The Third Ward Neighborhood Plan was approved by the Common Council on May 20. The Neighborhood Plan and Guidelines were prepared jointly by the Milwaukee Department of City Development and by Jim Piwoni, AIA, and American Design Inc., in cooperation with the Historic Third Ward Association, Business Improvement District # 2, and the Third Ward Architectural Review Board. Goals of the Neighborhood Plan are to (1) guide new development in areas that are vacant or underutilized, (2) provide a predictable regulatory process, (3) Reflect a shared vision of the neighborhood, and (4) generate consensus among businesses, property owners, residents and associations. The planning team has identified six specific objectives:
- Provide public access to Lakewalk, Riverwalk and Lakeshore State Park
- Complete linkages between the Riverwalk, Lakewalk, Hank Aaron State Trail and the Lakeshore State Park, Walker’s Point, and downtown
- Continue the development of a highly-valued neighborhood that offers a unique urban lifestyle
- Provide interconnected, walkable, pedestrian-friendly streets
- Extend the existing street system, where possible
- Provide a mix of land uses in new developments and infill sites
- Update all current plans and guidelines to include the revised boundary and where areas are susceptible to change