Streetcar extension explored
Milwaukee Common Council approves $250,000 to explore Walker’s Point streetcar extension.
After much debate, the Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday approved spending $250,000 for exploration of a Walker’s Point streetcar extension.
The measure was approved on a 10-5 vote.
Common Council President Cavalier Johnson and Alds. Ashanti Hamilton, Nik Kovac, Robert Bauman, Milele Coggs, JoCasta Zamarripa, Chantia Lewis, Michael Murphy, José G. Pérez and Marina Dimitrijevic voted in favor.
Alds. Nikiya Dodd, Khalif Rainey, Mark Borkowski, Scott Spiker and Russell W. Stamper II voted against it.
Borkowski said money spent on the streetcar was being used “wastefully,” and Dodd said she objected to spending more on the streetcar, known as The Hop.
Pérez, the measure’s sponsor, said the city’s Department of City Development asked for the streetcar funding as part of an amendment to a tax incremental financing district related to developments in the area of West National Avenue and South 6th
Street.
The $250,000 will be used for preliminary planning, design and engineering of a potential extension to the intersection of National and 6th.
The amendment also spends $900,000 for pedestrian and bike improvements to South 6th Street and West Mineral Street, $50,000 for additional bike share stations and $75,000 in administration costs.
Council approves east side affordable apartment development
The council also unanimously approved an affordable housing development known as Eighteen87 on Water.
The development, which is to be located at 1887 N. Water St. on Milwaukee’s east side, had been opposed by some neighboring condo owners. The five-story, 79-unit development will replace a one-story industrial building used for storage.
Sixty-one two- and three-bedroom apartments will be available at belowmarket rents to people earning up to 60% of the local median income.