Milwaukee funeral director and former south side alderman James Witkowiak plans to add an outdoor plaza and a community hall to his Historic Mitchell Street funeral home.
Witkowiak, whose family has owned the Witkowiak Funeral Home, located at 529 W. Historic Mitchell St. in Milwaukee, for 67 years, is proposing to move a two-story, 2,808-square-foot building he owns at 515 W. Historic Mitchell St. to a vacant lot at 507 W. Historic Mitchell St.
The building at 515 W. Historic Mitchell St. was built in 1870.
After the building is moved, Witkowiak would purchase a city-owned lot at 511 W. Mitchell St. and combine it with the then vacant parcel at 515 to construct an outdoor plaza facing Mitchell Street and build a new community hall at the south end of the 507, 511 and 515 W. Historic Mitchell St. parcels, according to plans submitted to the city.
The outdoor plaza would be adjacent to the funeral home parking lot and provide a gathering area for people after the funeral services. Presently, they congregate on the sidewalk, Witkowiak said in his documents filed with the city.
The community hall would have capacity for about 144 people and be available for social activities and meals after funeral services.
Witkowiak could not immediately be reached for comment.
The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals will review the plans Oct. 6.
