(The following story by Pete Millard appeared on the MSNBC website on December 27.)
The $5.4 million renovation of the downtown Milwaukee Amtrak station, already almost a year behind schedule, may be derailed by zoning and permit problems with Milwaukee city officials.
Ald. Bob Bauman wants city planners to scrutinize the Amtrak design and development plans before allowing the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to proceed with the project at the station, 433 W. St. Paul Ave.
Bauman is a Milwaukee attorney who was involved in several pro-downtown-transit groups prior to winning a Common Council seat in April. He represents downtown Milwaukee, including the Amtrak site.
The redevelopment plan includes a makeover of the building’s exterior, upgrading interior office space and adding new retail space, including a drive-through restaurant. The DOT plans to help pay for street improvements along West St. Paul Avenue and North Fifth Street, including repaving.
The DOT originally released its plans for the Amtrak station in September 2003 and had hoped to begin construction in early 2004.
The delay in starting the project is attributed to developers taking longer than they planned to contact prospective retail clients for the rebuilt train station. DOT now hopes to begin construction in the spring of 2005.
“My sense is DOT is trying to redo the station on the cheap,” said Bauman. “When it’s completed, the train station should be a proud, significant public space, and that’s not where they are headed.”
Bauman is chairman of the council’s Public Improvement Committee and is a member of the Zoning and Neighborhood Development Committee.
Bauman is urging Mayor Tom Barrett’s administration to oppose the DOT’s rehabilitation plan that also includes moving the front entrance of the train station to allow passengers to exit on North Fifth Street rather than on St. Paul. The DOT and its private-sector developers need zoning changes and other permits before they can begin construction.
“I’d rather see them do nothing and wait for more funding than to do the project wrong,” he said.
Barrett said he would urge DOT to work with Milwaukee aldermen.
“The state can’t ignore the concerns of aldermen because they approve the zoning changes needed for the project to move ahead,” he said.
Formal review
Andrea Rowe, a Department of City Development spokeswoman, said the agency staff plans to conduct a formal review of the Amtrak station plans in early 2005.
“The station is a gateway to Milwaukee and we are eager to see a dynamic connection to downtown that reflects the flavor of downtown,” she said.
DOT officials claim that former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist’s development staff encouraged the state to go ahead with its current renovation plan. Norquist left office in December 2003. While DOT officials acknowledge that budgets are tight, the investment in the Amtrak station will create economic development momentum for downtown’s Westown district.
“If there were additional sources of money, yes, we could do more,” said Ruben Anthony Jr., deputy secretary of DOT. “But this plan is not the cheap way out.”
State transportation officials formed a public-private partnership called Milwaukee Intermodal Partners to redevelop the Amtrak property. The private sector companies working with the state are Wilton Partners, Los Angeles; Project Management Advisors, Chicago; Eppstein Uhen Architects, Milwaukee; and C.G. Schmidt Inc., Milwaukee.
One of the proposed new tenants of the Amtrak station is a fast-food restaurant, which state officials declined to identify. After meeting with the developers working with DOT, Bauman, whose support is crucial for the train station project, learned that DOT will seek a zoning change to allow the restaurant to have a drive-through window at the station.
“I don’t think people want the train depot converted into a strip mall,” Bauman said.
In addition to one or two restaurants, developers want to add a bookstore, coffee shop, car rental service and office space in the 60,000-square-foot building.
“As long as they are redoing the train station, we hope they do it right,” said Beth Nicols, executive director of the Downtown Milwaukee Business Improvement District.
Government funding
State and federal funds will cover $4 million of the total investment to convert the railroad station into an intermodal transportation hub. Private developers will contribute $1.4 million. When finished, the new terminal will incorporate Amtrak’s national passenger rail service, the Milwaukee County Transit System, Greyhound Bus Lines and taxi and limousine service.
In 2004, more than 454,000 Amtrak passengers used the Milwaukee station. After the intermodal terminal is operational, DOT officials expect more than 800,000 people to go through the station.
Bauman thinks the DOT may need to construct a separate building to accommodate all the services developers hope to squeeze into the station.
“Adding retail is not a bad idea, but there is already inadequate surface parking in the area and that is not conducive to fostering urban development,” he said.