We have a lot of work to do downtown, and we will do it. We will come together as a community around a plan for our city center — and then commit to work that plan. We will start that process soon.
One thing we can do right away: Be more proactive in enforcing our existing property codes. And that’s what we’re doing.
In my first weeks as mayor, I’ve asked that the city be more out front in ordering downtown property owners to make much-needed improvements to their facades … simply getting them to comply with our property maintenance ordinances.
Broken, cracked or clouded windows. Peeling paint. Dilapidated signs advertising businesses that haven’t operated in years. Those are just some of the issues with select (too many) downtown properties.
So, our property code enforcer is being more aggressive in “writing up” more buildings in our central business district, not waiting for complaints before sending notices to owners mandating that they get their buildings to code — and hopefully more than that, perhaps using our underutilized facade grant program.
This brings me to the photo above. Thursday, I, our code enforcer and city engineer made the first of several downtown walks, discussing problem properties and pointing out issues. We started at 13th and Milwaukee and walked east to 10th and back again. Next up, Milwaukee Avenue east of 10th, then 10th Avenue north and south.
I’m sure I’ll learn a lot as I go … and hopefully this will make a difference in improving the look of our downtown, one building at a time, as we plot a long-term strategy.
Indeed, we’re just getting started!
South Milwaukee Blog 
Thank you Eric. Finally improvements!
Thank you! I know it’s a bit further east than downtown on MKE ave, who can I have ask Appleton/Emerson to trim back evergreen trees in front of their “management club” building. One covers half the sidewalk.
Great effort and start. I like the new businesses that have moved in on Milwaukee Avenue, especially the art and exercise studios. Now we need to dress up our street, and encourage our residents to support the Milwaukee Avenue stores and restaurants.
THANK YOU so much for even acknowledging that this is an issue. If you want to be successful you must first dress the part. Our main streets need a serious amount over overhaul. We’ve got so much potential it pains me to see it go to waste year after year because of the appearance of the buildings. I applaud the new business and especially the Grant Park Garage for their improvements. The Garage’s recent makeover is a welcome site! In such a high profile location it is now nice entry point to our city. Maybe it will rub off on their neighbors to the south. Hopefully something can also be done about the Sunrise Plaza.
Keep up the good work!