Riverworks Commerce Center

In real estate development, RDC will construct a new home and training center on the corner of Holton and Keefe, the former site of the Outpost Natural Foods store. This currently empty lot is perfectly situated to serve as a gateway between the residential areas to the south and the vibrant, redeveloped commercial and industrial areas to the north of Keefe Ave. Similarly, it can serve to draw investment north from downtown along the Holton Avenue corridor. The Riverworks Commerce Center, with a bank proposed for the ground floor, hopes to break ground mid year in 2009 and serve as a catalytic project for these two corridors in the neighborhood.

The Riverworks Commerce Center is intended to demonstrate the organization’s on-going commitment to the neighborhood, and serve as a magnet to attract other investment in the area. RDC will bring its proven system of attracting and retaining commercial and retail development to the under-utilized areas along Keefe Avenue. (Picture of building)

Beerline Recreational Trail Project

Riverworks Development Corporation is co-managing the Beerline Recreational Trail Project with the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW). The trail is located along a section of abandoned railway between Keefe Avenue and Burleigh Street in the Harambee and Riverwest neighborhoods. For years this piece of land has largely been ignored and left to deteriorate, and the goal of the project is to transform this underutilized land into public space that can be enjoyed and shared by residents, property owners, businesses, and the general public as a whole.

The project is being funded by DPW, RBID #36, and the Department of City Development, and altogether $250,000 has been secured for investment in 2008-2009. Marek Landscaping was hired by RBID #36 to produce the landscape design and construction plans, and Phase One of this plan will be implemented in November 2008. The project will resume with Phase Two in the spring of 2009. For more information on the Beerline Recreational Trail Project or how to get involved, please contact Chris Grandt at chrisg@riverworksmke.org. To see the plan drafts that Marek Landscaping created, click on the links below:

Keefe to Buffum Buffum to Townsend Holton to Booth Concordia to Pierce Pierce to Auer Fratney to Bremen

Holton Street/Keefe Avenue Redevelopment Plan

Riverworks Development Corporation is expanding outside of the traditional Riverworks Center BID boundaries, as we realize that the surrounding areas are in many instances in need of serious attention. At the heart of this expansion is the focus along Holton Street south of Keefe Avenue and along Keefe Avenue west of Holton. These are high traffic arterial corridors that serve as gateways into the Riverworks Center, so their redevelopment will go a long way in promoting the area.

To initiate positive change along these streets, RBID #36 and the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development are working together to manage the Holton Street/Keefe Avenue Streetscape Project. This project will begin in 2009 along Holton Street and finish in 2010 along Keefe Ave. The physical improvements to sections of these streets will provide a more welcoming entrance into the Riverworks Center. In addition, RDC is working with Community Design Solutions (CDS) at UW-Milwaukee to develop concepts for redevelopment along these corridors. Together with the work that is being done along the Beerline Recreational Trail, this focused effort to revitalize Holton Street and Keefe Avenue has the potential to dramatically impact the area.

For more information about these efforts, please contact Chris Grandt at chrisg@riverworksmke.org. To see plan drafts for streetscape options at the Holton St./Townsend St. intersection, click on the links below: