Growing MKE Updates

Currently HWTN is part of a multi-neighborhood coalition to make sure you have a voice in the City’s Growing MKE proposal. If approved by the common council, zoning decisions will be transferred from the neighborhoods (us!) to the bureaucrats at City Hall.

 Our concerns include: Growing MKE eliminates ALL single family zoning throughout the City.

This means someone could buy your neighbor’s single family home and convert it to a duplex or triplex without your having any say whatsoever!

Unless modified, Growing MKE will result in more absentee landlords in every part of the City by allowing out of state investors and others to make a quick buck by buying up large tracts of single family homes and converting them to duplex and triplex housing.”

Click on this link below of the zoned properties in Milwaukee.  (the light yellow is single family zoning)

Zoning citywide | PDF | Free Download

Our call to action is for each of you to email your concerns to your alderman.

Also, email your concerns to Mayor Cavalier Johnson (mayor@milwaukee.gov)

Talking points below you may want to use:

Why To Oppose Current “Growing MKE” Proposal to End Single-Family Zoning

Top-down decision by City Hall. This is not based on what people in neighborhoods want – no one living in single-family neighborhoods has asked for this. It was sprung on residents after it was developed at City Hall.

Loss of local decision-making. Under Growing MKE, conversions of single-family homes to duplexes and triplexes (and in some cases fourplexes), and addition of ADUs, will be allowed by right, with no public scrutiny – no public hearings or review and approval by elected officials and city departments as is now the case.

Poor planning. This one-size-fits-all rezoning for the whole cityignores the diverse needs of each neighborhood. By contrast, the city’s existing comprehensive plans for have separate, distinct goals and priorities for each part of Milwaukee. These plans were tailored to neighborhood needs. For example, the city’s Northeast Side plan today calls for single-family zoning in several neighborhoods.

Reduces home ownership. A longtime city goal is increasing home ownership. This does the opposite. It makes it easy to subdivide owner-occupied homes into rental units, resulting in fewer home owners and less stable neighborhoods.

Eliminates choice. People wanting to live in single-family districts have limited options in Milwaukee today – and will have no such option under the proposal. Right now, residents can choose from single-family to multi-family areas. Under Growing MKE, the choice of a single-family area will be gone.

Loss of value and residents. People who want to live in single-family districts will move. There are lots of single-family districts outside Milwaukee – every municipality in the area has single-family districts. Milwaukee would lose income, residents, property values, tax base and tax revenue to the suburbs.

Increases harmful investor and absentee landlord ownership.Investors and absentee landlords would be encouraged to buy and convert single-family homes without approval. Owner-occupied homes bring stability. Outside owners cause deteriorating neighborhoods and quality of life. Central City neighborhoods already suffer from neglect by investors and absentee landlords. This will increase.

Creates uncertainty for current homeowners. Single-family owners will not know the future nature of their neighborhoods. Will the house next door become a triplex, or will someone build a second house in their yard? The lack of stability harms current residents who today are invested in Milwaukee through home ownership and property taxes.Since it ain’t broke, why mess it up?

Historic preservation is damaged. The exteriors of homes converted to multifamily would have to be modified to meet code. In historic districts, this would violate current preservation guidelines. The city can rewrite preservation ordinances to allow modifications such as fire escapes, destroying the historic integrity of our preserved neighborhoods.

It avoids real solutions. We all want more residents in Milwaukee. Growing MKE’s focus on eliminating single-family zoning ignores the actual hard work needed. We must restore deteriorating homes, develop vacant lots and reduce crime and improve education so people want to live in Milwaukee. Why fight to end single-family neighborhoods instead of working on real solutions?