For the first time in years — and perhaps because there’s an election in this one — Mayor Tom Barrett is hoping to drum up support for the city’s annual design awards by making a nomination of his own.
Barrett generally refrains from influencing the Mayor’s Design Awards, which recognizes design excellence for new buildings, parks, landscaping and other projects that add to Milwaukee’s urban landscape.
This year, though, with the deadline nearing, he’s breaking with protocol and speaking up for a project that’s dear to him: Walnut Way’s The Innovations and Wellness Commons, also known as The Commons.
The Commons, a mixed-use development at 1617 W. North Ave., is meant to create a “healthy food oasis” and jobs for low-income residents in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. Tenants include The Juice Kitchen, Outpost Natural Foods Co-op, Fondy Food Center offices and Milwaukee Center for Independence. The two-phase project involves both the restoration of an existing structure and new construction.
Anyone can nominate projects that in some way add value to a neighborhood through construction, restoration or enhancement. Past winners have included prominent architectural projects and neighborhood landscaping.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, but the city is willing to accept nominations into early next week, said Department of City Development spokesman Jeff Fleming. Projects must be within the City of Milwaukee and have been completed (or nearly completed) during 2015. To make a nomination, go to: http://ift.tt/1pKRE0C.
Mary Louise Schumacher is the Journal Sentinel’s art and architecture critic. Follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/artcity), Twitter (@artcity) and Instagram (marylouises).
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