15th Annual Avenues West Association Awards Luncheon

The Fifteenth Annual Avenues West Association Awards Luncheon was a wondorous event. A silent auction, guest speaker and award ceremony made up the 90 minute event held at the Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union.

Gift baskets from the Ambassador Hotel, WISN and other local entities filled over four (4) tables. Featured speaker Frank Busalacchi, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation focused on transportation highlights like the recent announcement of the $800 million project for train service to and from Milwaukee and Madison.

A community investment award was given to ASB Capital Management for the 2040 Lofts. An impact award was given to Marquette University accepted by Father Robert A. Wild. A special recongition award was given to Joseph J. Zilber (posthumous honor).

Construction Season for SOHI

It is construction season and the SOHI District and surrounding neighborhoods are seeing the effects. Here is a list of sites that DPW will be tackling this summer in a project to replace sewer mains that are over 100 years old. The majority of these sites will take two to three weeks unless noted.

Site #1: 25th & Michigan

Site #2: 27th Street (State to St. Paul) 4 weeks in total

Site #3: Clybourn (26th to 30th)

Site #4: Michigan (24th to 27th)

Site #5: St. Paul (27th to 28th)

Completion date for all projects is August 31st, for a total of 90 days. If you have any questions on this or other work going on in the area, please feel free to give me a call at (414) 933-9007.

Why Should You Attend the Crime Analysis Meeting?

The SOHI District has experienced one of the best relationships with the Milwaukee Police Department. We have great beat officers, community liaison officers and a great district.

So why should we as a community attend the monthly crime analysis meetings? There are many reasons to do so, here are a few:

Reason #1: Strengthen Relationships

It is a great feeling to know your local police by name. You get a sense of community and respect from knowing the men and women in blue. They know you support them and they support you.

Reason #2: Information

To know what is happening in your distict and how the police are responding is so important. At the crime analysis meetings you get the opportunity to get and share information about trends and initiatives.

Reason #3: Crime Prevention

Whether you are a business or property preventing crime is important to us all. Attending the crime analysis meetings is an opportunity to gain insight and get up-to-date on the latest crime prevention techniques.

Listen to Ricky's owner Don on how is has benefitted from attending these meetings, http://www.youtube.com/user/SOHIMKE#p/u/7/1FDPkL6BMfE

Reason #4: Socialize

Do you know your neighbors? Prior and after the meeting is a great time to catch up with your neighbors and find out what is happening in your community.

3 Important Steps for Gas Stations In Milwaukee

There are many ways for gas stations to do a better job in the City of Milwaukee. Although many will not make change unless they are in front of a license committee, I hope small yet significant changes are not overlooked by concerned station owners and residents.

Step #1: Increase Trash Cans

Gas stations are selling an increasing volume of soda, beer, liquor and chips however do not increase the number of trash cans on their lot. The number of trash cans should be directly related to sells volume and/or space dedicated to the sell of food and snacks.

Step #2: Install Professional Signage

Many gas stations are open passed 12:00 a.m. and when taverns and clubs close, music can be heard throughout many resident neighborhoods. There is also loitering, panhandling and littering. Gas stations should have signs posted for these major offenses if they are a problem.

Step #3: Maintain Landscaping

All throughout Milwaukee are once beautiful gas stations that installed a beautiful landscaped lawn that has not been appropriately maintained. Broken fencing on masonry and faux iron metal fences, uncut grass, weeds in cracks are just some of the problems. I have yet to see a gas station in the city maintain their once beautiful landscaping beyond the ribbon cutting ceremony.

'SOHI District May 2010'

'SOHI District May 2010'

Art in Empty Spaces

On last month I had the opportunity to visit a really cool and yes mobile art gallery housed in several empty storefront spaces in the Pabst Brewery Development Site near 10th & Highland.

Funky art exhibits with music, energetic young artist and bewilder older folks like myself created an eastside vibe.


I met with one of the creators of this event and founders of the Parachute Project, Makeal Fammini to discuss this event and the possibility of the SOHI District getting a Parachute project on 27th Street. Check out the video on YouTube.

Makeal was very much excited about the possibility of a partnership. It is the goal of her organization to have 3 more mobile exhibits this summer. Hopefully, the SOHI District is next.

The coolest part about the Parachute project was the diversity of art on exhibit. From poetry reading to music and video. All the artist were really accessible and friendly and there were plenty of people.

I look forward to working with Makeal to bring this to the SOHI District, maybe even a partnership with one of our local neighorhood groups like HCNI for the home tour?

Top Five Ways to Improve Your Business

So you have a business in the City of Milwaukee that is based on customers coming in the door, sometimes called pedistrian traffic. Here are some ways you can improve that traffic specifically if you are in a commercial corridor.

1. Keep it Clean

Try to keep your establishment clean. If you have to, add additional trash cans where possible. Have regular cleaning schedule. Keep a subtle fragrance in the air. Don't forget the bathroom.

2. Maintain the facade and entrance

Patrons and passerbyers will always see the facade and entrance first. This is your first impression. Clean windows, fresh paint and professional signage is important. Masonry, lighting and awnings are just important.

3. Get Involved

Attend meetings when possible and participate in events.

4. Know Your Community

If you do not know who the local stakeholders are, you are missing out on very key supporters. Community organizations, alderpersons and other businesses all play a role in community.

5. Keep it Green

Keep the grass cut, remove weeds from the cracks, plant flowers (when possible) and maintain the landscape. Many businesses stop maintaining the lot after the grand opening.