You are here: Home / Archives for 2015

Archives for 2015

Nov. 4 Annual Meeting to Feature HWTN Co-Founder, Preservationist Barbara Elsner

October 30, 2015 by

Historic preservationist, Frank Lloyd Wright conservationist and Historic Water Tower Neighborhood co-founder Barbara Elsner will speak at our annual meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 4, giving us her perspective on our group’s past, present and future.

Elsner copyBarbara, one of a number of residents involved in founding HWTN in 1973, has been a leader in historic preservation, with a focus on our neighborhood and Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. Barbara and her husband Bob, a former HWTN president, live in a restored Wright home.

Wednesday’s meeting also includes election of HWTN’s 2016 officers and trustees. All HWTN members are eligible to vote.

The meeting takes place in the Marcia Coles Community Room in the Lake Park Pavilion. Come between 6:30 p.m. and 7 for refreshments prior to the meeting courtesy of Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro.

Filed Under: HWTN Meetings Tagged With: ,

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

October 13, 2015 by

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.

 

UPDATES

LakeParkRoadPM1910

 

 

 

Filed Under: News & Issues, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

How UWM is Going Green and Helping Bring Sustainability to East Side

September 23, 2015 by

When you think of UWM, the university wants you to think green.

Leading the green revolution at UWM is Kate M. Nelson, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee’s chief sustainability officer. Kate will discuss how the university’s sustainability efforts influence stormwater management, bicycling, and urban agriculture in the community at HWTN’s next monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday Oct. 7, 2015.

Profile-Pick_1The meeting takes place in the Marcia Coles Community Room of Lake Park Pavilion, beneath Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro. Come a few minutes early for coffee and cookies courtesy of Lake Park Bistro. After Kate’s presentation, the HWTN trustees and members will discuss other community issues. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The Office of Sustainability at UW-Milwaukee, headed by Kate, was founded in 2008. The office “assesses, supports, and drives sustainability initiatives across campus operations, student life, and throughout academic affairs,” according to the university’s website.

According to the website:

By building cross campus and community collaborations, integrating sustainability into campus planning initiatives, assessing impacts over the long term, and working from our own sense of place and purpose, UW-Milwaukee manages its resources wisely and makes sustainability relevant to its teaching and research mission.

Past initiatives include Energy Matters, a campus wide energy efficiency program with Facility Services, supporting stormwater green infrastructure with the School of Architecture, initiating and growing campus gardens with many across the UWM community, bike planning with the assistance of Campus Planning and Community Design Solutions, and multiple outreach programs with the Share the Earth series.

Kate has headed the Office of Sustainability since its founding. She is responsible for planning & managing a variety of sustainability initiatives, including, but not limited to; energy conservation strategies, stormwater management, expansive recycling programs, sustainable purchasing, alternative transportation options, urban gardening as well as engaging the campus students, faculty, and staff through multiple sustainability outreach and educational programs. Previously, Kate was a GIS specialist and project assistant for The Conservation Fund, and worked to preserve and restore critical land areas for MMSD’s Greenseams program that addressed flood management. Her previous research in the sustainable development of Costa Rica, Romania, and Cuba has influenced and aligned her strategies for environmental policy and planning here at home in Wisconsin. Kate holds an MS in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the Nelson Institute of Environmental Studies of UW Madison, as well as a BA in Conservation and Environmental Science from UW-Milwaukee and a previous BA in Theatre and Writing from Cardinal Stritch University.

Filed Under: HWTN Meetings Tagged With: , , ,

HWTN Area Chosen for Next Historic Milwaukee Inc. “Spaces & Traces” Tour May 14, 2016

September 18, 2015 by

Historic Milwaukee Inc.’s “Spaces & Traces” home tour returns to the Historic Water Tower Neighborhood area on Saturday May 14 for the 2016 installment of this popular annual event.

HWTN welcomes the focus on our beautiful, historically preserved residential area. More info on plans for this not-to-be-missed 2016 event and a quote from HWTN President Elect Sally Peltz is included in this article from HMI’s “Echo” magazine.

258s

Filed Under: News & Issues Tagged With: , , , ,

Crime Concerns on Tap for Sept. 9 HWTN Meeting with MPD Representative

August 29, 2015 by

The Milwaukee Police Department’s Tom Klein, our area’s community liaison officer, will speak and answer questions about crime and crime trends in our neighborhood and the city at our next meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015.

patch-thumbThe presentation is part of Historic Water Tower Neighborhood’s next monthly meeting, which is open to the public.

The meeting takes place in Lake Park Pavilion’s Marcia Coles Community Room, (lower level, below Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro). Come a little early to chat with neighbors and enjoy cookies and coffee courtesy of Bartolotta’s.

Note: Our meetings are generally held the first Wednesday evening of each month, but due to that night landing before Labor Day this September, we’ve rescheduled the meeting for Sept. 9. Next month, we return to our regular schedule.

 

Filed Under: HWTN Meetings Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »