Sunday, April 21, 2013
Waukesha GuitarTown Phase two will be publicly unveiled on June 7.
Waukesha could have three to five murals installed in the downtown area in conjunction with the second phase of the Waukesha GuitarTown project. The murals received the support of the Public Art Committee last week and head to a public hearing before the Waukesha Plan Commission at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 201 Delafield St. A news release from the Waukesha GuitarTown project shares more about the murals: The murals are the first of a series of murals that Waukesha GuitarTown has planned for 2013. The murals will focus on Les Paul and the history of Waukesha. The murals are being done by the national acclaimed WallDogs, who have done many projects around the United States Samples of their work can be viewed as close as the murals …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Waukesha Plan Commission approves two four-unit apartment buildings on Summit Avenue after a three-year fight.
After three years of fighting to build two four-unit apartment buildings for people with disabilities on Summit Avenue, Hebron House of Hospitality executive director Bernie Juno celebrated by giving her supporters a hug after the Plan Commission approved final plans for the two buildings Wednesday night. Several neighbors fought the apartments – without success – with concerns about the people who will live in the apartment buildings. “I am very happy, I am joyful and relieved,” Juno said. “It has been a very long process and we are very grateful.” The apartment project is for people with disabilities who have proved they can handle independent living. Hebron House has support services in place to work with the eight residents that will …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Neighbors fought hard to have a zoning change to keep apartment buildings from the area, but the Waukesha Common Council denied the change.
A request to rezone a vacant parcel of land in the River's Crossing subdivision was denied by the Waukesha Common Council Tuesday night, despite neighbors’ objections, the Waukesha Freeman reported Wednesday. Neighbors have fought the zoning – which would allow for a large-scale apartment building – for years, citing traffic concerns, safety and neighborhood quality. They received hope when the Waukesha Plan Commission recently recommended changing the zoning to only allow duplexes and single family residences. However, the bank that owned the property also was fighting the zoning to change so it could sell the property to developers interested in building apartments. Alderman Rick Hastings was the only person to vote against the denial, …
Monday, March 11, 2013
Developers of Prairieville Apartments seek final approval for a 22-unit apartment building that Mayor Jeff Scrima described as "flat" and "boring."
Downtown Waukesha could be gaining a 22-unit apartment building. Prairieville Apartments are planned for 831 N. Grand Ave., with two stories being added to the one-story parking garage currently at the location. Rental prices for the apartments were estimated in July at $850 for a one-bedroom unit and $1,100 for a two-bedroom unit. Mayor Jeff Scrima was opposed to the project when it gained preliminary plan approval in July, calling the architectural design “flat” and “boring.” The mayor said at the July Plan Commission meeting he would prefer to see the property utilized as a banquet hall or green space. “We need to be selective when we say ‘Yes’ to apartment projects in this city,” Scrima said in July. “We don’t have to say ‘Yes’ to …
43.01108
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831 N Grand Ave, Waukesha, WI
/articles/downtown-apartment-project-returns-to-plan-commission
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Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Property owners in downtown Waukesha have mixed views on the Waukesha Business Improvement District's operations and special taxes.
Property owners in downtown have mixed feelings about paying taxes to the Business Improvement District – and that contention could lead to the BID’s demise. Some property owners feel the BID, which was established in 1987, is a necessary part to the operations of downtown Waukesha. Others are concerned about recent changes to the operating plan that would focus more on events. But some just don’t want the expense of additional taxes. More than 60 percent of property owners downtown are asking for the BID to be dissolved after contentious relationships downtown ended with the BID executive director resigning in July, citing a hostile working environment for her departure. The petition is under review and if property owners do not change …
The March 19 hearing will allow the public to speak up on a zoning change that would pave the way for a 209-unit apartment complex.
Friday, March 1, 2013
A public hearing for rezoning for Broadway Commons will be held March 19.
While the Waukesha Plan Commission is recommending one area of the city be rezoned to keep a large-scale apartment building from locating in the River's Crossing neighborhood, it approved plans for an apartment complex on East Broadway during its meeting Wednesday night. The 209-unit apartment complex will be located on 19 acres of land at 1910 East Broadway. The construction will be completed during several phases. A public hearing for the rezoning of the East Broadway area from temporary to multi-family residential will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 19. Meanwhile, the public hearing will be held about rezoning a 8.7-acre property along Clearwater Lane in the River’s Crossing neighborhood to change the vacant parcel from multi-family …
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Homeowners call the apartment complex "baloney," and the Waukesha Plan Commission seemed to agree with their opposition. Mayor Jeff Scrima, on the other hand, sided with the bank and future developers.
Families in the River’s Crossing neighborhood can rest easy – for now. Dozens of people packed the City Hall chambers and asked the Plan Commission to rezone a vacant property along Clearwater. Their message was loud and clear – they didn’t want apartments in the neighborhood. The Plan Commission recommending the Common Council rezone the property from multi-family residential to two-family residential. Mayor Jeff Scrima and Commissioner R.G. Keller voted against the proposal. The rezoning requires a public hearing and Common Council approval. The property is currently owned by BMO Harris Bank. A request from Bielinski Homes for a 132-unit apartment project was placed on hold in 2010 after city staff had questions about the project, …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Mayor Jeff Scrima tells Plan Commission an interested party asked him to delay the vote hours before hearing at City Hall.
An eleventh-hour interest in a property along Clearwater Lane has put a delay in a rezoning request – and has frustrated residents in the River's Crossing subdivision. About two dozen residents in the area were prepared to ask the Waukesha Plan Commission, which was expected to vote on the rezoning Wednesday night, to change the zoning from multi-family residential to two-family residential. But when they got to the meeting, Mayor Jeff Scrima announced an interested party in the land contacted his office Wednesday to request the rezoning be placed on hold. “I have a big concern about deferring this to a later date,” said resident Debbie Hastings. “I don’t understand why when this is a matter that we are all here to talk about it. … Are we …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The Waukesha Plan Commission told developers in January 2012 they supported the project but requested several changes – changes that weren't included in the final plans.
A controversial affordable housing apartment project and a memory care facility is again on hold after Waukesha Plan Commission members were unhappy that the proposal came back without addressing issues of architecture, landscaping, lighting and the location of a playground. The Plan Commission unanimously tabled the request for final plan approval Wednesday night, cleared annoyed that the problems pointed out at the preliminary approval in January were not addressed. MSP Development Co. is looking to build a 70-unit apartment complex and a 36-unit memory care facility on vacant land along Meadow Lane and Willowood Drive. The plans have been met with opposition from the neighbors since its inception. No neighbors were present Wednesday, …
Tj
9:41 pm on Sunday, April 21, 2013
I have long dreamt of a town where every resident plays guitar, and makeshift troubadours roam Main Street, smiling, spreading songs of joy through the city centre, and making music matter again. Long songs sung by long haired singers stream from open windows and doors. Everyone's holding hands, harmonizing, helping others hit the high notes. Please, GuitarTown Committee Members, help make my … more ›