What if Milwaukee’s downtown transportation system reflected the city we are today?
CBS 58 - 11/22/24
Study: Removing I-794 would bring $475 million in property taxes, create 3,000 new housing units
-By A.J. Bayatpour
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A longtime urban planner for Milwaukee and its surrounding communities estimates tearing down the stretch of I-794 running through downtown would generate $475 million in property tax revenue over a 30-year period.
Larry Witzling, who teaches urban planning at UW-Milwaukee and has been involved in the design of numerous past Milwaukee County projects, including the 2003 Park East freeway removal, conducted a study for the group, 'Rethink 794,' which supports removing the Lake Interchange section of the freeway, which runs between 6th Street and the lakefront.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - 11/21/24
Replacing I-794 with surface streets would bring 3,000 housing units over 30 years, study says
-By Tom Daykin
Replacing part of downtown Milwaukee's Interstate 794 with surface streets could generate more than 3,000 housing units, and $535 million in property and sales taxes, over 30 years, a new study says.
The study is sponsored by Rethink 794, a group of environmentalists, urbanists and others who favor the freeway's replacement. It was done in partnership with veteran urban planner Larry Witzling.
OnMilwaukee - 11/21/24
New study says I-794 removal could create almost $500 million in property taxes
-By Bobby Tanzilo
Community advocacy group Rethink 794 has released new estimates that suggest that removing the freeway spur through Downtown Milwaukee could, over the course of three decades, generate $475 million in property taxes, $3 billion in Downtown disposable income, $60 million in city sales tax and the creation of more than 3,000 new housing units.
The estimates come from a report created in collaboration with urban planner Larry Witzling, that explores “development capacity” over the next 30 years to show how new construction could replace the freeway spur and help generate development nearby, too.
Urban Milwaukee - 11/21/24
Interstate 794 through Downtown. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Converting 794 To Boulevard Could Yield 3,000 Housing Units, $1.1 Billion in Development
New analysis from urban planner Larry Witzling explores impact of overhauling downtown freeway.
-By Jeramey Jannene
A new report attempts to quantify the potential economic impact of replacing the east-west portion of Interstate 794 with a boulevard.
The proposal, advocated for by a coalition known as Rethink 794, calls for replacing the elevated freeway with a boulevard between N. 6th Street and the Lake Interchange. It would leave the Hoan Bridge, while opening more land for development or public use and accommodating traffic by expanding Clybourn Avenue.
Fox 6 Milwaukee - 7/30/24
Using any mobile device, the initiative is able to showcase a vision that replaces I-794 with a boulevard alternative and development.
Experience I-794 as boulevard; Milwaukee group releases new renderings
-By Stephanie Quirk and FOX6 News Digital Team
An architectural engineer released on Tuesday, July 30, new renderings that allow users to view and experience I-794 as a boulevard. It does so with augmented reality.
A news release says using any mobile device, the initiative is able to showcase a vision that replaces I-794 with a boulevard alternative and development.
The public is invited to explore the augmented reality renderings this summer and fall. Either visit the website or head down to I-794 and do a side-by-side comparison with this technology on your cellphone.
ABC - WISN 12 Milwaukee - 7/30/24
Boulevard to replace I-794 in Milwaukee?
-By Kristin Pierce
Wisconsin Department of Transportation working to narrow down proposals during interchange study
“I support a reconfiguration of Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee,” said Johnson during his inauguration speech Tuesday morning at City Hall. “It offers a chance to maximize growth and maximize investment while keeping transportation connectivity here in the city.”
Changes could be coming to Interstate 794 in Milwaukee. One of the plans being proposed would replace the highway with a three-lane, two-way boulevard.
Right now, I-794 separates the Historic Third Ward from Downtown Milwaukee.
The group Rethink 794 wants it changed.
Urban Milwaukee - 7/30/24
See What Boulevard Replacing I-794 in Downtown Would Look Like
-By Jeramey Jannene
Rethink I-794 launches augmented reality experience to picture impact of conversion.The Rethink 794 campaign, which is calling for a freeway-to-boulevard version of Interstate 794 through downtown Milwaukee, released a new way to explore its vision Tuesday morning.
The augmented reality experience allows individuals to hold up a smartphone near the elevated freeway and experience what it could look like if replaced by a boulevard.
“If Milwaukee knows what we could have had, it will be harder for [the Wisconsin Department of Transportation] to deny it,” said architectural designer John Everitt to Urban Milwaukee. “While some of the renderings are fanciful, their statement is not. This can be a very real future for Milwaukee. We are trying to get the public excited about the possibilities and to inspire other concerned residents to do their own dreaming.”
Urban Milwaukee - 4/16/2024
Mayor Backs Boulevard To Replace I-794 Downtown
-By Jeramey Jannene
Mayor Cavalier Johnson has made his position clear on the proposal to rebuild Interstate 794 through Downtown. He would like to see some portion of the east-west elevated freeway converted to a boulevard, creating a more vibrant city.
“I support a reconfiguration of Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee,” said Johnson during his inauguration speech Tuesday morning at City Hall. “It offers a chance to maximize growth and maximize investment while keeping transportation connectivity here in the city.”
Interstate 794 through Downtown. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
OnMilwaukee - 4/9/2024
Swing bridge plan designer shares vision for 794 corridor
-By Bobby Tanzilo
Milwaukee says it wants - and it definitely needs - big ideas. And few are proposing bigger and more exciting ideas than architectural designer John Everitt.
Last year, Everitt – who graduated from UWM's School of Architecture and Urban Planning in 2022 and has worked for Bray Architects – shared a plan for the old railroad swing bridge that sits idle in the Milwaukee River.
Now, with the support of Greg Walthers, he has produced an impressive catalog of ideas for how the land that sits beneath and adjacent to the current I-794 freeway spur Downtown could be reimagined.
John Everitt
John Everitt
John Everitt has produced an impressive catalog of ideas for how the land that sits beneath and adjacent to the current I-794 freeway spur Downtown could be reimagined.
Milwaukee Business Journal - 3/15/2024
Opinion: I-794 removal chance to reshape downtown Milwaukee
-By Larry Witzling
In the next 30 years, boomers will be gone, millennials will be grandparents, and an unborn generation will inherit our downtown.
Will anyone remember Interstate 794 or the Park East freeway in 30 years? Will a new boulevard become a spectacular promenade from the river to Lake Michigan? Will the streets feel safer with less stress for pedestrians? Will anyone miss their old driving routes?
The next three decades gives us opportunities to replace ten blocks of I-794 and reshape downtown in all four directions. Such transformations, however, are not “no-brainers”.
As a planner in Milwaukee for 50 years, I believe replacing I-794 can give us a nationally acclaimed downtown. We can mitigate negative impacts for commuters, make a better journey-to-work, develop high value places to live, and grow business opportunities.
Urban Milwaukee - 1/31/2024
MURPHY’S LAW
No, I-794 Won’t Be Eliminated
-By Bruce Murphy
Many seem to think state proposal will tear down Hoan Bridge. Nope. Will that change the views of detractors?
The headlines gave many people in Milwaukee the idea that I-794 and its iconic Hoan Bridge were going to be torn down.
“Two plans to remove I-794,” declared the Journal Sentinel; “proposal to tear down I-794,” the Business Journal warned; “Prospects for Removing I-794,” Milwaukee Magazine announced; “weigh in on I-794 replacement or removal” offered the Biz Times; and whoops, even Urban Milwaukee had a story about “Potential I-794 Removal.”
Urban Milwaukee - 1/24/2024
WisDOT Getting Closer to I-794 Project Recommendations
-By Graham Kilmer
Seeking 'most feasible' ways to tear down 1 mile (or less) stretch of downtown freeway.
If the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) took down a one-mile stretch of Interstate 794 in downtown Milwaukee, what would it look like? Based on recent comments made by project managers from WisDOT and the engineering consultant HNTB, they have some idea.
WisDOT has two preliminary design concepts for potential removal of the portion of I-794 running through Downtown. A project consultant noted that one of these concepts appears the “most feasible” of the two during a presentation to the Milwaukee County Board’s Committee on Transportation and Transit Tuesday.