The City worked in cooperation with the WDNR to create a riverfront comprehensive plan, titled Riverlink Guidelines, that would comply with the State Constitution and the Public Trust Doctrine. With approval of the Riverlink Guidelines by the Common Council and WDNR, the process of issuing permits for the construction of the RiverWalk was greatly simplified. WDNR issues permits for RiverWalk construction for developments consistent with the adopted Riverlink Guidelines.

In 1993, expansion of the RiverWalk Initiative reinforced the City’s commitment for the design and construction of the RiverWalk. Consisting of 22 proposed segments, the riverwalk system would unify downtown attractions and become, over time, a significant attraction in itself.

A resolution creating the RiverWalk Site Plan Review Overlay District (SPROD) and RiverWalk Development Fund was adopted in 1993. The RiverWalk SPROD ensures the creation of new RiverWalk projects which are compatible with their neighbors. It also encourages creativity, variety and excellence in design and layout. The design specifications associated with the SPROD apply to, but are not limited to, landscaping, lighting, accessibility, adjacent building facades and the ability to connect to future RiverWalk segments. The SPROD applies to the Third Ward, Downtown and Beerline portions of the Milwaukee River, extending 3.1 miles, along both sides of the River from the Harbor northward to the former North Avenue Dam.

RiverWalk Development: Segment by Segment

Downtown

Even before the City’s RiverWalk Initiative was formalized, limited project-specific activity was underway along the Milwaukee River, concentrated in downtown. Financed through a partnership between the property owner, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and the City of Milwaukee, the very first segment of RiverWalk was constructed adjacent to the former Gimbels Department Store (currently Borders Bookstore) in 1985. At the time of construction, a RiverWalk Civics Committee was moving plans forward for a small park and boat landing at the foot of East Mason Street and a RiverWalk along the the Milwaukee Center (Theater District), the Performing Arts Center, and Pere Marquette Park.

By the time the RiverWalk Initiative was formalized in 1993, additional RiverWalk segments had been constructed, including the Milwaukee Center, 100 East Wisconsin Avenue, Riverfront Plaza, Michigan Avenue to Clybourn Avenue (home to the Iroquois), and Bank One. RiverWalk development soon linked the Riverside Theater, the Pabst Theater, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the Grand Avenue Shopping Center, the Performing Arts Center, and the Water Street/Old World Third Street nightlife area. As RiverWalk development continued in the downtown, property owners in collaboration with the City formed a Business Improvement District (BID) for the purpose of constructing and maintaining the downtown RiverWalk.

Approved by Council in March 1994, the District encompasses the portion of the Milwaukee River corridor which runs through Milwaukee’s downtown between Clybourn and Pleasant Streets. The objective of the BID is to complete improvements along the river that will increase public access to the Milwaukee River and promote, attract, stimulate and revitalize commerce within downtown. The constructed improvements within the District are adjacent to many of Milwaukee’s major entertainment and recreational sites as well as numerous retail and dining establishments.

The City and BID share the costs of RiverWalk construction and other RiverWalk capital expenditures in accordance with the terms of a Development Agreement. Property owners with a RiverWalk constructed on their river frontage are solely responsible for maintaining such RiverWalks to a standard acceptable to the City and the BID. If a property owner fails to maintain its RiverWalk, either the City or BID may perform any necessary work on such RiverWalk and the cost, therefore, will be specially assessed directly against such property owner.

North Avenue Dam Removal

In 1994, WDNR staff led a technical advisory group consisting of the City, Milwaukee County, Village of Shorewood, Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The team studied alternatives for river revitalization and recommended the partial removal of the North Avenue Dam (built in 1891) to lower and narrow the river flow back to natural conditions. Upon partial removal, the river resumed a more natural course and water quality quickly began to improve.

By the end of 1994, the first downtown RiverWalk segment, completed in accordance with the formally adopted RiverWalk Initiative, was constructed. Enthusiasm for further river revitalization ensued. With renewed interest in the Milwaukee River, additional studies were conducted regarding improving this valuable resource. Study findings suggested the North Avenue Dam be removed completely to enhance revitalization efforts. City officials agreed, permits were secured, and in 1997 the remainder of the Dam was removed. A pedestrian bridge now spans the river at that location and serves to connect the revitalized Brady Street neighborhood to the newly developed Beerline B neighborhood, located along Commerce Street.

Historic Third Ward

To capitalize on new interest in the river as a destination for living, shopping, and vacationing, the Historic Third Ward Association, Historic Third Ward Business Improvement District, and the City of Milwaukee took steps to create a RiverWalk that would connect to, yet distinguish itself from, the Downtown’s nearly complete RiverWalk. Planning for the $11 million project began in 1999, resulting in the Common Council’s adoption of design guidelines specific to the RiverWalk within the Historic Third Ward neighborhood boundaries, extending from the north side of East Clybourn Street to the Lakefront and a portion of the west side of the Milwaukee River extending from the north side of West Clybourn Street southerly to the centerline of the Menomonee River.

The City established a Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District to pay for the upfront costs of construction with the BID reimbursing the City 22% of the RiverWalk costs from yearly assessments over a 20 year period. RiverWalk construction began in 2002. In 2004, the nearly one mile long boardwalk within the Historic Third Ward opened to the public and by summer of 2005, a connection to the Downtown RiverWalk was completed. Built from Ipe wood, a tropical hardwood, the Historic Third Ward RiverWalk has won several design awards since it opened, including a 2007 American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design.

Beerline B

The Beerline “B” neighborhood refers to a former industrial rail line along what is now Commerce Street, between East Pleasant Street and North Humboldt Avenue. In the late 1990’s the City began a focused effort to bring this area back to use. The first step was the creation of a Redevelopment Plan that created a vision for the new neighborhood which included mixed use, predominately residential development. To ensure the continuation and extension of the City’s RiverWalk System, the Redevelopment Plan required a publicly accessible RiverWalk along the shores of the Milwaukee River in the Beerline.

Next, the City created a TIF District to fund the environmental cleanup of the area and to put in the public improvements needed for private development to occur. Rail lines were removed, contaminated soil was excavated, and new streets, utilities, bridges, staircases, and public parks were built. RiverWalk funding was set aside as a match for future developments.

Following infrastructure improvements, private development began with the conversion of the former Gimbels warehouse into the Brewers Point Apartments. Since 2001, more than 10 new condominium and mixed-use projects have been constructed, representing $87 million in value. More than 1,000 linear feet of RiverWalk have been completed to date. Plans are in place for the remaining RiverWalk segments. When complete, one will be able to walk the edge of the river from Pleasant Street to the North Avenue Dam without interruption.