Community advocacy group Rethink 794 has released new estimates that suggest that removing the freeway spur through Downtown Milwaukee could, over the course of three decades, generate $475 million in property taxes, $3 billion in Downtown disposable income, $60 million in city sales tax and the creation of more than 3,000 new housing units.
The estimates come from a report created in collaboration with urban planner Larry Witzling, that explores “development capacity” over the next 30 years to show how new construction could replace the freeway spur and help generate development nearby, too.
You can see the report – called "The Economic Case for Removing I-794 Downtown: Economic Benefits, Neighborhood Improvement Will Benefit All Milwaukeeans" – here.
Witzling, a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has been an urban planner in Milwaukee for 50 years and worked on the Park East Corridor plan.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is studying the spur and its area, which comprises 10 blocks, and has released a variety of options for the freeway segment, from rebuilding as-is, to redesign and replacment, to removal.
In a news release issued Thursday, Rethink 794 said a removal model that replaces the elevated freeway with an at-grade boulevard, "promotes safer traffic speeds and improves pedestrian safety, creating a more walkable and bike-friendly environment.
"The introduction of a multi-modal system will better integrate various transportation options, enhancing connectivity between Downtown Milwaukee, the Third Ward and surrounding neighborhoods.
"Additionally, the initiative tackles parking concerns by expanding the parking supply through new structures and implementing smart parking management solutions."
In 2022, Rethink 794 released renderings of how the land could be developed if the spur were removed.
Those 10 blocks, offer, according to the study, "potential developments for housing, retail, offices, hospitality and public spaces, (and) suggests this land can easily accommodate 10 fully developed blocks, each with a capacity of 300 units including parking."
It estimates that the site could "conservatively" have enough space for 3,000 new residential units with amenities, public spaces and other attractions.
Witzling's estimates are based on a study of decades of slow-growth changes in the Downtown area, including along the Park East corridor.
“How can we imagine a long-term future for the I-794 section between the Hoan Bridge and 6th Street,” said Witzling. “Not only can we avoid spending $300 million in taxpayer dollars rebuilding this small section of I-794, we can enable development there, generating 3,000 housing units and billions in local spending that adds state tax dollars.”
Witzling says the development would require only "moderate changes in infrastructure."
“The area already includes a great infrastructure framework with a strong street grid,” he noted. “Even with Clybourn Boulevard widened to four lanes, there would be plenty of room for housing and expanded public places to support existing and new uses. As with the Park East Freeway removal in 2002-03, development would likely see some ebb and flow as local stakeholders and new investors engage the opportunities.
“The key is to develop multiple options and a strong management process to ensure equity and broad stakeholder involvement over 30 years.”
The study was created on the assumption that building types, rents and prices would be mixed and would include the city’s ongoing initiative to create 20 percent affordable housing, according to the news release.
“This is a conversation about transportation, but I think that’s only half the question," said Taylor Korslin, a Rethink 794 volunteer. "The other half is about land use and what we want to become as a city and region."
Carl Glasemeyer, transportation policy director of 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin, added, "Building thousands of housing units on this land would help achieve Mayor (Cavalier) Johnson’s goal of growing more residents in Milwaukee.
“The additional tax revenues that new residents and businesses generate will help fund improvements across Milwaukee."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
