Milwaukee Cooling to Street Repaving Project In Order to Preserve Jobs

Alderman Nik Kovac moved to hold the decision of repaving, replacing curb and adding additional green space and sidewalk on E. Nash Street to N. Fratney Street after hearing Milwaukee jobs would be affected along with the committee voting to agree his decision.

“There’s a lot of good things going on in this city,” said Chair Alderman Mark Borkowski. “Barely any get publicity.”

George Koleas, the Human Resources Director at Tulip Molded Plastics, said the 120 jobs the company provides Milwaukee would be affected by this project due to having to adjust the building to the new larger roadway. By having to move the propane tank and renovate the back of the building, Tulip Molded Plastics would have to expand its budget, taking away benefits and pay for their workers.

Koleas also explained how the City of Milwaukee gave the businesses no notice of the project and had “no idea” of what the project contained until receiving a notice on shifting his property around for the project.

“This project is overly grandiose and in reality just doesn’t make any sense,” said Koleas.

The project would not only cost taxpayers money, but affects businesses by adding additional budgeting for moving fencing and objects like propane tanks, renovating the backs or sides of their buildings and adjusting to the updated road in which they would have to bear the costs for. The road currently is “alley-like” and does not contain any green space.

It would directly affect the size of the concrete paving widening it from 24 feet to 36 feet. The project would construct a curb and gutter, replace all of the walkways on the north side of the street while installing new walk on the south side and remove railroad crossings. Another large impact on business space is the addition of a 6-foot width of tree border area of sodding. This would then take away space from the businesses’ property.

Koleas also has a branch of the company in Niagra, New York. He said to aldermen, “New York has gone out of their way to keep those jobs and work with the company.”

Jeff Bush, a property owner at Coakley Relocation, also expressed concern about the project since Nash Street is nearby and that’s the main road of traffic.

“There is no need for a second Nash Street,” said Koleas. “We already have one Nash Street and that’s what it’s for.”

Alderman Kovac apologized for the lack of communication and ensured he would get involved to ensure the process went as smoothly as possible. He decided to hold the decision until a meeting was held with the property owners about adapting to the project.

Arthur Lowe, a property owner at Teutonia Avenue, said he disapproved of a similar project too with the condition that the road would still be repaved. This project located at W. Elm Street to N. Teuotonia Avenue would include a new sidewalk and a sodding 9-foot width of the tree border area, replacing the curb and gutter, grading and driveway approaches where necessary.

“There’s no doubt that the road needs to be repaired; it’s very old,” said Lowe. “But the number of people that would actual use the sidewalk is useless since maybe three to five people walk by this area a day.”

The area is mainly industrial and has several businesses with their back facing the current road. The green space would allow workers to relax on lunch break outside and to have more traffic on the road. Alderman Robert Donovan moved approval of the W. Elm Street to N. Teutonia Avenue project with the exception of the additional sidewalk based on a neighborhood survey.

Two other projects similar to the Teutonia and Nash roads went without any public testimonies. In the 8^th Alderman District, it was approved to repave, replace curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway approaches where necessary, sodding and grading at W. Mitchell Street to S. 38^th Street to Miller Park Way. Alderman Donovan approved the project. As well as 53^rd Street to W. Loyd Street installing traffic speed bumps.

The Public Works Committee also discussed various projects like the streetcar, a new branch of the Milwaukee Public Library at 906-910 West Mitchell Street in the 12^th Aldermanic District and a funding of a Green Solutions Grant.