Design Competition

Historic Third Ward - East Town Passage

Downtown Milwaukee’s Nightlife Strategies project is proud to announce a design competition for the “Brighten the Passage” initiative. This initiative responds directly to the Project’s charge of improving the night-time economy in Downtown Milwaukee. The vitality of a “hospitality zone” extends to the streets and sidewalks through outdoor dining, street entertainment, public markets, and vendor shopping.  Balancing pedestrian flow and safety with ADA rules, panhandling management and lighting to connect pathways is a key l to a successful nighttime economy.

A goal of the recently approved City of Milwaukee Downtown Plan is to better “connect” areas within and adjacent to Downtown.  These connections may be physical or by using information and events to better connect people to places.  Improved connections between East Town and the Historic Third Ward was considered a Catalytic Project in the plan. Improvements under the elevated 794 expressway were one of the specifically enumerated recommendations. 

Project Goals

• Improve the pedestrian experience underneath Interstate 794
• Shorten the perceived distance between the two neighborhoods
• Serve as a gateway from one neighborhood to the other
• Add interest to the public realm that invites people to the space
• Create an environment that feels safe and comfortable both night and day
• Develop a concept which is practical and reasonable to implement
• Stand out as a national example to address this common urban problem

Background

Downtown Milwaukee’s Nightlife Strategy Initiative

Download resources to help create submission

Complete Design Competition Guidelines and Information

Graphic Diagram of Water St and Broadway Area

Engineering Plat Maps

Site Plan of Milwaukee Public Market

Survey (Partial) of Parcel East of Water Street

794 Engineering As-Built Drawing - without cross over

Photos of competition area - link to Flickr (five sets of photos)

Questions

To send questions, click here.  Answers to submitted questions will be posted here soon.