Milwaukee Professionals Association

SUPER KMART DEVELOPERS HIRE ACTIVIST AS LIAISON FOR PROJECT

An Example of Neighborhood Activism

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
October 8, 2001
Author: LEONARD SYKES JR.; Journal Sentinel staff
Estimated printed pages: 2

Developers of the Super Kmart planned for Fond du Lac and North avenues have reached out to businesses and residents of the surrounding neighborhood for support by hiring a community liaison consultant to the project.

Mary Glass, a founder of the CNI/Fondy/North Business Association, has been hired as a consultant over the life of the project. Developers are set to break ground on the 156,000-square-foot shopping center in spring 2002.

Larry Kilduff of the Endeavour Co., one of the developers of the project, said Glass will work for Endeavour to make sure residents understand the full scope of the project.

"We felt like this was always something we wanted to do, and we thought we could do a lot better job of it," Kilduff said. "So we asked Mary to come aboard and help with that.

"I've been in the development business almost 20 years, and I've never seen a project that -- until people understood what was happening -- everyone fully embraced it."

The Super Kmart is being developed by a partnership among Endeavour, a for-profit company operated by Kilduff and Randy Roth; Inner City Redevelopment Corp.; and Urban Developers LLC.

"In fairness, it's new and it's very different than things that were done there in the past," Kilduff said. "There had been rumors and promises in the past, and nothing ever materialized. So there are a lot of issues there where I could understand why some might have been standoffish about the project."

The City of Milwaukee has developed a tax incremental financing district that is being used to buy properties at the development site and clear the land.

City officials say that in all, 12 buildings in the area will be acquired under eminent domain proceedings, which are under way.

Glass said that is one component of the project that has a number of businesses in the Amani neighborhood worried.

The biggest concern, said Glass, is that the project was being forced upon residents and businesses in the area in much the same way that other projects had been in the past, including the construction of the Park West Freeway and, more recently, the W. Fond du Lac Ave. restoration project.

Any project coming after those developments was bound to face community skepticism, Glass said.

"You could have been Jesus in good clothing having all kinds of good things to bring," she said. "But many (businesses and residents) feel that so many times burned I'm more than shy. I'm fearful."

Glass has been involved in what's known as the Amani neighborhood as an activist for 10 years and is a founding member of the CNI/Fondy/North Business Association. The Amani neighborhood is bounded by W. Locust St., N. 20th St., W. North Ave., and, on the west, N. 27th and N. 31st streets.

Glass said her involvement as a consultant in the Kmart project will include a five-part program designed to address the concerns of both business owners and residents and make sure they feel involved in the project.

Ald. Willie Hines, whose 17th District includes the project site, praised the developers' decision to make Glass a part of their team.

"I think it will ensure that residents are given the greater voice and a greater presence in the project," Hines said.

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