Capitol West Neighborhood Association

Spring 2009 Newsletter

Mar 13, 2009

SPRING 2009




CWNA?’S ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN UP SCHEDULED
SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2009
9 A.M. TO 12 NOON

On SATURDAY, MAY 2, plan to join with your neighbors and donate a few hours and some hard work to make your Milwaukee?’s west side safer and more attractive. Come to North Shore Bank, 7927 W. Capitol Drive at 9 a.m. to register and pick up supplies. You can join with other concerned citizens to work to clean up Capitol Drive, Appleton Ave., 76th Street (from Capitol Dr. north to Hampton/Capitol Dr. south to Center) and Lisbon Ave. (60th St. northwest to Capitol Dr.), or you can pick up your bags and gloves and return to work on the areas of your own neighborhood that you know need cleaning up.

At 12 noon all participants are invited to a free hot dog luncheon at Northwest Community Center in the Times Square Shopping Center where they will also receive coupons good for free admission to various Milwaukee County attractions including the Milwaukee County Zoo.

If you want to clean up your area but can?’t do it on Saturday, call Kathy Grothe at 774-1898 and discuss your plans with her. We can still provide supplies and coupons for participants. This is especially good for schools that want students to engage in a community service activity.

In these times of recession and unemployment, we often feel helpless ?– Don?’t ?– here?’s your chance to actually do something to improve the value of your property and your quality of life!







MORSE SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED AND TALENTED TO MOVE
TO JOHN MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL SITE

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors recently announced plans to move the Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented from its current location on 84th Street to the John Marshall High School site to and expand the Gifted and Talented School to become a middle/high school. CWNA Board members attended the public hearings held at both school sites on February 3rd(Morse) and February 5th(Marshall) to solicit comments about the proposed change. Staff and neighbors from the Marshall area were supportive of the proposed move.

The change will mean that programs now housed at Marshall will need to find a new location. The Montessori-International Baccalaureate Program is already scheduled to move to the old Juneau HS site. The MAAST aviation program has been set to combine with an already existing program, leaving the W.E.B. DuBois School of Communication Technology to be relocated.

As plans now stand, the move will take place in the fall of 2010. In the meantime, Morse will create a 9th grade program at its current location that will begin in fall 2009. That way, when the move takes place, Morse will already have 9th graders ready to move to 10th grade. The new Morse ?–Marshall School for the Gifted & Talented --will continue to be a city-wide school with the same entrance requirements already in effect at Morse Middle School. If you are interested in learning more, contact the Principal at Morse Middle School.



CWNA REINVIGORATES WEB SITE

You may not know it, but the Capitol West Neighborhood Association has a web site where up-to-date neighborhood information is posted. Here?’s how to get there. Go to www.neighborhoodlink.com and enter 53216. That will put you on the Capitol
West site. If you have neighborhood events in the Capitol West area that you would like to post, please contact Beth Rosenow at brosenow@sbcglobal.net

NEW FOCUS ON ENERGY PROJECT TARGETS SEVERAL CWNA NEIGHBORHOODS

Focus on Energy, WE Energies, the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and the City of Milwaukee are working together on an Energy Efficiency Pilot Project aimed at helping homeowners, renters and landlords to make their properties become more energy efficient. Recently, we learned that they were beginning a 2009 pilot project in new areas of Milwaukee, one on the north side and one on the south. The objective of this project named Together We Save: Milwaukee Neighborhood Efficiency Project is to make improvements that will result in deep energy savings in at least 100 dwellings in the target neighborhoods. The north side area will include the area south of Villard to Capitol Drive and west of 60th Street to 84th Street. This takes in the Arlington Gardens, Capitol Heights and Columbus Park areas of Capitol West.

The project will involve homeowners getting energy audits and then agreeing to have the necessary work done by qualified contractors. They will be eligible to have the work done at steep discounts depending upon their income. In addition to financial incentives, the homeowner will receive support throughout the process from a program representative, an Energy Advocate, who will walk the homeowner through the application and energy assessment process, selecting and scheduling of service contractors, setting home electronics and control equipment to optimal energy efficiency settings and educating homeowners on sustainable energy practices and behaviors. At the conclusion of the work, the home will again be tested to insure that the work meets standards and has increased the home?’s energy efficiency. Homeowners will receive a certificate attesting to the work that has been done. This should add value if the home is sold in the future.
Capitol West will be working with Focus on Energy to publicize the program and hold events where interested residents can learn more about it. The pilot program will work in cooperation with the current Capitol West Neighborhood Housing Revitalization Project that is being conducted by CWNA and the Community Design Solutions Program of the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning.

What will be the result of all this? For homeowners it will mean lower heating and cooling bills and more comfortable living at a substantially reduced cost. For the project developers it will mean data that will hopefully allow them to expand the opportunity to more neighborhoods. For the UWM students it will mean valuable real world experience and research data. For the sellers and installers of the energy efficiency supplies and equipment like insulation, air sealing and mechanical equipment, it means work, truly a win-win situation for everybody involved.
HOUSING REVITALIZATION PROJECT
TO FOCUS ON CAPE COD HOMES

The Community Design Solutions?’ team, led by Neel Chapagain, from the UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture, has been busy over the last few months reviewing the material that it have gathered from the twelve ranch house that it studied last year. The team appreciates the time homeowners contributed to the study and their willingness to open their homes to UW-M students. In early March, the team will be contacting all the homeowners and plans to hold a meeting with them to describe their findings. The next round of the study will focus on Cape Cod-style homes in the area. The team hopes to devote late spring and early summer to working with interested owners of Cape Cod-style homes. If you own a Cape Cod-style home and are interested in participating, call Sue Weistrop at 414-229-6165. The team has also been working with Cal McIntyre and CWNA to forge collaborations with Focus on Energy and other agencies (WE Energies, UW-Extension, and MATC) who are interested in preserving and improving the quality of the CWNA housing stock.




CWNA RECEIVES GRANT FROM WALMART CORPORATION

The Capitol West Neighborhood Association was the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Walmart Corporation to fund its continuing efforts at neighborhood revitalization. The award was received at the

in the Capitol Drive Public Library on January 14, 2009. Lisa Nelson, Walmart?’s Senior Manager for Public Affairs, presented the grant to Cal McIntyre, CWNA President. She also presented a similar award to the Nigerian Center of Milwaukee. Also present for the grant awards were Alderman Joe Davis, who was very instrumental in helping us to apply for the grant, and Paula Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library Director, who thanked CWNA for its support for sustaining the hours of the Capitol Library and asked for its support in fighting the budget cuts for libraries which loom on the horizon.

MARCH CWNA MEETING SCHEDULED

The March Capitol West Neighborhood Association Board meeting will take place Wednesday, March 11, at the 81st Street School, located at 2964 North 81st Street. It will run from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Interested residents are invited to attend.




OVER-CONCENTRATION OF DAY CARE CENTERS

By: Cal McIntyre, President, CWNA

Have you noticed the number of daycare centers that are springing up in the Capitol West area? It seems like every place you turn, there is a new one. To see if the number of daycare centers is actually increasing, I asked Alderman Jim Bohl?’s office if it could get me information about the number of day care centers within a one square mile area of two addresses I specified. I had gotten these addresses from the February agenda of the city?’s Bureau of Zoning Appeals. These two addresses were asking to establish or expand day care centers.

The City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau provided disturbing answers. The first address I gave was 6733 West Capitol Drive. I found that there are already 26 daycare facilities within one square mile of that address. The second address was 7434 West Capitol Drive. There are already 33 daycare centers within one square mile of that address. Most of the day care facilities are what is called Family Care Facilities. This means that the can serve up to eight children. Others are Group Day Care Centers whose sizes varied from 48 children to 121 children PER SHIFT because they operate more than one eight-hour shift per day. That is a lot of children, that is a lot of pick up and drop off, that is a lot of traffic.

The Northwest Area Plan for the City of Milwaukee specifically states that the city wants to ?“avoid concentrations of daycare facilities within commercial corridors.?” When I asked whether that gave legal authority of limit these concentrations, I was told, no, it didn?’t. It seemingly ranks somewhere between a fond hope and fatherly advice.

All of the aldermen who represent the Capitol West area are in agreement that we want to create and maintain commercial areas that represent a variety of types of businesses. As a neighborhood association, we want businesses that fit the neighborhoods and serve them. The over-concentration of day care centers that continues to develop in the Capitol West area serves neither goal. I call upon our residents, businesses and elected representatives to take heed of what is happening to our area and to support Capitol West in its fight against this over-concentration of daycare centers.





7th DISTRICT BLOCK WATCH COUNCIL
LIGHTS ON FOR SAFETY CAMPAIGN

The Block Watches located in Police District #7 are sponsoring this Lights on for Safety campaign with the goal of being proactive against crime by lighting up all the alleys in the 7th District. The leader of this campaign is Capt. Patrick Mitchell, Captain of Police Dist. #7 who has indicated that a well-lit alley is certainly a deterrent against crime especially garage burglaries. Lowe?’s Midtown Center and Meinecke Ace Hardware (located at the corner of Fond du Lac Avenue. and Capitol Drive.) have agreed to sell certain garage/backyard lights at special discounted prices to residents who present a coupon signed by their Block Watch Captain. If 80% of the residents on a block agree to purchase these discounted lights, and if they already have their garages wired for electricity and have homeowners insurance, the lights will be installed free of charge by volunteer electricians and apprentices from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union 494 or MATC electrical apprentices. Once the designated quota of neighbors on a block have agreed to purchase the lights, the electricians will visit their homes and give them expert advice as to which of the discounted lights to purchase. Then the resident purchases the lights that will be installed on Saturday, April 25 (pilot) or Saturday, May 16. Since almost all of the neighbors on the block will be having lights installed, it is strongly suggested that they all gather together at a potluck lunch ?– sort of a Spring Block Party.

CWNA endorses this Lights on for Safety Campaign as it not only promotes building neighborhood community by uniting to achieve a goal-- to become proactive against criminal activity but it also improves the value of the property. It is a win-win plan. Lights on for Safety campaign also includes the WE Energies Night Aura program that is a comprehensive solution for lighting up an alley. The installation and maintenance of the dusk to dawn lights that are installed on existing light poles is free. However, there is a monthly charge for the cost of the electricity to run the light, which is charged to the resident on whose property the light pole stands. This cost varies from $11.50 to $20.00 per month depending upon which type of light is chosen. Needless to say, the residents benefiting from the Night Aura light need to decide how to split up this monthly cost.

If you are interested in participating in the Lights on for Safety program please contact your Block Watch Captain. If you do not have a Block Watch Captain, then you need to gather your neighbors who are also interested and call Mr. Steve O?’Connell at 445-7472 and find out how you can get involved in this great, cost effective method of lighting up you alley and improving your property values.

S-A-V-E T-H-I-S D-A-T-E !!!!!!




SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2009
12 NOON TO 6 P.M.

KEEP OUR COMMUNITY STRONG BLOCK PARTY
(AT LINDSAY PARK)

The Keep Our Community Strong event sponsors are TVFox6, Time Warner Cable, North Shore Bank, Capitol West Neighborhood Assoc., MPS, and various local businesses with the goal to encourage residents to be proactive to make their neighborhood safer by establishing a Block Watch on their block.

The Block Party is just that ?– a fun party featuring food, treats, plenty of interactive games for the kids (with prizes), adult activities, plus exhibits by Milwaukee Police Dept., the Fire Dept., and Milwaukee Public Schools. But best of all ?– here?’s a chance to begin a connection with your

neighbors. Don?’t be shy ?– these are the people you live with. Let?’s get together to trade stories with each other ?– we can talk and share advice on the best place to shop, to eat,

the best plumber, electrician, car repair shop, best recipe for potato salad and on and on?…

Come together in Lindsay Park get to know each other and KEEP OUR COMMUNITY STRONG. The park is located in the 4400 block of Milwaukee?’s west side between 84th and 87th Streets. It is bounded by Congress Street on the north and Marion Street on the south.













CWNA INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
RENEWAL/NEW

Do you think that people need to be energized to help themselves solve local problems? If you do, then we have a deal for you! Join Capitol West Neighborhood Association (CWNA) renew your membership. It doesn?’t cost much ?– just $12 per year.

Interested? Complete this application form and mail it along with your check made out to CWNA to Robert Grothe, Treasurer, Capitol West Neighborhood Association, 2933 N. 70th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53210.

Name: ________________________________________Telephone: ____________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________Zip: ____________
E-Mail: _______________________________________________________________________________
Issues that concern you:______________________________________________________________

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Capitol West Neighborhood Association
PO Box 18146
Milwaukee, WI 53218-0146