2 development groups plan expansion
North side BID projects need council approval
Two groups that promote development in neighborhoods on Milwaukee’s north side would expand their territories under proposals being reviewed by city officials.
The two separate proposals, both endorsed Monday by the Plan Commission, would expand business improvement districts centered on North King Drive and West Villard Avenue. Those expansions also need Common Council approval, with those reviews to occur in September.
The districts are financed through annual assessments on non-residential properties within their neighborhoods.
Those funds finance such things as enhanced sidewalks and other public improvement projects; marketing efforts for neighborhood retail areas; recruitment of new businesses; grants for private developments, and public safety efforts.
Milwaukee has over 30 business improvement districts.
The proposed expansions are encouraging signs for the city’s larger efforts to improve its neighborhoods, said Natanael Martinez, the Department of City Development’s commercial corridor manager
The West Villard Avenue district runs between roughly North 29th and North 42nd streets.
The expansion would add several warehouse and manufacturing properties both south and north of the current district, from West Silver Spring Drive to West Hampton Avenue.
Along with extending services to those areas, that expansion would help the district better connect industrial jobs to residents of the surrounding neighborhood, said Stephanie Harling, who manages the district.
The Historic King Drive district is centered on that street between West McKinley Avenue and West Locust Street.
Its expansion would add areas north and west of its existing boundary line, to West Capitol Drive and North Seventh Street.
That includes adding the Five Points area, where King Drive, West Keefe Avenue and North Port Washington Road converge, and the Haymarket area west of North Phillips Avenue and north of McKinley Avenue.
The district plans to expand efforts to provide grants and low-interest loans to help retain and attract businesses to the area, said Deshea Agee, executive director.
Some business owners said they are opposed to the King Drive expansion because it would raise their property taxes.