Muskego Avenue businesses eye association
Efforts are under way to create an association to promote business along Muskego Avenue in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Alliance, a non-profit organization focusing on south side neighborhoods, is organizing the association, and is holding monthly meetings toward its development.
Representatives of six businesses attended the first meeting on March 4, with several others expressing interest but not able to attend that meeting, said Jeremy Soika, an economic development coordinator with Milwaukee Alliance, at 2101 W. Mitchell St.
"We plan to do what other business associations do: address business concerns, offer technical assistance for such things as façade grants, and other services," Soika said. "Eventually, if there is interest, we could create a Business Improvement District (BID)."
Businesses within a BID agree to a tax assessment to support business-support projects within the BID boundaries.
Business owners at the March 4 meeting expressed concerns about litter, graffiti, the need for a bigger police presence, and other business issues, Soika said.
One of those business owners, Patrick Cherf, is optimistic that a stronger business community can be redeveloped along Muskego Avenue. "If they stick to what they say they want to do, it will be good for the neighborhood," said Cherf, owner of Cherf Saw & Tool Service at 1446 S. Muskego.
Cherf said that, along with property owners keeping up their real estate, the neighborhood needs something more to attract people to the businesses, and needs a greater police presence. He wants to see beat policeman and, possibly, restoration of trolley service in the avenue. Cherf notes that the old trolley tracks are still under parts of the Muskego Avenue surface.
The association would involve businesses along the main stretch of Muskego Avenue — between Mitchell Street and Forest Home Avenue.
A plan created for a business association about a year ago will be revived, Soika said. That plan was created by Randy Roth, an area developer who for several years guided redevelopment of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive business area in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Alliance (www.stepupmilwaukee.org) provides ambassadors along Muskego Avenue, doing much of the same work as downtown Milwaukee ambassadors do – pickup up litter, offering information to visitors and generally keeping an eye on things. Those ambassadors will be more visible this summer, Soika said.
The alliance is already undertaking a major project for the area – moving the farmers market on a provisionary basis from 12th and Mitchell streets to a vacant city-owned lot at Muskego and Mitchell.
Eventually, the alliance would like a permanent, covered, open-air structure at the Muskego and Mitchell site, but a fundraising project will be needed to help finance the structure, Soika said.
The transfer of the farmers market will be assisted by workers from AmeriCorps, the national volunteer corps. Milwaukee Alliance has 10 AmeriCorps volunteers.
The alliance initiated the effort to create a Muskego Avenue Business Association. The street, which has a significant commercial presence, has seen signs of revival in the past year, and more interest is evident, Soika said. The street is getting a new Walgreen’s, a new bakery and a new Web site designer. Existing business owners have noted interest in exterior renovations and presentations. An intern from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design is working with the alliance on storefront displays and store layouts.
"The main thing is to create a strong business community," Soika said.
The Muskego business group will meet at 3 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month, at the Milwaukee Alliance offices, 2101 W. Mitchell St.
The alliance is also aiming to spawn business associations for Cesar Chavez Drive and a portion of Greenfield Avenue.
March 21, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
