Downtown 2040 plan: Milwaukee reveals draft plans for ‘Connec+ing MKE’

The City of Milwaukee on Wednesday announced drafts of “Connec+ing MKE,” its updated comprehensive plan for downtown for the next 20 years. The early plan includes catalytic projects such as expanding the streetcar, redeveloping the Milwaukee Public Museum site and the goal of removing the Interstate 794 Lake Interchange.

Connec+ing MKE: Downtown Plan 2040 was organized by the city and Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District (BID) #21 and serves as the city’s downtown area plan, updating the previous one from 2010. According to the new downtown plan, some of the city’s goals are to grow downtown’s population and density, redesign streets as public places, invest in parks and expand and enhance transit.

Milwaukee experienced a “renaissance” after the Downtown Area Plan was adopted in 2010, Department of City Development Commissioner Lafayette Crump said. More than 2,500 people from every zip code in the city provided feedback for the plan, he added.

“Milwaukee experienced a major renaissance following the Downtown Area Plan’s adoption in 2010. Looking at how far we’ve come is inspiring, but we know there’s more work to do in creating our shared vision for the future of Downtown Milwaukee. Connec+ing MKE: Downtown Plan 2040 received robust public participation, with more than 2,500 individuals from every Milwaukee zip code providing feedback on their vision for the future of Downtown. Together, we are on a path towards ensuring our Downtown is stronger, more equitable, and easily accessible for every Milwaukeean,” Crump said in a statement.

The draft strategies in Conne+ting MKE are meant to “unlock Downtown’s full potential,” Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, said in a statement.

“We look forward to implementing the community’s vision and enhancing Downtown as great place to live, work, play, learn and do business – all connected by walkable streets, enhanced transit options, greater connectivity with surrounding neighborhoods, and active and inclusive gathering spaces and plazas,” Weirick added.

One of the most notable proposals suggests removing the I-794 Lake Interchange freeway spur connecting the Hoan Bridge to the freeway through downtown and the Third Ward. According to the plan, the existing spur is “in conflict” with the overarching goal of a Connected Downtown and “should be reimagined,” eventually resulting in a removal of the interchange and replacing it with a familiar connected grid of multi-modal streets.

“The State of Wisconsin is currently undertaking efforts to study alternatives for this segment of I-794. The alternative that is selected through that ongoing process should be the one that best advances overall Connecting MKE goals, including safety and connectivity for all users,” according to the plan.

City officials said if they can’t remove the full freeway spur, their alternatives would focus on activating public spaces and streets under the bridges, improvements to ramp connections and increased safety for pedestrian crossings.

Among the city’s plans is a project to redevelop the site of the former Milwaukee Public Museum when it moves and extend the street grid north of Wells Street to connect to MacArthur Square, which is also the target of infill development. The existing museum site should be redeveloped with high-density, mixed-use development with supporting commercial uses on the ground floor, according to city plans.

Another plan would extend the city’s streetcar route with connections to the Walker’s Point, Bronzeville, Westown and East Side neighborhoods. According to the plan, the city will continue to pursue planned and future streetcar extensions, and work aggressively to secure funding and support for extensions.

The plan prioritizes replacing the parking structure attached to the Marcus Performing Arts Center with a high-density development. As previously reported by The Daily Reporter, the city and the performing arts center in March were working on a request for proposal, but not without removing the 700-space parking garage at 1001 N. Water Street.

Public input received throughout the planning process helped shape six ideas for public and private investment to drive physical changes to Downtown, a spokesperson for the city said.

The city will host a final public meeting on May 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the 3rd Street Market Hall, 275 W. Wisconsin Avenue, city officials said. Members of the public will meet in an open house to review the plan and provide feedback to the Department of City Development and BID #21 staff.