Looks like a March 1 deadline for detailed plans and a June 1 deadline for construction. Not sure how firm/flexible those dates are. I want to see some damn plans
Part of the last remaining one-way portion of State St. could be converted to two-way traffic as part of the Milwaukee Bucks arena project.
Also, new city documents are providing more details on the project's timetable, including a March 1 deadline to submit detailed design plans, and a construction start deadline of June 1.
State St., which runs in Milwaukee from N. Prospect Ave. to the border with Wauwatosa, is two-way except for roughly six blocks between N. 6th and N. Water streets.
A new traffic study, filed with the Department of City Development, recommends studying the feasibility of converting the portion of State St. near the arena project to two-way traffic.
The study doesn't specify how many blocks of State St. might be converted from one-way traffic.
A two-way State St. would likely provide improved traffic access to better develop the area south of the future arena for possible retail, office and hotel uses, the study said.
That area, north of State St. between N. 4th and N. 6th streets, is the site of the BMO Harris Bradley Center, which will be demolished within one year after the new arena is completed. The new arena will be built just north of the Bradley Center.
Two-way traffic would support urban design principles, improve access to the new arena, and "would also likely improve the connectivity of the new arena, ancillary development and other Wisconsin Center facilities to the cultural and entertainment facilities east of the Milwaukee River," said the study.
The traffic study is part of the general zoning and design plans for the arena, its parking structure, a planned entertainment center and other associated projects that will be reviewed Tuesday by the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. Any change to State St. would need separate council approval.
Assuming the council approves those general plans, it will then review detailed plans, including the arena's final proposed design.
The Bucks must submit those detailed plans by March 1, and "will work diligently and in good faith to obtain (council) approval by May 31," according to a new development agreement. The development agreement was negotiated between the Bucks and city officials after the council in September approved the city's $47 million financing package for the arena.
The development agreement sets other deadlines, including the June 1 construction start. That deadline allows for work to start on either the arena or its parking structure by that date.
Other deadlines include the Bucks' submitting detailed plans for the public plaza and privately financed entertainment center, known as the Live Block, by Sept. 1, with an approval deadline of Dec. 13.
The entertainment center, featuring restaurants and taverns, will be built east of N. 4th St., between W. Highland and W. Juneau avenues.
It will replace a city-owned parking structure, which the city must give to the Bucks by Dec. 31. The Bucks must begin demolishing the parking structure within 60 days of taking ownership of that property.
The new arena parking structure, to be built east of N. 6th St. and north of W. Juneau Ave., must be completed by December 2017, or the Bucks will pay the city damages of $1,960 for each day past that deadline. It will be owned by the city, with the Bucks and city splitting its revenue.
The Bucks say the new arena, parking structure and entertainment center will be open in time for the start of the 2018-'19 National Basketball Association season.
Also, the Bucks will pay the city $58,805 for each month from the day the city gives the Highland Ave. parking structure to the basketball club until the new 1,243-space parking structure opens.
That's to compensate the city for a loss of parking revenue during that period. Those payments will be offset if the city's parking structures at MacArthur Square and 1000 N. Water St. see an increase in their revenue after the Highland Ave. structure closes.
I'm against picketing but I don't know how to show it.