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What's Happening Here?A look at four projects propelling change in Milwaukee’s south side Frank Lloyd Wright Homes on Burnham Street Hands-down the greatest American architect to date is Wisconsin-born Frank Lloyd Wright, and the homes he designed on the 2700 block of Burnham Street create a unique sight and an architectural attraction in the neighborhood. They are the only concentration of so many Wright homes (six) in the world, and they were an early experiment in the 1920s to build standardized housing more cheaply. The Frank Lloyd Wright Wisconsin Program plans to preserve and reopen the homes for educational purposes. Local residents like Alex Reyes (pictured here) walk past it daily.  El Rey's Anchor on Cesar Chavez' Commerce Other local Hispanic food markets have opened up on the south side in recent years, but there is still only one rey. The Milwaukee Business Journal reports El Rey, owned by the Villarreal family, pulls in about $60 million each year, making it Milwaukee's third-largest minority-owned business (Gus Ramirez' Husco International Inc. ranks first). El Rey erected a massive new supermarket on Cesar Chavez Drive across the street from its old one, and both breath life to dozens of nearby shops and restaurants by attracting thousands of weekly shoppers. The Cesar Chavez Business Improvement District plans to beautify the Cesar Chavez Avenue shopping strip with trees, benches and streetscape improvements.  Turning Ancient Industry into Urban Adventure Gentrification usually happens when someone tries to push out lower income residents and replace them with higher income residents. Some fear that others are trying to do just that on the south side. At least in the 5th Ward and a small stretch on Florida Street, it's half true. Old (mostly vacant) industrial warehouses are being transformed into lofts and office condominiums to attract a new, affluent crowd. The Iron Horse Hotel, described as "luxury boutique hotel suites," stands on 2nd Street four blocks north of National Avenue as a gateway to this more affluent trend, but gentrification doesn't seem to be happening further south and west, where existing residents would feel the impact of gentrification development.  Arlington Heights Turns Blight into Affordable Housing Most times, you can gauge the health of a neighborhood by the percentage of homeowners versus renters. That's why for years, the Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, a community development corporation, promotes home ownership on the south side. In 2002, they produced nearly a dozen low- and medium-income homes in a previously blighted area. Called the Arlington Heights Home Project, it's an example of how local groups can improve neighborhoods without having to price anyone out. |
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