By James Briggs The Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday capped two decades of public transit debate by approving construction of a $64.6 million, 2.1-mile streetcar line. It remains to be seen, though, whether the rail line can develop into a ...

Tagged with: common council Jim Bohl Joe Dudzik Michael Murphy Milwaukee Milwaukee Intermodal Station Nik Kovac Robert Bauman Robert Donovan streetcar

By James Briggs A Milwaukee panel on Tuesday circumvented a new state law that bans local prevailing wage ordinances. But, city officials said, it’s too soon to tell whether Milwaukee can cling to its prevailing wage preference on future projects. ...

Tagged with: AGC Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee common council Department of City Development Mandel Group Michael Fabishak Nik Kovac North End prevailing wage Rocky Marcoux

By James Briggs A Milwaukee alderman on Monday called for a referendum to let voters advise Common Council members on whether the city should build a $64.6 million streetcar line. Calling financial projections for the project “rosy,” Alderman Bob Donovan ...

Tagged with: Bob Donovan Brian Manthey Milwaukee Nik Kovac Rail referendum streetcar tax-incremental financing TIF Tom Barrett Transportation We Energies

By James Briggs Milwaukee is counting on developers to turn an east-side public library branch into a catalyst for neighborhood growth. The city has issued a request for proposals, seeking ideas for redevelopment of the Milwaukee Public Library’s one-story East ...

Tagged with: East Library Jeff Fleming library Milwaukee Milwaukee Public Library Nik Kovac Villard Square

By Marie Rohde The National Trust for Historic Preservation is so enthralled with Milwaukee that the organization has listed the city as one of the top travel destinations in the country. “Isn’t it ironic that you’re tearing down some of ...

Tagged with: Bob Bauman demolition Historic Preservation Commission Jackson Street Management Jakubovich Marriott Marriott Hotel Milwaukee Nik Kovac Tom Barrett Zeppos

By Marie Rohde The wrecking ball won’t stop after demolishing five historic buildings to make way for the proposed $50 million Marriott Hotel in Milwaukee, according to some city aldermen. The next target might be in the same block, said ...

Tagged with: Bauman Historic Preservation Commission Marriott Marriott Hotel Nik Kovac

By Marie Rohde The Milwaukee School of Engineering’s proposal for a parking garage and athletic field in the Park East corridor could gain favor if the county gets new land to replace what it loses to the project. “It’s about ...

Tagged with: Department of City Development Jeff Fleming Lipscomb Milwaukee School of Engineering MSOE Nik Kovac Park East

By Marie Rohde Area developers and residents are debating whether a development plan for a neighborhood on Milwaukee’s east side will be a help or a hindrance. For more than a year, members of the neighborhood’s Business Improvement District have ...

Tagged with: Bayshore Town Center Business Improvement District Cambridge Commons Mandel Group Nik Kovac Third Ward

By Sean Ryan Mercy Housing Lakefront’s plan to build a nine-story affordable housing project will be pushed beyond 2010 after Milwaukee neighborhood associations raised concerns. “I feel like this needs a little more refinement,” said Alderman Nik Kovac, who represents ...

Tagged with: Chicago Mercy Housing Lakefront Nik Kovac