South Milwaukee Blog

I’m excited to see this high-profile South Milwaukee property potentially come back to life, as the city’s investment in acquiring it hopefully pays off with an anchor project at the south gateway to our downtown.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story …

Milwaukee-based AK Development is proposing the Canal Transit Housing project, a 64,000-plus-square-foot commercial building at 2318 10th Ave., where a gas station formerly operated. The concept includes 63 market-rate apartments (29 one-bedroom and 34 two-bedroom) and 5,000 square feet of commercial space. A parking lot in the rear could provide 26 spaces.

Renderings for the project list a lounge area and an 896-square-foot community room as amenities inside the building. Bench seating is shown along the building on 10th Avenue.

The land, owned by the City of South Milwaukee, is 0.70 acres. The former Amoco/BP gas station was demolished on the property, including removal of the underground fuel tanks, in 2018 after the property sat unused for over five years. (The city would later buy it.)

The project has been on the radar of South Milwaukee staff since early 2023 with preliminary plans for 39 apartments. Work was done throughout the year updating the proposal, leading to this latest version of the project. … The project could incorporate eight workforce housing units “for young people and youths aging out of foster care,” as stated in the application for tax incremental financing. Another portion of the documentation mentions the possibility of 13 units set aside for the same youths to be supported by Wisconsin Community Services.

The project is far from a done deal, however, with state and local funding still necessary.

The project budget is $18,930,131 with approximately $12.6 million of the developer’s capital stack listed as WHEDA funds. Additionally, the developer is requesting $1.5 million from South Milwaukee, according to City Administrator Patrick Brever. That help could come in the form of tax incremental financing district (TID 5), which was created in 2018 and includes this property plus the former Bucyrus Campus and portions of the downtown area along Milwaukee and Chicago avenues.

Interesting times in local real estate. From Loopnet …

• Grant Park Plaza
• 1200 13th St. (16.7 acres adjacent to the water tower)
• Former Bucyrus campus: Corporate Building and Panama Building
• Pizza Hut, 124 N. Chicago Ave.

From the South Milwaukee Fire Department …

The house is a total loss and the Smith family lost everything, according to this Fox 6 story. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers. I will share information on a GoFundMe when I see it.

From the South Milwaukee Wrestling Facebook page …

Connor O’Donnell finished off an incredible high school career today after placing 5th at 165lbs in the 2024 WIAA Individual Wrestling State Tournament.

Connor finished his career with a record of 162-16 and was a 4x conference champion, 4x regional champion, 4x sectional champion, and a 2x state medalist.

And he’s headed to Brown University in the fall. Congratulations and good luck, Connor!

UPDATE from February 26: Arrest made.

From the Cudahy Facebook page …

Cudahy, WI – On Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 5:50 p.m., the Cudahy Police Department was dispatched to the 5700 block of S. Packard Ave for a call of a possible shot fired.

Upon arrival, officers came upon a 41-year-old South Milwaukee man who had sustained a gunshot wound. Lifesaving efforts were initiated by a passerby, by the responding police officers, and Cudahy Fire Department. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The suspect fled in a vehicle and has not been located. Preliminary information indicates the vehicle may have been a black SUV.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was driving northbound on S. Packard Ave. and was engaged in a conflict with another driver, who was also traveling northbound on S. Packard Ave. The conflict escalated when witnesses say the vehicles stopped and the victim got out of his car and confronted the suspect. It is not clear if the suspect and victim knew one another.

This investigation is ongoing. The Cudahy Police ask that anyone with any information, such as video footage of any part of the incident, or other details, please contact the Cudahy Police Department at (414) 769-2260.

Happy to see the city continuing to step up its game around communications. We made it a priority when I was mayor, and that continues today.

The newest platforms: Two new city-produced email newsletters. Sign up today!

• City Hall Update. Stay informed about the latest happenings at our Common Council meetings.
• South Milwaukee Business and Development Newsletter. A newsletter dedicated to promoting and enhancing South Milwaukee’s downtown and community-wide businesses.

There won’t be one in 2024. Back again in 2025!

From the Crusherfest Facebook page …

If you haven’t seen South Milwaukee’s student musicians perform recently, you’ll be impressed when you do. The South Milwaukee School District is becoming a leader in this space.

See for yourself at two upcoming events.

• First, check out the “Music to Move us Forward” show on February 29 at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center.
• And sign up to attend Jazz and More, a new fundraising gala event on April 16 at the Bucyrus Club.

Details in the flyers. Purchase tickets for April 16 here!

South Milwaukee will shift to the 20th Assembly District effective January of 2025, after Gov. Tony Evers signed new legislative maps on Monday.

We remain in the 7th Senate District.

Current 21st Assembly District (includes South Milwaukee)

New 20th Assembly District (includes South Milwaukee)

While the change doesn’t officially take place until the new year, South Milwaukee ballots will have residents voting in the 20th Assembly District this August and November, city officials said.

Democratic State Rep. Chris Sinicki currently represents the 20th District, which also includes Cudahy, St. Francis and parts of the City of Milwaukee under the new maps. She told me today she is excited to begin representing South Milwaukee in the legislature, and she plans to run for a new two-year term this fall. Sinicki has been in the Assembly since 1999.

Meanwhile, the 21st Assembly District boundaries shift to add parts of Milwaukee and Greenfield to a district that still includes Oak Creek.

The partisan impact is significant. The Marquette University Law School offers a really good analysis of the overall changes, showing South Milwaukee moves from being part of a Republican district (+4.8% Republican) to a strongly Democratic (+25.2 Democrat) one, under the new maps. Meanwhile, the 21st District shifts from +4.8% Republican to +8.1% Democrat, per the Marquette analysis.

Read more in the Journal Sentinel and Associated Press.

Well done, South Milwaukee Police Department. From their Facebook page …

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at approximately 11:04AM, the South Milwaukee Police Department was called to the 100 block of N. Chicago Avenue for a report of a dead body in a garbage cart. This incident was determined to be a homicide and the victim has been identified as Alex Stengel, 55 years-of-age, of Cudahy, Wisconsin. On Sunday, February 11, the South Milwaukee Police Department made an arrest of a 31-year-old Milwaukee man in connection with this case. The investigation is ongoing and charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County DA’s Office in the coming days.

The South Milwaukee School District is proposing a $2 million referendum on the April 2 ballot.

From the district …

The School District of South Milwaukee takes great pride in its role as a core community asset. Our community expects high-quality opportunities for its students—something our school district has delivered for generations. On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, residents will vote on a new $2 million five-year, non-recurring operational referendum to ensure our students continue to have access to the high-quality educational experiences they need and deserve. … An approved referendum will enable the district to exceed its revenue limit by $2 million per year for the next five years.

Learn more on the district’s website and at information tables at a number of upcoming school events and locations, including from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Bucyrus Club. Get the full schedule of events with information tables on the website.

And here is more on what the referendum would fund, from the district …

• Prioritizing security upgrades at our schools is key. Additional cameras, door locks requiring electronic keyfob swipes, and taking measures to improve traffic safety on 15th Avenue will increase safety for our students.
• SDSM needs to address projected budget deficits and ensure we retain staff so we can provide consistency for our students.
• Enhanced career exploration starting in elementary school will give students exposure to more career-specific skills. As they move through the school system, students will have access to intentional planning to ensure they are taking advantage of all the courses we offer to prepare them for their choice of college, career, or the military.
• Technology investments will ensure students have the latest tools to learn and prepare for life after high school.

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

Here is the South Milwaukee Police press release …

And check out coverage from the Journal Sentinel, CBS 58 and WISN.