South Milwaukee Comprehensive and Downtown Plan Update

In 2014, the City of South Milwaukee recognized a need to update not only its comprehensive plan, but also its economic development and downtown strategies. The City and GRAEF have since created a Downtown Guide, executed a Downtown Revitalization Grant program, created / amended / extended 3 TIDs, and secured $2.45m in economic development grants to the City.

Building from Assets with Candy in Hand
With its founding dating to the latter half of the 19th century, South Milwaukee has been an integral component in the larger Milwaukee economy serving as a manufacturing hub, a provider of quality housing, and a gateway to ample green space and waterfront access on Lake Michigan. Our comprehensive and downtown planning worked to preserve and strengthen these characteristics and values, while simultaneously creating new opportunities for growth. Our Trick or Treat on the Street community engagement session filled a vacant storefront with “What I Want for South Milwaukee” activities (and coloring sheets and candy!). With the community, we identified key assets for preservation, which were then reflected in the urban design concepts and implementation strategies.

A Focus on “Making it Happen Here”
Our comprehensive plan update recommended the City re brand, which we undertook with Savage Solutions following plan completion. The resulting unofficial tag line became “make it happen here”, as the community is actively in the maker space economy. With industrial land uses shifting from traditional manufacturing toward leaner, compact facilities, the City and GRAEF saw an opportunity to develop concepts that would attract businesses and catalyze re/development concepts. Together, we completed facade grants, small business expansions, and major City investments like The Bucyrus Club renovation to open in Summer 2021. We undertook the due diligence and real estate negotiations leading to the $5m purchase and renovation project that is bringing entertainment, a heritage museum, dining and event space back to downtown South Milwaukee.