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Author Topic: Agency approves plan for Harley museum  (Read 2545 times)

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mfgreen

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Agency approves plan for Harley museum
« on: October 19, 2004, 11:48:37 AM »

Agency approves plan for Harley museum
Site gets OK despite concerns about public access to riverfront
By TOM DAYKIN
tdaykin@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 14, 2004

A city agency Thursday approved a redevelopment plan for the Harley-Davidson Inc. museum site in Milwaukee's Menomonee Valley, despite concerns about public access to the riverfront location.

The Redevelopment Authority approved the plan on a 4-1 vote.

The plan, which also requires Common Council approval, sets general guidelines for Harley's development of a $95 million museum and office complex at W. Canal and S. 6th streets.

The authority also approved the sale of the 20-acre site for $150,000 per acre.

The land now houses a Department of Public Works facility, which will move to a portion of Tower Automotive Inc.'s underused factory complex on Milwaukee's north side. The city is buying 25 acres from Tower near W. Nash and N. 35th streets, and will build a new public works facility by February 2006.

Harley hopes to have its museum open by the end of 2007.

The museum, its restaurant and an office building are expected to create 420 to 570 jobs, and draw 350,000 visitors a year.

The development's financing includes $7 million in city funds, which will be repaid through property tax revenue generated by the museum complex.

The authority in September had delayed approval after some authority commissioners expressed concerns about Harley's plans to restrict public access to the site's walkway along the Menomonee River during the evening.

James Scherer, of the Department of City Development, told commissioners Thursday that Harley will generally allow public access to the museum site and its privately financed riverwalk.

He said it will be similar to public acess to privately owned plazas adjacent to downtown office buildings.

However, commissioners Lincoln Fowler and Justin Mortara both said they preferred a specific provision within the redevelopment plan that provides times of the day Harley will allow public access to the riverwalk.

New Development Commissioner Richard "Rocky" Marcoux said the agreement makes it clear the city expects Harley to generally allow public access to the riverwalk, except for when it's closed for parties and other events.

Fowler joined fellow commissioners Robert Rondini, Willie Wade and Ken Johnson in approving the plan.

Mortara voted against it.


From the Oct. 15, 2004, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
« Last Edit: October 19, 2004, 12:25:39 PM by mfgreen »
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