Historic Water Tower Neighborhood and the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association have passed resolutions opposed to Columbia St. Mary’s plan to build a skywalk over N. Prospect Avenue just south of the Maryland Avenue Montessori School.

Columbia St. Mary’s has shown its plans, not yet approved by its board, to representatives of the two groups, the E. North Avenue Business Improvement District and Ald. Nik Kovac.

OnMilwaukee.com recently wrote a great story summarizing the proposal and neighborhood concerns.

In November, HWTN’s board passed a resolution opposing the skywalk and listing several concerns, including visual blight, inappropriateness in a residential neighborhood, reduced neighborhood vibrancy by taking pedestrians off the street, decreased pedestrian and auto safety, precedent for future skywalks and lack of demonstrated need.

“Like a lot of the neighbors, my opinion is still forming. The architect, Jim Shields (of HGA), made some changes in response to neighbor concerns which improved design. But many people object on the grounds that skywalks pull pedestrians off the street, and pedestrians on sidewalks are good for commercial corridors.” – Ald. Nik Kovac in OnMilwaukee.com article

Below is a view from North Avenue looking north and a rough sketch showing where the skywalk would connect over the street between the doctors’ offices above Whole Foods and the hospital.

“It’s possible that the supports for such a skywalk could even further diminish visibility for pedestrians and drivers at an already challenging spot.” – Author and Maryland Montessori parent Bobby Tanzilo in OnMilwaukee article