by Janice Christensen
UWM plans to build student housing just north of North Avenue in Riverwest. A multi-story building is planned with beds for 470 students. Construction would begin this summer if plans are approved. The building would be constructed in the area outlined by the green dots in the photo. The red outline indicates the larger develpment area including the City Ward Yards and the building in the northwest corner. Photo is taken from North Avenue bridge looking northwest. ~Photo by Vince Bushell
A public meeting to discuss development of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student housing near the corner of North and Humboldt Avenues is planned for Thursday, April 13, 79 pm at Gordon Park Pavilion.
The following people have been invited to the meeting to present information about the development and answer residents questions:
Third District Alderman Michael DAmato Jonathan Parker and/or Todd Davies, Eppstein Uhen Architects & Readco Development Scott Peak, UWM University Housing Pamela Hodermann, UWM Police Chief Claude Schuttey, UWM Parking and Transit Mike Wisnewski, Department of City Development Vince Bushell, River Revitalization Foundation
Its anticipated that detailed plans for the site will be displayed at the meeting.
A preliminary project rendering shown at the February 14 Riverwest Neighborhood Association meeting featured a 6-story, Ushaped building.
The proposed 140,000 square foot structure is one building with three wings connected by glass-enclosed walkways. Its relative height would match the surrounding building heights, because the elevation of its foundation would be below Humboldt Avenue. An extant tree line would remain between the building and the river, partially masking the façade as viewed from the east on North Avenue.
The 470-bed student apartment building will be situated on a triangle of land immediately north of North Avenue and west of the Milwaukee River, currently owned by Milwaukee County. This land would be swapped for a slice of privately owned land vital to the completion of the Beerline Trail along the west side of the river.
Riverwest Currents online edition – April, 2006