Business Improvement District Board #2 (historic Third Ward) - Regular Meeting

Monday, March 2. We are going to jump right away until number 19, which is the election of the vice chair.

And then after that

You can be mic share me.

So. Fine.

So, let's see and let's start with.

Okay. Open, I guess you open the floor for nominations for vice chairs. Are there nominations for vice chair?

Pick me up a list.

Pick me

up a list of chairs. Originally. So. She was talking about that.

So, it's kind of like

a uni. We need to pick

a vice chair because unfortunately.

The chair, the chair is called in sick.

But.

So there'll be no chair. Uh-huh. Because there's no vice chair at this point. So we have to elect the vice chair, then the vice chair can chair the meeting.

I'd like to I'd like to elect somebody. May I do

that? Yes.

Patty Keating Khan.

How about Sally Peltz?

Patty Keating Khan.

I second the motion.

This is a green election. Okay.

I move to close nomination.

I second.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye. Aye.

Okay. With that, ma'am, you can come stagger me. Okay.

Little bit of a

Hot chair now. Good

thing we have a smaller chair left.

That means next year, your chair automatically. You know that. Yeah. Oh, good. Okay.

Come in, and then we'll do the. All right.

You'll do the real call, right? Yeah.

Called meeting to order. Okay, let's have fun.

Right, so roll call.

Anne Piper Eisenbrown. Yeah.

Pelt.

On camera. She's on the big board.

She's here there. Yes. Nicholas Hans Robinson.

Is it He's there on the big board.

Patricia Keaton Kim. Here. Oh, no. You're you are the yeah. The chair. Okay. And Matt Jaros.

Not here yet. Not here.

Robert Baughman. Here.

Thank you.

Oops. Yeah. I'm getting started. Right. I need to

get in. Here we go.

We go. Okay. Now that we're all in order, let's start with item number one, two zero zero eight seven eight, resolution relating to a COA for mothball status at 2863 North Grand Boulevard. Is that correct?

Yes.

At the Grand Boulevard Historic District for LaShonda Anderson.

This is a six month mothball update to continue replacing windows. Lashonda, give us your update, please.

She's on the screen? Yes. She's. Okay. Lashonda, can you hear us? Are you there? Something's wrong with the sound. I don't think Sally could hear us either. Can you hear us, Sally?

Yes. Perfectly.

Okay. Thanks.

Maybe she took a break. Should we go to Item two? Yeah.

Hopefully, she comes back. Otherwise, we'll take your advice, Tim. To email her real quick. Okay. Thank you. Alright. Sorry. We'll put that on the back burner. I will move to item number two. It is 251241, resolution relating to a COA for an entrance canopy on Wells Street. Various secondary entrance canopies and alterations to the north wing at University Club 924 East Wells Street, an individually designated historic property for Northwestern Mutual. We have seen this one before.

Yes. We are down to just one canopy. Everything else was approved in January.

That is what I thought. Okay.

So reminder, we are reviewing the proposed new canopy over the Wells Street historic entrance. Bottom right is what we saw in January. The new version is top left. So proposed canopy would be constructed of architecturally exposed structural steel members supporting transparent laminated glass. Canopy is designed with an elliptical barrel vaulted arch that extends over the sidewalk to provide cover for inclement weather for guests at the main entrance.

University Club is the only Wisconsin commission of nationally famous John Russell Pope who later designed the Jefferson Memorial and National Archives. These are continuing views of the new version and some comparative measurements. It has shrunken a little, does appear to be a little flatter. Design changes are definitely subtle, but the width is a smidge narrower. Roof of the slope of the roof canopy is under one in four.

They have met the condition of meeting the definition of marquee under the code which is something that public works insisted upon.

If

you are a marquee and you it's a way of getting around special privilege. Got it. Okay. There's buried utilities. Public works didn't was like, no.

18 feet wide, 25 feet deep, 15 feet above sidewalk grade. Continue my position of no opinion and leave it to the commission. I can say based on the record that Mr. Jarris does approve of the revised design.

He does? Yes. Okay. That's hearsay though.

Do I did not put I have emails. They are not in the record.

Okay. And did he work with the with the owner?

I believe so. They are here. You can ask them directly.

Okay. Good. Do you want to come forward? Great. I'm gonna state your name and address please for the record.

Michael DiMichel, twenty six thirty nine North Daller. Kevin Kennedy with Northwestern Mutual 720 East Wisconsin Avenue.

Jeremy Apple with Kahler Slater across the street at the BMO. Okay.

All right. How do you do you wanted to explain to us what the differences are between what you provided in January and what you're providing now in terms of the design changes?

Yes. We met with Matt and he talked about we talked about kind of the comments that were made here at that last meeting. And it had appeared that it was kind of tilting backwards and so it was the idea was let's slim this thing down a little bit and streamline it, make sure it's flat. And I think as he said, we, I guess, reduced the size of it somewhat in order to fit within the definition of a marquee into and anything else that you can think of?

Yes. Would say a lot of the comments at the first meeting, think related to just some of the perspective views and they might have appeared to be a little skewed. So we proved that it was flat that it had a certain slope to it by showing construction documents that were in development at the time. So we provided those sections and details that Tim had shared. More of a kind of confirming and backing up some of the design assumptions that we talked about the first time.

Yes. Think there were some concerns that like it was Disneyland like, like it didn't like it wasn't going to be able to be built. So we actually had it fully engineered and those drawings were submitted. Like it works. It will be built just like this.

Okay. Can you explain what Tim was saying about the difference between a marquee and a special permit overhang?

Sure. I think to Tim's point, the special privilege requires certain paperwork and being approved because of the utilities underground, the ability to kind of access those and deal with those approvals was much more cumbersome than meeting the definition of a marquee. So when we looked at the marquee definitions a lot, which had to do with size, width, slope, we were already so close to or meeting those that we went ahead and just proved that we could meet all those definitions, which are spelled out on the sections that he showed.

So easier to get a permit in other words. Is that what it Yes.

Because we don't now we don't because it's over the sidewalk, we would normally need a special permit special privilege is what it's called. So as a marquee, you don't because they had a bunch of marquees and they wanted to be able to people to have our keys. So they've created a set of parameters for what a marquee is that it doesn't need a special privilege and DPW prefers that.

Clutter. Yes.

And the definition of marquee does not require that it contains signage.

Okay. What's the surface? We can't tell any detail on it. Steel. Just mesh black and no ornamentation?

Very little, very little ornamentation. Looks good.

And it's architecturally exposed structural steel which is about the highest kind of performance level you can get. So it's not just a paint that you're going to see peel in a year

or We'd It's never expect that of And

then hidden inside, there's light, just some can light that shoots directly down. We'll have lighting, but I

of of questions.

Couple

we'll

Nick, I do you have any? Sally? We'll I

shall think move. A

Is there second? Did

you say a second, Nick?

Yes. I'll second that.

Okay. All in favor?

Aye. Thank

you.

Done. Thank you

very much.

Appreciate it. Thank you very

Looking forward to it. When is it going to be built?

As fast

as we can go.

It's under construction. I mean, the building is under

construction now. We're waiting for the building permit hopefully this week.

Okay. Good. So construction six months, a year? No. A year?

The whole thing will be done June '27 is the goal.

Okay. Okay.

It's going to be everything we could do to get there. There's a lot to be done.

Yeah. Okay.

Thank you. Thank

you. Care. That might be Lashonda. Oh, okay. Sounds good. Going back to item number one. Is Lashonda on the screen here now?

Yes, I am.

Okay, good. Good. We we called up your your your item and we wanted to to hear your where you are on this project.

Okay. I'm requesting one more extension just due to the 5 figure project that I had working on with the front porch in the concrete due to the weather conditions that has not been yet completed. But as soon as the weather let up, I can get that completed. I can send updates to Tim as to when the windows will be installed I'm my best to get two of them done at least.

Okay. So is there a motion? Is are there any questions? Other questions for Lashonda Anderson? If not, is there a motion to approve the extension of the model? So moved. Is there a second? Second. All in favor?

Aye.

Aye. Okay. Good luck. We'll see you in six months. Thank you. Bye bye. Alrighty. Okay. Item number 3251648, resolution relating to a COA for mothball status at 2544 North Sherman Boulevard in the Sherman Boulevard District for Jennifer Luckett. So

an anonymous complaint came in about a chain link fence. Ms. Luckett is willing to remove it as soon as she can afford a privacy fence to replace it. So unfortunately, it's recent enough that it does not quite qualify for the certificate of repose. But she wants to replace it and is asking for a year to do so.

One year? Okay. And you recommend approval?

Yes. Oh. Ask to give us an update every six months but yes.

Okay. So, really we're giving her a six month mothball. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Have questions? Or objections? Okay, Sally So moves. Second. Second. And seconds. All in favor?

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Okay. We give you six months. And then you check back with Tim and You

just have to report in six months. You don't have to be done.

Oh, okay.

I'll probably be

done, though.

Okay. That'll be nice. Right? Get it off your plate. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Take care.

We're skipping number 4, so we'll be straight to five.

Okay. Uh-huh. Item number 4. Sorry. Okay.

Thanks.

251727 resolution relating to a certificate of appropriateness for adding a 3rd Floor balcony at 2015 Northlake Drive in the North Point Historic District for John and Sarah Hamburg.

They can't make it today and we're a request to be held till next month.

Okay. Is that just automatic? We don't have to vote.

Technically, I have to vote.

We can vote. Alright. Anyone want to move to approve or?

I'll hold to approve to the next month. Oh. Delay to the next month.

Okay. Second. All right. All in favor? Aye. Aye. All right. We'll hold that. Thank you. Now we're on item number five, a really interesting one. 251706, resolution authorizing an historic site plaque on the Walnut Street Overpass acknowledging the location of one of the childhood homes of Malkovacs.

Yes. Yep. We are we were going to have a video.

Oh, that would be nice.

Yeah.

Basic introduction to Malcolm X.

Oh, okay.

It appears there are significant technical difficulties.

Alright. So we'll forego the video?

Yes. I guess

Do we have any photos of him as a child?

Yes. We do. Oh.

Good. Okay.

Well, I

think John is going to try one more

time. Okay.

Well, I'm with the show.

Okay. I was gonna say to him that it's not working on my end.

Not working here either. Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

We'll we'll just go with the report then. Right? Yep. Just one of those normal reports.

Come on.

I have to go to YouTube to get the video.

Yep. How

do we know he lived here?

Oh, Dan, would you send down the birth certificate?

Oh, yeah. I'm sorry.

The birth certificate.

Oh. I

think could've finished from here.

His brother's birth certificate. So Malcolm X is an icon of civil rights and black self empowerment. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 05/19/1925. Lived there for perhaps not even an entire year before the family moved to Milwaukee. Stayed here for two years where his parents worked for the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

His father Earl was the chaplain of the Milwaukee chapter of that organization after moving here and he had been preaching in Milwaukee prior to moving here. Universal New Guerro Improvement Association was the project of Marcus Garvey for black self empowerment that led to through his parents to some of his ideals and philosophy throughout his life. Littles were the religious leaders of Milwaukee chapters 500 plus member. We got more evidence. So what happened to the house?

Well, the expressway happened. We almost know which house it is. We know the address. It is not entirely clear whether it is the front or the back house.

So off at Sanborn maps?

Yes. Okay. But we know it's 1012, we just don't know whether it's front or rear entirely. But they're both gone so Walnut Street or which like Galena, one South of Okay. So courtesy of Malcolm's daughter's Facebook page, we have this little photo of Malcolm which given the age, it was possibly taken Milwaukee.

It certainly wasn't Omaha, so it's here in Lansing. Hard to say, but not Omaha. And from what I could find, I don't think the family knows either at this point. So why did it come down? It was part of Hillside Phase 3 which included this land four, four blocks dedicated to I-forty 3.

And once you get to, well, we will get there. This is the giant plaque that the state of Nebraska put up at the homes at their home site, also long gone. The only thing that can be said in Milwaukee's defense of tearing this down is the family had been gone for forty nearly forty years and now I doubt anyone remembered them being here. But here we are. The site of the house is basically exactly at the ramp meters on the Fond Du Lac Avenue North Ramp.

Okay. We have identified a location on the Walnut Street Overpass that has a view of that spot. Wistott has approved that. It is we tried a couple of other locations, but that was the only one they agreed to. But you can see where the house was. So it works. And we have had our graphic design and interim staff prepare some language. This is the current draft. It may change. This design went a bit over budget. But the location on the Walnut Street Overpass, if you approve a plaque, will go forward.

We don't have one of those on our file here, do we?

Don't Yeah, see

I think I put something in there.

I see some maps.

I may not have put the text in there because it's not entirely final yet.

Oh, I see. Okay.

I am happy to read the whole thing if you like.

Yeah, I think we should hear what it's about.

Okay. If it gives the history.

Yeah. I think we should hear that.

So imagine that you are on the it's very site specific. So imagine yourself looking south from Walnut Street. Okay. 90 yards south of here in the middle of the northbound on ramp sat the home of Louise and Earl Little and their children Wilfred, Hilda, Filbert, Malcolm and Reginald. Malcolm Litter Little later known as El Hajj Malik El Shabazz was Louise and Earl's seventh child and is widely recognized as Malcolm X.

He was an influential African American leader who promoted concepts of racial pride and black nationalism in the early 60s and and was a prominent figure in the nation of Islam from which he later defected. Malcolm was born on 05/19/1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm's parents were active members of Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association where Earl served as the President of the local UNIA and Louise as Secretary. In December 1926, Malcolm's family moved to Milwaukee where they had their eighth child at Reginald at 1012 West Galena Street. In 1929, they moved to Michigan to continue their work with the UNIA.

Between the 50s and early 60s, over 8,000 houses and local stores including Malcolm's family home were demolished as part of the Hillside neighborhood redevelopment project in the name of urban renewal to eliminate blight and to facilitate construction of the Marquette Interchange and Interstate Highway 43.

Okay. So so we need to do.

I think it's great.

Yep. You

you think you can make it work? Okay.

Quick little weird, Nick. Quick question. You see how to say you're still reformatting text.

Pardon, Nick?

Could not hear you, Nick.

You guys hear me?

No. Barely.

Try again.

Apparently not.

Are you guys able to hear me?

Yeah. Now we can.

You guys here?

Yes. Hello? Go ahead.

Nick, I hear you.

Right. I was saying, you guys hear me? They

said they were reformatting it. It'd be in terms of the budget, Nick. So the Sanborn

I just had a question as far as, like, you know, how you can do On this Sanborn looks like it goes from side to side and it looks more even, you know, instead of very over the

on top of the building. One little Storefront.

You know, like that 43 was just at the end. Like, it's just the I was just wondering what they were gonna do for formatting there, but I can just email service. That makes sense. I don't know if they can hear it right now.

Probably can. Alright.

I heard something about formatting.

Do you

do you hear me, Tim?

I hear you just fine. Oh, good.

I can hear Tim. Do you hear me?

Yes. Okay.

So No. We're been cut off.

I got you. That's probably where their their issue when they were having that reverb, you know, that that feedback from the video. Probably has something to do with how they got something set up today.

You're clear now. I think it's

your microphone, your speaker setting, something like that. We can hear you.

Yeah. We can hear it good.

Kim?

Yes.

Kim, do you hear us?

Hear both of you fine, but Nick doesn't seem to be hearing us.

Now we don't hear them. If they're talking, we do not hear you.

Yeah. Well,

I'm gonna I'm gonna leave

them I'm gonna leave them. You're not gonna hate

your own kind. If they can't get the same straight away.

Kim? Sally, video coming up. Hush.

Kim?

Hello?

Yes.

We can hear them. But Nick apparently cannot hear us.

Just talk into the mic real quick

to make sure she's Yeah. Can you hear us now, Sally? Sally?

It's odd. This has just happened.

Well Yeah. They can't hear they can't hear us. That's the issue.

Well, I'm gonna leave leave the meeting if if it I mean, there are obviously some issue. It's it's nice having a meeting with you. Can

you see us?

This doesn't look like it's gonna get rectified so quickly, but I I see the the message that you sent.

Okay.

Cool. And and haven't gotten anything back. Right?

Yeah. I haven't. And I'm wondering if because you don't have to have the other things logged in to here. I wonder if that impacts that.

I don't know. I am not so smart to figure that out.

Can't get Malcolm X?

Let me get the picture. Yeah.

You'll just have throw

it I'm leaving the meeting.

Okay. I can see you. Okay.

Bye. Is that that a problem?

We don't have a quorum with them about them.

One of did they leave?

Yeah. I can tell them.

Nick is still there, but he's Let

me send to Nick to stay

because if he'd stay, we'd still have quorum.

TV is going on the TV? No.

Fire insurance patrol number two. They actually had

think they can hear you, but we can't hear them. No city employees or insurance company employees? The map the map company was independent but effective with and worked for all, basically worked for all insurance companies. No.

I'm looking at here. There's a police station.

Yeah. I'll be here.

At 09:20 Galena or no? No. 920 Galena. There's a police station in the next there's a synagogue in the next block, a police station in the next block.

Oh, yeah. I see that.

And then across the street from the police station is fire insurance patrol number two. Seven men, three horses, one wagon, one supply wagon. Oh.

Tobacco storage just down the block from them. Wow.

Very interesting.

Is this the '98 map or 1910 map? 1910. Okay. That's the clearer one.

And then the aerial I think is 5053. Was the only clear aerial. Nick Robinson, can you hear us?

The highway, ma'am? Oh, no. Yep. I can hear you guys now. Sally Never mind. If

you stay, we still have corn.

Good. Okay. The urban renewal map.

We can continue. Nick, did you have a question? Are you guys able to hear me?

Yes. Yeah. We hear you great.

Okay. Because during the Malcolm X thing, Sally and I tried to talk and you guys couldn't hear anything.

We couldn't hear you. We we could hear you. You were talking.

Oh, because Sally dropped. She couldn't we can't we couldn't hear you guys.

Right.

Right. Yeah. Okay. Well, we're we're look. We're good now. You guys can keep rolling. I can hear. Okay. And you had a question, though? I was just wondering if the formatting of the text on the right side of the Malcolm X graphic, if that was going to you know how you can do the text to where it looks like it fills out the entire line because it just spacing so it looks even

Yes. From

I was wondering if The right side is just so it's larger.

Got you. Okay. I just wasn't sure if there was some format that could make it look

that's So, question. I So the part with his face on it is a probably the final product.

Okay.

Okay.

But the other side is not.

That's just so I can

read it. Yeah. Okay. Got

you. Alright. No. No. No problem. That's all I'd ask.

Okay. Since we still have a quorum, does anyone want to make a motion authorizing the plaque?

All from both.

I second. Okay. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay. Good. So now we are on the following files represent staff approved COAs from item six through item lots of work, Jim. Item 16. Is there a motion to approve?

I move to approve.

Second, anyone?

Second. All

in favor? Aye. Okay. We go to item 17, review and approval of the minutes from the last meeting, 01/12/2026. Is there a motion to approve those?

So moved.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Okay. Review and approval of the 2025 annual report.

Which I forgot to print out. So, let me pull it up.

Where'd you get this highway map? The Port Downtown Expressways.

I I think the intern found it.

It is close but they weren't built exactly.

No, they weren't. This was the the this was it is very specifically the plan not what got built.

Yeah. No, absolutely. I mean, more or less everything is in the place where they are in, but not the details.

Not the Lake Michigan side.

Well, that was not built. Yes. Thank God.

Yeah. Exactly.

Oh, gee. Okay. And the annual report is not in Legistar. Oh.

Or the Park East Freeway. Never.

There we go. Annual report, 13 meetings in 2025, eight applications for permanent historic designation, 114 properties were designated, 58 applications heard in full before the body, 140 staff issued, four sixty two Section 106 reviews, 57 cell antennas, 44 demolitions of city owned properties and two certified local government reviews for National Register nominations and one historic site plaque.

Okay.

That's it. Any

questions about that? Annual report?

Anyone want to move to approve it? Do we have to approve it?

Probably.

Is Okay.

There a second? Second. All in favor.

Aye.

Okay. It passes. We did item 19 already. Updates and announcements. Are there any?

Okay. Awards are live. You guys need to start some putting in nominations. We don't have any yet.

Okay. Do we need a Facebook? Put down 290204

West State.

2902 West State? Okay.

That sunshine guy, I think he calls himself.

Oh, yeah. That one.

Yep. He did a nice job in the exterior. Okay.

I will tell him to nominate himself. If he does it. I can nominate him. Yes. But it requires photos. Oh, okay. Yes. So, if he puts himself in, he is going to give us good photos and then I don't have to do it.

Well, so this is a call for nominations for We anyone who is need more nominations. When is the awards ceremony?

Let's see.

What is the deadline?

What is it? I do not have that on me. I believe the deadline is for the May HPC meeting. Before the May HPC meeting. Okay.

All right. Great. We should get the rep to do it

for their renovation.

That was a nice project. Okay. I guess, is there does anyone wanna keep meeting or should we adjourn? We should adjourn. Seriously.

I move to adjourn. All in favor.

Aye. Okay.