E.D. Accomplishment Archives


	Economic Development	Accomplishment Archives

For more information on National Ave. contact: Helen Hermus at 385-5300		For more information on Lincoln Ave. contact: Helen Hermus at 385-5300

	Highlighting: 2001 2002 2003 2004
2002

	Sultan's Ribbon-cutting Ceremony
	On February 15, 2002 Sultan’s Family Restaurant, opened at 3800 W. National Avenue. Sultan’s is a family-style, sit-down, Middle-Eastern restaurant. Attending the Grand Opening were Mayor John Norquist, Alderman, Michael Murphy, LBWN staff, and many supportive local residents and business owners. Mayor Norquist commented on the wonderful diversity of National Avenue and the surrounding area. After the ribbon cutting and press conference, everyone present enjoyed eating Middle-Eastern food and listening to live Arabian music. Mhammad Abu-Shawish, the owner of Sultan’s, is helping LBWN in the commercial district revitalization efforts by: locating his restaurant in a once-vacant building and by hiring staff within the neighborhood.

		Noodle House Grand Opening
		The Noodle House, located at 3433 W. National Avenue, features Pho’ Noodles, a popular broth noodle dish served with cilantro, green onion, basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, and lime wedges. It also offers a variety of dishes, including mixed fruit drinks, Thai ice tea, and various Asian rice dishes. On September 12, 2002, Judy and Jeff celebrated the grand opening of their restaurant with 60 participants and several community leaders, including Alderman Murphy and Mayor Norquist. Fox 6 News recorded a clip of the event that evening, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel featured an article and the Small Business Times featured a picture of the grand opening. The opening of the Noodle House marks one of the largest commercial redevelopment projects seen in the Layton Blvd. West neighborhood in years. National Avenue is in the midst of revitalization and it is the commitment of business owners such as Judy and Jeff that generate tremendous momentum to make these efforts successful.

		Trash Can Beautification Project 2002
		In May of 2002, students at St. Aemilian-Lakeside dedicated their first-ever decorated trash receptacles. This program helps students, a part of a community arts group, think about other people and how they can use their artwork to make the neighborhood look nice and to make people happy. The kids did research on the history of the neighborhood and created two separate designs for each of the cans. The project involved the collaboration of local business owners, Greg & Dolly Mertens, Sue & Jerry Molenda, and Mark Poje, Dept. of Sanitation, and and St. Aemilian-Lakeside art dept.staff & students.

		The Blue Kangaroo Opens its Door
		The Laundromat offers a host of amenities that make it not only a great place to do your laundry, but a great asset to our neighborhood. The Blue Kangaroo offers 60 coin–operated washers and 64 dryers. In addition to coin-laundry, the location offers a wash, dry, and fold service; over the counter laundry aids; 10 coin changers; soda, ice cream, and snack vending machines; a children’s play area (The Lil’ Kangaroo Corner); and several non-violent arcade games. The location will be staffed with approximately 2-3 full time and 2-4 part time employees. At least one attendant will be on duty from open at 5 AM to close at Midnight everyday.


	2003
		Lincoln Ave.- Beautification Project 2003
		Wednesday, March 26, 2003 marked the presentation of a second set of garbage cans which were designed by the at-risk kids from St. Aemillian Lakeside. Three were placed on Lincoln Avenue and one was placed on National and 35^th Street. The garbage can project is a collaborative effort between Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, St. Aemilian- Lakeside, Inc., Lincoln Avenue Business Owners, the City of Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, and adaptive art students under the direction of art therapist Melanie Pope. The City of Milwaukee has picked up on the idea of painted garbage cans and is using the idea in five aldermanic districts to kick off the annual spring anti-graffiti campaign.


		National Ave. Banners -- the business community's identity
		The Silver City District -- an Inter-National Experience is another of the ideas that has come forth from the new revitalization efforts on National Ave. The business owners have been meeting as a group since early in 2001 in an effort to shape and direct the business community along National Ave. With twenty-six banners spanning the nine-block area, from 31st to 39th Streets, the group's efforts will have an identity that highlights the area's past, with the Silver City title, and looking towards the area's future--an Inter-National experience. The district's logo, a multicolored weave, represents the integration of nationalities-- Hmong, Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Hispanic, Native American and Middle Eastern--on the street. the banners spanning National from The official kickoff event, held on June 17, 2003, marks the unveiling of the Silver City District logo and slogan “An Inter-National Experience.” The Silver City name was chosen for its historical significance as an important place of commerce and recreation for workers in the Menomonee Valley. According to residents and local business owners, nearly 100 years ago workers would spend the silver dollars they earned in the valley at the various shops and taverns on National Avenue.


	2004



		Campus Design Solutions for Lincoln Avenue
		LBWN began a collaborative effort on Lincoln Ave. with Campus Design Solutions (CDS). Architecture students from UW-Milwaukee will be creating facáde drawings for thirteen buildings on Lincoln Avenue plus the park located at the corner of 35th Street and Lincoln Avenue. Building owners will be presented with the architectural drawings and then have the choice to make the recommended improvements, with financial help available from the City of Milwaukee through the facáde grant program. CDS will provide architectural assistance to four other business properties scattered throughout the Layton Boulevard West Neighborhood.

		Mamie’s Pub Gets a Facelift
		Mamie’s Pub at 3300 W. National Av. has finished its façade renovation project. The building has been spruced up with a brand new color scheme, large storefront windows and a new neon sign. Mamie’s new window’s allows for visibililty of the interior and the street, making the bar more welcoming and secure. The new design adds value to the business and our neighborhood. Be sure to stop in sometime and take a look for yourself. Stop on in to Mamie’s for a burger and some live blues on Friday night!!