Bradford Beach Bathhouse


April 2021 Update: Officials Concerned About Public Access at Bradford Beach Bathhouse Under Plan For High-end Restaurant
An opinion by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and a final report by the Lakefront Development Advisory Commission(LDAC) call on Milwaukee County to require full public access to the Bradford Beach Bathhouse before allowing a high-end restaurant on the upper level. LDAC’s report lists a number of conditions it says should be met before Milwaukee County approves the proposal. The Shepherd Express covered the DNR opinion (“DNR: No ‘Destination Restaurant’ on Bradford Beach”) and recently wrote about the issue of public space.


January 2021 – From the HWTN Buildings and Institution Committee:

We’re writing to inform you about major changes being proposed to the historic Bradford Beach Bathhouse. Concerns have been raised by HWTN members about the proposal and are summarized in our committee’s letter the that was sent to county, city and state officials. The Shepherd Express also has a detailed article on the issue

It appears that the Milwaukee County Parks Department has sole authority to approve, modify or reject the proposal, and that a decision could be coming soon. We believe that our opinions will matter to the department as well as our supervisor, Sheldon Wasserman, who heads the County Board’s parks committee. 

If you would like to express your opinion, we encourage you to act now via either or both of the following options.

1. Comment briefly to the Lakefront Development Advisory Council (LDAC) by email or public testimony. LDAC is meeting at 5:30 p.m. this Wednesday to discuss the proposal. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://milwaukeecounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. To give comments, you can either:

  • Email comments. Written testimony may be provided in advance of the meeting by sending remarks or documentation to billlynch@me.com, with copy to: kelsey.evans@milwaukeecountywi.gov, no later than 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.Written testimony will be accepted up to 24 hours after meeting adjournment, if LDAC does not adopt a recommendation at its meeting.
  • Speak virtually at the meeting. Request a Teams invitation to join the meeting by e-mailing kelsey.evans@milwaukeecountywi.gov no later than when the Chairman announces the closing of the public comment period, and indicate which e-mail address the invitation should be sent to. (The invitation will only be sent once LDAC reaches the comment phase of the meeting. LDAC will stand informal while members of the public join, and may impose a two-minute time limit per speaker.)
2. Send a short email the following officials:
We will have an update on the issue at the HWTN meeting Feb. 3.

You can download the materials LDAC provided for the meeting and other related information below . Feel free to contact me if you have questions or would like to discuss the issue.

Sincerely,

Dawn McCarthy
Chair, HWTN Buildings and Institutions Committee

Materials Distributed by LDAC

John Budzinski DNR letter to William Lynch LDAC_03.03.2021
Final Dock Bradford LDAC Report 02.17.2021
LDAC Agenda 1.27.21
HRA21-25 Shepherd Express – Bradford Beach
HRA21-25 MKE BizTime – Roundhouse
HRA21-25 Joint Letter Re Public Trust Doctrine(103120)
HRA21-25 1996 Correspondence 1987 Informal AG Opinon DNR Internal Documents Public Trust Doctrine
HRA21-24 The Dock – LDAC Request for Review (011521)
HRA21-24 The Dock – Drawing Set (011521)
HRA21-24 DPRC County Staff Review and HPC Report (011521)

Additional Information
FY20_Community_VAR_OffSite_ENG_With_INS
oldmilwaukee.net-1941 Bradford Beach
wisconsinhistory.org-2400 BLOCK OF N LINCOLN MEMORIAL DRIVE – BRADFOR BEACH – LAKE MICHIGAN PARKWAY N
milwaukeehistory.net-Milwaukee County Historical Society
LDAC Criteria undated
21TMP-001367 STRUCTURAL-MEMORANDUM
21-98 REPORT
21-98 CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS CONCEPTS AND DIAGRAM
19-343 REVISED LEASE AGREEMENT (041919)
19-343 COUNTY BOARD RESOLUTION
Society of Architectural Historians



Milwaukee County Parks Seeking Historic Designs For Replacement of Iconic Pedestrian Bridge Over Ravine Road in Lake Park

Milwaukee County Parks has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a firm to design an historically appropriate bridge to replace the crumbling 1905-’06 concrete pedestrian bridge over Ravine Road in Lake Park.

LakeParkBridgeHorse1-e1444930990468According to a story in BizTimes, “the RFP is asking a consultant to prepare three alternative bridge replacement schematic designs and cost estimates for each. A work group, which will include members of Lake Park Friends, the historic preservation community and Milwaukee County staff, will be established to review each design.”

Representatives of Historic Water Tower Neighborhood and Lake Park Friends recently met with County Parks Director John Dargle, his staff and Ald. Nik Kovac about future of the iconic bridge. Lake Park Friends and HWTN representatives will serve on the work group reviewing three designs for the bridge replacement.

According to the county’s RFP, the selected firm will develop three alternate designs:

“One alternative will replace the bridge in-kind to replicate the original design and appearance of the bridge. The other two alternatives will be new bridge designs that are substantial replications compatible with the historic nature of the Fredrick Law Olmsted designed Lake Park. The consultant shall work closely with the work group in developing these two alternatives.”

The consultant will also be required to hold two public meetings on the designs and work with the City of Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission and State Historical Society to coordinate reviews and obtain required permits.

HWTN unanimously passed a resolution in October to oppose removal of the 1905-’06 historic concrete bridge with anything but an appropriately historic replacement. In the board’s resolution, it noted that one of the park’s signature pedestrian bridges is:

  • “Of significant historic importance, having been designed by the prominent Milwaukee architecture firm of Ferry & Clas, which also designed Milwaukee’s Central Library, the Pabst Mansion and the Lake Park Pavilion.”
  • “An integral part of Lake Park, designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York City’s famed Central Park.”

Consultant proposals to do the design work are due Feb. 5. The selected consultant is expected to begin work on April 1, with a design slated to be chosen by June 30.

HWTN opposes demolition of Historic Lake Park concrete arch footbridge over Ravine Road or replacement with modern steel bridge

Milwaukee County has recently determined that the historic, iconic and beautiful (1905-’06) Lake Park Concrete Arch Footbridge over Ravine Road is in poor shape, and Parks Department officials are considering a range of alternatives:

  • Repairing the current bridge
  • Replacing the bridge with one with the same historic design and features
  • Replacing the bridge with a modern, steel-girder bridge
  • Demolishing the bridge without replacement

LakeParkBridgeHorseHistoric Water Tower Neighborhood is opposed to replacing the historic Lake Park Arch Footbridge over Ravine Road in Lake Park with a prefabricated steel truss bridge or any other architectural style different from the current bridge. HWTN also opposes simply demolishing the bridge.

Here is the resolution passed by the HWTN Executive Committee in October:

 

Whereas, The historic Lake Park Arch Footbridge over Ravine Road is considered an iconic and beautiful feature of Lake Park, one of Milwaukee County’s most popular parks;

Whereas, The bridge is of significant historic importance, having been designed by the prominent Milwaukee architecture firm of Ferry & Clas, which also designed Milwaukee’s Central Library, the Pabst Mansion and the Lake Park Pavilion;

Whereas, The bridge is an integral part of Lake Park, designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York City’s famed Central Park;

Whereas, The Lake Park Arch Footbridge over Ravine Road provides needed circulation through the park, connecting the north and south portions of Lake Park near the bluff and crosses Ravine Road, enabling north-south passage through the park without returning to Lake Drive;

Whereas, The bridge is used extensively by walkers, bikers, joggers, birders and others from around Milwaukee County;

Whereas, The City of Milwaukee Historic Preservation Guidelines for the North Point North neighborhood state that, for Lake Park, “every attempt should be made to maintain the historic vehicular and pedestrian circulation system in the park including drives, paths, stairways and bridges. New parking areas, roadways, paths or bridges should be designed so as to be compatible with the historic character of the park”;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, That the Historic Water Tower Neighborhood opposes replacing the historic Lake Park Arch Footbridge over Ravine Road in Lake Park with a prefabricated steel truss bridge or any other architectural style different from the current bridge. We also oppose simply demolishing the bridge. HWTN encourages the county to consider and act promptly on the other two alternatives outlined in the July 2015 inspection report on the bridge — either repairing the current bridge or replacing it with a new reinforced concrete arch bridge that matches the dimensions and aesthetic and architectural features of the current bridge.

Learn more about the issue by reading the county’s engineering study of the bridge, which discusses the bridge’s current condition and outlines several options and costs for each; and by reading this history of the bridge.

The styles of modern bridges being considered to replace the Historic Lake Park Arch Footbridge over Ravine Road

The styles of modern bridges being considered to replace the Historic Lake Park Arch Footbridge over Ravine Road

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milwaukee County Parks is holding a public meeting on the issue this Thursday, October 15 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in O’Donnell Park’s Miller Brewing Room at 910 E. Michigan Street. There will be free parking. Public input is welcome, so consider going and telling county officials your thoughts on this matter.

These are the county officials who will be making the decision on the bridge, and their contact information, for those interested in voicing their opinions on the issue via phone or email:

The BizTimes recently published this interesting article on the issue, and OnMilwaukee.com ran a good story, too.

 

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