Near West Side Partners, a nonprofit group that promotes economic development in seven neighborhoods on the city’s near west side, will host a design meeting on April 7 to craft a vision for the area’s architectural and economic future.
The meeting, referred to as a daylong “charrette” will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Six teams of local architects will work with those who attend to generate ideas for six sites on Milwaukee’s near west side referred to as “opportunity sites.” The near west side includes the Avenues West, Cold Spring Park, Concordia, Martin Drive, Merrill Park, the Miller Valley and Piggsville neighborhoods.
Once they form an initial design plan for their site, each team will present their work to all in attendance to receive additional feedback.
“This process has involved revisiting past plans for the area and examining the business diversity of the neighborhood,” reads a statement released by Near West Side Partners announcing the event. “A series of Focus Groups were held to gather input from various stakeholders including lenders, developers, city officials, agency leaders, business owners, residents and other interested parties. The information will be disseminated to six teams of local Milwaukee architects that are assigned to the six opportunity sites in the Near West Side neighborhood.”
The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
Near West Side Partners is putting on the event with the help of UWM’s Community Design Solutions design center.
