Franklin Today

Aldermen look for 27th Street spending options while Mayor points out the unknown

Last week, the Common Council authorized staff to explore funding options for the city as they continue to make developing 27th Street a high priority. This continuation of spending comes at no surprise to some, given that the city has pumped in millions of dollars from a variety of public funding sources to this commercial corridor. When the spending began back in the 1990s, Franklin officials believed strongly that our neighbor to the east, Oak Creek, would be an equal partner sharing an equal high interest in seeing the corridor develop to its maximum extent. However, as years turned to decades Oak Creek's interest went from a nice high to perhaps an all-time low. This was evident as Mayor Taylor mentioned prior to the Council's vote that with a new mayoral administration in Oak Creek coming soon, their commitment to the corridor was up in the air.

All roads serving Franklin don't need a wide berth

Earlier this week, Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm announced further details about her initiative to prevent a 4-lane College Avenue from being constructed by Milwaukee County. Since her election in 2008, Alderwoman Wilhelm has taken a more reasonable approach - keep the road at 2 lanes and construct a sidewalk. This sidewalk would serve the variety of residents living along College Avenue, especially those elderly and handicapped who live at the Woods Apartments, a lower-income senior apartment complex near 33rd & College. 

With Wilhelm providing the letter to the public, she has opened herself to some scrutiny, especially by those who are in opposition to Mayor Tom Taylor. The Mayor's signature was on the document given to the county in opposition to a 4-lane College Avenue. Fred Keller, who blogs over at Battle Joined, essentially scoffs at the document and inserts sarcastic humor about some of the points made in the letter. Here's perhaps a counterpoint to some of those points of amusement by Keller & Co.

Another good commission meeting tonight!

This month has had its share of some really good agendas for city commissions. Tonight's Economic Development Commission meeting is no exception, thanks to Commissioner John Michlig. Michlig has several items on the agenda, from discussion on promoting local businesses to the impact of the Drexel Interchange to the City of Franklin's economic development. Bravo! I'll be doing my best to be in attendance. Below is the full agenda:

EDC Agenda 8-23-10

Hitters Baseball & the Drexel Interchange

What do both have in common? Both have an impact on the future development of the 27th Street Corridor. One is supposed to encourage more economic growth on the level of corporate campuses to the tune of 40,000 jobs. The other is being discouraged from their locating within the corridor area, due to the idea of there being the potential of a corporate campus on the site where their proposal is located.

Northwestern Mutual's input on Drexel interchange

Thanks to bloggers Fred Keller and John Michlig, we have been given easy access to the letters Northwestern Mutual sent out in 2007 and recently in support of the Drexel interchange with I-94. Below are the letters in their entirety:

Residents stunned by council decision

Perhaps some aldermen weren't out and about asking for input from those who elected them about the Drexel interchange. Unfortunately, it looks like those who voted AYE to send your dollars indirectly across city limits were in fact recently re-elected to their posts. Apparently all the campaign talk was simply rhetoric to get your votes, at least that seems to be what happened in the 1st District.

If our self-proclaimed "fiscal conservatives" on the council were the ones who gave the OK for your money to help an Oak Creek project, then what do we call those aldermen who stood up for Franklin residents by rejecting the idea of your money helping our neighboring suburb? "True conservatives"?

We as a community need to put much more focus and attention towards the concept of Franklin First. The more we as residents are out of the picture in the minds of aldermen willing to pat the backs of Oak Creek, the more we'll pay for that down the road in lost opportunities for office, retail, restaurant, and hotel development to corridors like Howell Avenue.

LIVE @ Special Common Council (Drexel Interchange)

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Aldermen Olson and Solomon request emergency council meeting

SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING: Tomorrow, 12:30pm, Franklin City Hall

So much for campaign slogans and talk - Aldermen Steve Olson and Tim Solomon are asking their fellow aldermen to forgo relaxing tomorrow to take up the issue of the Drexel interchange. Why? The State of Wisconsin DOT has made tomorrow the deadline for local entities to come up with their portion of the cost to fund the interchange, and Franklin up to this point has not taken a position on whether or not it will contribute anything towards the Oak Creek interchange, directly or indirectly.

Sprawled Out: Just like Fight Club: The first rule of 27th Street/Drexel Interchange finances is you don't talk about 27th Street/Drexel Interchange finances

via fullyarticulated.typepad.com

This is a reblog of John Michlig's very detailed piece on last night's Economic Development Commission meeting as well as additional information on the interchange and the impact on Franklin. The picture above shows why Northwestern Mutual needs the Drexel interchange built, as well as the many additional benefits for Oak Creek and Oak Creek-Franklin Public Schools. Note: A good portion of land located directly east of Northwestern's campus is owned by Northwestern.

Milwaukee alderman upset with Northwestern Mutual

It looks like the Drexel interchange is becoming a metropolitan issue. Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman, who represents an area including Downtown Milwaukee, criticized Northwestern Mutual for their commitment of $1.6 million towards the interchange. In an interview with WISN 12, Bauman stated, "So if they have an extra $1.6 million laying around that they can use to fund an interchange on I-94 at Drexel Avenue, we have projects in downtown Milwaukee which could use a similar investment of $1.6 million and we'd be very, very happy to have it."