a roundup i don't know if the election is possible in september sally is it possible um well if uh just depends on the timeline of uh today and and how the rest of them yeah yeah so if this is approved um the goal is to have an election in september i'm saying that enthusiastically um there are already four neighbors that have you know like already for election already. We just had a community member reach out yesterday saying that they want to also put their hat in the ring and run as well for the board. So our goal is to do the elections every September, do those physical checks and get that documentation over to Sally and folks at DCD by October 1st. We want to train folks up between January and March on You know, just like, you know, all the things when you're doing it. So we're going to be doing training. So once they start in March, they can just hit the ground running. Our goal is really to be the starting container, but we really want to support the need to be self-sufficient. And then the first year of the NID, they're gonna be focusing on building out their processes, programs, and their infrastructure with our support. And then 2028, they will focus on implementing whatever they come up with. But right now, folks are really talking about housing programs. They're talking about programs for young people. They're talking about environmental programs and projects and different things like that. Did I miss something? No.

Okay. Commissioners, any questions of our presenters? The ones we've already asked? Okay, Melody has spoken. We do have many folks from the community who would wish to speak. Representative Margaret Arney. Thank you for sticking around.

Again, I think it's very evident the depth of work that has gone into this, that it's very rooted in not only the intentions of what a neighborhood improvement district is about, but it's made the connections been very thoughtful in terms of how to construct the the chart you see for how much money comes from which parcel. There's good ideas about how to use the funds when they're available. What really excites me is that the leadership from the community is established prior to the money coming. It's not like we have the resource and now we have to quick get people involved. And the NID, they're already doing so many things that neighborhood improvement districts are supposed to do. So this is like a best case scenario for a successful neighborhood improvement district. You're not going to have to wait three years until it's on its feet. I mean, people are running now. And I'm very, very excited to support this. And... Like I say, I'm on the Food Justice Collective, so we're really ready and poised to do good things.

Okay, thank you. State Representative Kaylin Haywood. Okay, I didn't think he wanted to speak, but Danielle Cross. Oh, you did say you did not wish to speak. I'm sorry.

I'm just tripping on who put my name down. Danelle.

Danelle, not Danielle. Oh, sorry. Okay, well, yes, Danelle.

I'm dyslexic, so sometimes these come out all sorts of mess-ups.

And I'm old, so I'm over here blinking, right? The only thing I would say, the only thing I would add to this is that we are the support mechanism. We're not the ones doing this. And it's been really wonderful to see the community come in and create their own plan. And even some of the things that I thought was aspirational They vetoed me and they came up with their own plan. And so when Melody talks about training, one of the things that we're committed to doing is to help them access training that we actually use for our organization. So like QuickBooks. uh... robbers rules of order decision making how do they how do they vote on things so we're going to do that background stuff to make sure that they have everything they need to make it work they already they have the passion they have the connections with the community and with their neighbors and they know where they want to go so we just going to help them get there you know our little bitty part of helping them to get there we're confident in the people in our community making this work

Wonderful, thank you. Joe Robinson. I have two things here. Maybe he just wants to be marked as present. Lorena Crawford. And then I believe everyone else would like to just be recorded as present, but if anybody does wish to speak, now is the time. Do we have anybody online? Oh, thank you. Is there anyone online who wishes to speak?

To those who are online virtually, if you intend to offer testimony on this item, please press the raise hand function on your virtual platform. And at this time, there are no raised hands.

Wonderful. Any questions from the commissioners? Hearing none, is there a motion on this item?

Commissioner Moody moves to approve item 260437. And I think close the public hearing.

Second, Commissioner Smith. Hearing, correct.

And close the public hearing.

Then I'm sorry, was there a second?

Commissioner Smith, yes.

Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, as I call your name, please, or opposed, I guess, please let me know your vote as I call your name. Commissioner Washington.

Aye.

Commissioner Moody.

Aye.

Commissioner Smith.

Aye.

The motion carries, congratulations.

Thank you.

Okay.

Item number five on our agenda is a resolution creating a business district. It's a public hearing. Resolution creating a business district. Improvement number 57 for Lincoln Village. Give it a minute to quiet down a bit. There's some excitement. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay. Okay. Item number five, file number 260452, a resolution creating business improvement district number 57, Lincoln Village, approving its initial operating plan and authorizing expenditures in the 8th and 12th aldermanic districts.

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Jessica Sanchez. I am a neighborhood business development specialist with Department of City Development. And just like my colleague Sally, I oversee the business improvement districts with City of Milwaukee, as well as a liaison to them. Overall, overall my role uh... with uh... the creation of this state was to facilitate educate uh... coordinate and guide the stakeholders through these uh... stages ensuring that the bid is community supported and compliant with uh... city requirements uh... so uh... just like the need will go over uh... what the processes with of the big creation uh... so uh... Last year, fall of 2025, we were informed of the interest of the creation of Lincoln Village. They also met three times throughout 2026 to educate property owners. Unlike neighborhood improvement districts, bids are strictly just commercial. They came together and developed an operating plan that they reviewed within, presented within those public meetings as well as outside outreach efforts. uh... date final uh... a plan review that we also on coordinates with the city attorney's office for a review uh... we coordinate the petitions uh... provided the forms as well uh... as turning those in uh... and then uh... submitted Petitions and a final draft to the city attorney's office. We are here today for the public hearing. Um, once this is, um, over or done with the public hearing, um, this will then go to CD and following common council approval as well as a mayoral signature. And so today I would like to just present, um, Handed it over to Colleen from Lincoln Village to talk about the proposed boundaries of the bid.

okay uh... good afternoon actually we're going to have mirabelle start off and then uh... i'll follow up hello everyone good afternoon my name is mirabelle franco i and the president of the lincoln village business association i am also a business owner on lincoln avenue i also live there so that's been since twenty seventeen i am now have been involved with the Lincoln Village Business Association for about two years now. So as we present this, I do want to have some notes that I added in for you guys. The proposed Lincoln, this is a presentation that we also modeled for the meetings that we had that were required by the bid. So the corridor starts down from, I believe it was Fifth Street, up to, are we taking, I'm sorry?

Forest Home.

Yes, up to Forest Home. So we've been working from Fifth to Forest Home, and a lot of that corridor there has already had a lot of work happening by us volunteers that have been in the association. If we want to propose the next slide, Shlap. Yeah, so we proposed this. It all started with us. We've been meeting, the association has been meeting monthly for a while now. The association was also created many years ago with Lincoln coming from a I'm sorry, we've had a lot of concerns with Lincoln Avenue as far as beautification, safety, and many other things that we will talk about here. And we've seen it come up and down and it hit its breaking point a couple years back, I want to say two years ago. And the amount of work we've put into has shown a lot of changes lately. And I wanna thank everyone that has came to here as well, as we believe that this is a best opportunity and next step. So with the association meeting, we did a lot of walking around, talking to business owners, business property owners as well, and they're all seeing the potential that we see as well. So the association decided to see what the next steps were, And that is when we talked to Jessica and Matt, and they introduced the bid to us. So we believe that is the next strategy needed. And as far as the method of how we will be taking the bid, we'll be next here.

I'm sorry, I can't read this far. Sure, absolutely.

You could stand over there.

Maribel, if you want to use that other mic or you can sit down there. Yeah. Whatever is easier for you.

I appreciate that. Thank you. So right now the assessment method that we have concluded as of now is that we do a two dollar per every thousand dollar assessed value with a maximum and a minimum. So the minimum being 300 and the maximum being 1,200. The assessment fee of 300 ensures, again, that everyone's contributing a minimal amount evenly and for the larger properties that there is also a peak point so that they're not overpaying as well. If you want to get the next one. So as far as strengthening, I did want to add to that the corridor and the community. I do believe a lot of this goes hand in hand and in general a domino effect. So there are many other associations and groups working together with a lot of volunteer work on Lincoln. I do believe that with the collectiveness of our association, Colleen will talk about a little bit more as well, there will be a stronger community since I think the corridor is the face of Lincoln Avenue and a lot of residents, neighbors are concerned as well. So by us introducing this bid, the face of Lincoln Avenue will now domino effect into the community around us. If you want to. So why a bid? Again, this is the Business Improvement District. A lot of businesses on Lincoln Avenue are, majority now are being taken up but a lot of them still are vacant and we want to also push those storefronts to be taken up for the beautification of it and again, to the safety and everything else that it bleeds into. So the bid, we have had and seen many other districts have their bids go very well, and we believe that this is something that Lincoln, again, has been waiting for for a while. With the amount of volunteer work that we have, we do need funding for it as well, as much work as we put in a lot of For instance, we've been working as the association itself, many other events this year that have been used with funds by residents, business owners, and the work of the association. and we saw how much potential and how much change it happened. So with this bid happening, I think a lot of people can see that the safety of it that the bid offers and the economic development that it could potentially give as well could make a change with it being involved. So what a bid can fund, a lot of times we talked about, again a lot of beautification and safety. A lot of times we, to sit here and ask ourselves what we could do, but what we decided to do instead was go around. I personally myself talked to a lot of business owners and property owners as far as the rest of the members, and with the survey we concluded a lot of more input was given to us that we have on this list. there's little and graffiti removal landscaping and beautification safety and ambassador programs funding business improvement grants there's also like lighting those resources that we were speaking of earlier are at their fingertips but they have no idea or again just putting them all together so that they can now have somewhere to see since we meet so often i do think that they if we could give them an easier place for them to come and meet and actually host these places for them that they would know more about. Can you go to the next one please? Yes, as I was saying about a lot of the community events we've been hosting as well, We want to continue them year round. Right now we've had the Lincoln Fest, which is a summer festival that we've had. Now is the second year that we joined in this first year, and we will be doing our second annual winter holiday market. A lot of the neighbors were very excited because it's something they haven't seen before, and we have seen how much more support we have from the community and business owners for that as well. We do think that with the limited amount of work we've put in, again, the bid being introduced, we can definitely expand this into growing even more throughout the next year.

You can hit the next one.

So back to the corridor, reducing the vacancy I think is the biggest and most important part, like I mentioned, with it being part of the beautification. We have been putting many flowers, we have been doing as many cleanups as we can, partnering up with Kosciuszko Park. A lot of times, though, these vacant properties are being taken up either by, they either have no lighting or there could be squatters or any other thing that concerns safety. So with the support of this bid, I think the business owners will also be more alert with what is going on on Lincoln Avenue. So I do understand that this is an investment and we do believe as well that as an expense, it shouldn't be looked at it that way as this is something that will bring back to everyone's business as one business affects another. The property value is assessed for what it is now but the tax assessment that will be charged annually will be used and they were informed, as Jessica mentioned, there will be a a board, I'm sorry, for the bid and the business property owners and business owners will have a say into what those funds will go for. That way, if there is any ideas that they would like to initiate as far as having a better strategy towards creating either more events or anything that has to be fixed on our corridors, that could be implemented and again, have it all evenly growing. If you could do the next one, please. So as I mentioned, there is a huge turning point. About two years ago, we did see Lincoln Avenue become very isolated in a way and that's where the association decided to step in fall of 2024 and right now we have seen a projection of it going up and we want to keep that momentum going so that Lincoln Avenue can continue to grow to its full potential having so many big, as far as like there's also schools, the basilica and many other people that as myself grew up in the neighborhood and want to see it grow. There has been a lot of, sorry, it's okay. I have it here in my notes, don't worry. There has been a lot of concerns and a lot of support, and I do think that this is the pivoting point where we can use that with DBID and just combine it all together to hit the next steps for Lincoln Avenue. Okay.

I'm also involved with the Lincoln Village Business Association. I'm an artist. I've got my studio on 10th and Lincoln. I live there. I spend pretty much all my days on Lincoln. have seen like a lot of neighborhoods in Milwaukee, there's just sort of a lot of up and down, up and down, up and down. Lincoln's kind of been that way for a very long time. main streets that were thriving during the industrial era and now are just kind of getting by. But what I've seen, like Maribel had said, 2024, things really took a dramatic dip down and we got the business association together, worked with DNS, partnered with the MPD, Alderman got very involved, health department, everybody kind of came together just to see what we could do to help the people that were transient, help the business owners, keep their property safe, and just did a lot of kind of boots on the ground work. We got, put out planters, we've got, I just watered them this morning, we've got 54 planters now stretching from 5th Street to 20th Street. And I feel like we've kind of plateaued what we can do with all volunteer work with no money, basically. So to me, the bid seemed like the next step to try to get everybody to contribute something. There's a lot of, there's some wonderful property owners that really take care of their blocks. and then there's some that don't and it just seems like kind of a fair way to get get some resources together get resources to the businesses that want them and just build on the momentum that we've had going for the last year

Okay, thanks. Hello, my name is Colleen Chaney-Travinsky and I'm Executive Director of Cream City South CDC. Also a member of Lincoln Village Business Association and a member of the Kosciuszko Park Alliance. so just here to speak about the you know the importance of uh... supporting the bids as mirabelle and on his has said uh... the lincoln village business association has been quite active through the years with very dedicated dedicated volunteers accomplishing a loss but she's just having and organized structure for continued investment lincoln village will certainly help because it will really create uh... dedicated resources for us to use uh... based upon the operating plan which is developed after uh... community meetings which cream city was very involved in working with lincoln village business association outreach literally going door to door to each business to try to assess what they need in the community and what they would like to see and out of that we came up with the uh... the operating plan i don't know if you're familiar with lincoln village at all i mean it's very unique very culturally diverse very historic area that certainly has enormous potential and not only in the architecture but also with just a wonderful group of uh business owners along that corridor that really care about the future of lincoln village so um having that bid would certainly as i said provide the resources and really build upon what was created really starting back in 2019 when there'd been a lot of community organizations working together formalizing and step by step by step really building on something to bring us to this point where having a formalized bid would really increase the momentum that has been created by the people that live there. So I'm just here to offer the support and help where we can. Thank you.

I also had Norma Sanchez. Oh, yeah. who is also listed as a presenter. I think she.

Well, some of our, my name is Norma Sanchez, and I am part of the Cream City South CDC. And I just started working with them. But in these few days, I have been in the organization. I got to meet some of the business owners. Some of them have special language needs, because maybe English is not their first language. So I want to say that those neighbors have benefited from the support they have received from the organization already. The Association of Business Owners in Lincoln Village is the heart of the story of Milwaukee, having the basilica there for more than 100 years. This weekend, they just celebrated their first mass in Spanish citywide. That was very impressive to see. So one of the business owners is here too. She prefers not to talk today, but she's grateful of the services she has been received from the organization as well. So thank you for everyone, everyone, the great work they are doing, and thank you to the city of Milwaukee employees who has been an incredible support to make this happen. Thank you.

I think that's the presenters list, so are there any questions of the commissioners on the presentation? We have other people who wish to speak, but not listed as a presenter, so I'm trying to keep it.

Commissioner, I just want to confirm. I was reading the document. So the three types of businesses that are exempt are manufacturers, nonprofits, and what's the third one? City exempt.

Yes, so residential businesses.

Or residential?

So only commercial.

So manufacturers in this space are exempt, correct? According to this document?

Yes. Okay. Well, not all manufacturers. So let me just go back. Yeah, so I wasn't sure I saw manufacturers, but only the commercial square footage would be accessible. So anything else, residential, non-profit, would be tax exempt.

Okay.

Any other questions of the commissioners? Okay. We have a couple folks. If you could come to the mic over here on my right, your left, I think. John Rodzka.

i am john roscoe it's are always e g a my wife and i are the current current owners of the property at seven oh three west lincoln avenue which is roscoe funeral and cremation services that is a property that in eighteen ninety eight my great grandfather bought that vacant piece of land and he put a funeral home there and then my grandfather owned and operated it and then my father and all myself and my wife along with my son operate there and i was born there in nineteen sixty and i've been there ever since i have a business office there now and I've got a little experience with our family with Lincoln Village, and there's a reason that we're still there on Lincoln Village. When a lot of people thought, especially years ago, why wouldn't we move out of that neighborhood? And there's a reason that we're still there i personally involved with the business association and the current uh... treasurer of the business association so from a financial standpoint i can see exactly what's going on i've also been involved in the business association for over forty years myself and I have never seen such an enthusiastic, such an energetic, such a capable group of people that I feel safe investing my bid money to to know that a job's gonna get done to help the neighborhood. And the neighborhood is filled with people that are trying to start a business just like my great grandfather did in 1898 and here we are still in business still paying milwaukee taxes and happy to do it and i just am fully in support of the bid 57 for lincoln village thank you now that is all i have is there anybody that wishes to speak unless somebody has changed their mind you would like to speak okay

I'm sure you're in my pile of.

I might be, I don't know. Matt Regic, Neighborhood Business Development Administrator with the Department of City Development. I just wanted to address the matter about manufacturing properties. Great. So in the initial operating plan, it is listed in the section that discusses excluded and exempt properties, but that's because state law requires a bid to discuss whether or not manufacturing is going to be assessed. And per the plan, manufacturing properties will be assessed according to the method set forth because it is assumed they will benefit from the development and improvement activities within the district. So I just wanted to offer that clarification and just make that up. Yep.

Thank you, Matt. Okay, anybody online who wishes to speak?

It appears there's a Bob Cook.

Father Bob Cook, yeah.

Good afternoon. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay, great. Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Father Bob Cook. My address is 2333 South 6th Street, which is the address of the Basilica of St. Josaphat. I'm the rector of the Basilica, and I live here with three other Franciscan friars. The Franciscan friars have been at this building since 1910. The building, of course, was consecrated in 1901, so we're just celebrating our 125th anniversary. I'm in favor of the business, the bid. And just a little, I mean, I'm assuming some of you know what the Basilica is, but at the time it was built by Polish immigrants, it was the largest church in the city, and I think it still is. At the time it was built, it was the second largest dome in the country after the US Capitol. And because of its architecture, its beauty, it really has something of an international reputation. And I only say that because if you look at TripAdvisor this month, we're the third top attraction after the Pabst Mansion and the Art Museum. And because of this, tourists come into Lincoln Village thousands every year. And what I think this bid would do is allow to kind of leverage that into a way to kind of help the neighborhood turn around. uh as a parish you know we're very involved in the neighborhood we have parishioners of course who are members we have a school of 220 kids who live in the neighborhood we have a food pantry uh we have an esl program um we have a lot of kind of community outreach in the neighborhood but that tourism piece is just what i really wanted to highlight uh i really do believe that that what the basilica brings into lincoln village uh could be um

the bid would allow for greater um access to that by the neighborhood and help with the turnaround thank you i wish i could be there at person there's a funeral coming in so i had to stay so thank you for allowing me to be online well thank you for for joining us online um anyone else either in person or online who wishes to speak hearing none are there any questions of the commissioners from the commissioners If not, is there a motion on this item?

Commissioner Moody moves to close public hearing and approve item 260452.

Is there a second?

Commissioner Washington, I'll second.

Wonderful. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Commissioner Washington?

Aye.

Commissioner Moody? Aye. Commissioner Smith? Commissioner Smith?

He might be having audio difficulties.

We will break the virtual tie and vote in favor of this item. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all very much for joining us today, and best of luck with the Lincoln Avenue bid. Thank you. Thank you.

Keep coming to college. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you. All right, is there a motion to adjourn?

Commissioner Moody, motions to adjourn.

Is there a second?

Second.

All those in favor? Aye. And for the record, Willie Smith approved the last item as well.

Great.

Terrific. Thank you all, and this meeting is adjourned.