East Bank Neighborhood Association
Perched on the east bank of Milwaukee River, steps from Lake Michigan and in the heart of it all
Welcome To The Neighborhood
We're a neighborhood steeped in history, nestled on the east bank of the Milwaukee river in the lower East Side. We are and always will be a melting pot of people from every ethnic and economic background. We live between lively and funky entertainment districts (East Side's North Ave and the Brady Street areas) and our neighborhood includes the international row of Farwell Avenue restaurants. We are just a few blocks from Lake Michigan, steps away from the river trails along the Milwaukee River and in the heart of it all. We are one of the most urban, walkable neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
The East Bank Neighborhood Association invites you to get involved in the neighborhood. We're a laid back bunch and we like to have fun. We take action when needed to ensure our quality of life, and we watch out for our neighbors. Join us!
Find out about upcoming neighborhood social events & clean-ups and how you can join in. We'll also hear from two new businesses coming to E. North Avenue: Irish Genie & Glass Nickel Pizza. The businesses are asking for neighborhood support of their liquor license applications.
NEWS
Join Us For Two Earth Day Clean Ups:
Saturday April 20th 9 a.m. - Noon
Milwaukee River- East Bank Trail/Caesar's Park/E. North Ave
Starting location: In front of UWM Cambridge Commons on E. North Ave & Cambridge Ave
Gloves & bags provided. T-shirts while they last.
Organized by Milwaukee Riverkeepers, with East Bank Neighborhood & UWM Cambridge Commons residents joining in
Sunday April 21st 3:30 p.m.
E. North Avenue Neighborhood Clean-Up sponsored by Hotel Foster
Starting location: Hotel Foster 2230 E. North Ave
Gloves & bags provided. Free beer afterwards.
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SAVE THE DATE:
JULY 28TH
NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK PARTY
Details coming
TWO DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Development proposal #1: Boylston vacant lot
Michael Klebar lives in the EBNA area and is partnering with Yianni Konstantinou of Nikon Group to propose an apartment building for the vacant lot next to the condos on Boylston (Caesar's Park is on Boylston.)
Current zoning for this parcel allows for a 60 feet high building with 22 2- bedroom units. The developers want to request a detailed planned development (via City Plan Commission) to allow them to build 48 feet high and 40 one-bedroom units. Also plans for 41 parking stalls on-site. The one bedroom apartments would rent for $1250-1650 each and offer condo-level touches. Parking would be offered on the 1st floor and entry would be off of Cambridge Ave. No curb cuts on Boylston. Parking would not be included as part of the rental package but the 41 spots could be leased by either the tenants or residents in the neighborhood.
The developer stated at the general meeting on Nov. 29th that currently they are allowed to build a 22-unit apartment building and are only required to provide 15 parking spots. They are seeking permission to increase the number of units so that they can appeal to young professionals with smaller units and include more parking in the building.
PICTURED BELOW: Options #1 & #2 for the proposed design of the Boylston project
UPDATE: EBNA Position On Boylston Proposal
The EBNA Board, based on the input received from EBNA members via the November meeting, email, phone calls, facebook group and website, has voted to oppose this project as proposed. The East Bank Neighborhood Association opposes the request to rezone the property for this proposal based on the following reasons:
- The adverse impact the increased density would have on the immediate neighborhood that is already far more dense than anywhere else in the city.
- Traffic & parking impacts in a severely impacted neighborhood.
- Lack of trust/comfort in the claims of the developer that the current zoning for multi-family does not financially work for the site.
- Threats to the neighborhood to build a 'student building' with a lesser-quality design' if support was not given to double the number of units allowed on the site (and EBNA does not oppose student housing )
- And a desire by the EBNA to preserve the rare mix of a non-designated historic & diverse neighborhood which features multi-family buildings among historic single-family/duplex homes, all built during the times when on-site parking was not included in developments. E. Boylston is one small street of a few homes, a rare pocket in our neighborhood that features bungalows and smaller new construction. We are not anti-development and our historical support of development in this neighborhood is proof of this.
Development proposal #2: Vacant Lot on 1800 block of Cambridge Ave
Development firm J. Jeffers & Co is partnering with the Grand Ave Club to propose a supportive housing development to be built on a vacant lot at 1851 N. Cambridge Avenue. The proposal is for a 29-unit apartment building (see the rendering below) and ten of the units would be for clients of the Grand Ave Club, who are highly functioning mentally disabled individuals. These clients have jobs and use public transportation to get around. The Grand Ave Club would provide supportive services on-site for the tenants.
The project would depend on whether it receives tax credits from WHEDA (WI Housing Economic Development Authority) and it is a competitive process. If the project is granted the tax credits then the other ten apartments would have to be offered at a rate that is 60% of the market rate. Horizon Property Management would screen tenants and manage the property. No service vehicle access will be needed. The number of parking stalls that would be built into the project total 8.
Pictured below: A rendering of the proposed project on Cambridge Ave
UPDATE: EBNA Supports The Cambridge Ave Proposal
Based on input from EBNA residents via our November meeting, facebook, website, email and phone calls, the EBNA Board has voted to support the Cambridge Ave proposal.
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