Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

Milwaukee NNSnewsMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University


Language: English English Spanish Spanish

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / Concern over vacant properties dominates Sherman Park town hall meeting

Concern over vacant properties dominates Sherman Park town hall meeting

November 4, 2015 by Marlita Annette Bevenue 1 Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Ald. Russell Stamper of the 15th District hosted a recent town hall meeting at Washington High School. (Photo by Marlita A. Bevenue)

Ald. Russell Stamper of the 15th District hosted a recent town hall meeting at Washington High School. (Photo by Marlita A. Bevenue)

A small group of Sherman Park residents took the opportunity last week to share frustrations ranging from broken streetlights to a need for more police in the area at a town hall meeting hosted by 15th District Ald. Russell Stamper. But the majority of the meeting at Washington High School, 2525 N. Sherman Blvd., revolved around the topic of empty homes and vacant lots in the neighborhood.

One resident noted that vacant lots have become a place where young people congregate and hang out, which is intimidating to some neighbors.

“I live near two vacant houses,” said Camille Mays. “The grass is high in those lots and there’s garbage everywhere, and that attracts rodents.” Mays said she believes in meeting with city officials to keep them informed about neighborhood issues.

Camille Mays attended the town hall meeting to voice her concerns regarding neighborhood development and vacant homes in the area. (Photo by Marlita A. Bevenue)

Camille Mays attended the town hall meeting to voice her concerns regarding neighborhood development and vacant homes in the area. (Photo by Marlita A. Bevenue)

“I come to as many community meetings as I can,” Mays said. “It’s important to gather with other concerned neighbors, and it’s important to show your aldermen and city leaders that you care about what’s going on in your neighborhood.”

City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux outlined the actions the city is taking to address vacant properties.

“It wasn’t always the case that the city was the best neighbor when it comes to maintaining those vacant lots,” said Marcoux. “We didn’t really take care of them that well. But now the city’s forestry operation is in charge of this, and that department is working hard to make sure those lots are cut, they’re maintained and the trash is picked up.”

Marcoux also pointed out that the city is making progress in refurbishing many of the abandoned properties and getting them back on the market for people looking to purchase a home.

“The city sold over 400 homes this year. These were vacant properties that now have families living in those houses, adding to the quality of life on that street,” said Marcoux. “Many of those homes that were sold were recycled right here in Ald. Stamper’s district.”

Residents also raised concerns about drug dealing in the area. Stamper encouraged them to report all suspicious and criminal activity to the police and continue to contact him directly to discuss public safety problems.

After the meeting, Gregg Vosswinkel, a code enforcement officer from the city’s Department of Neighborhood Services met individually with residents who complained about vacant properties. He took notes on the locations of the unoccupied homes and vowed to investigate.

“This is why I come to these meetings — to see, in person, who I need to talk to and work with to change our community for the better,” said Mays. “I’ve noticed that when you do have a complaint, all you need to do is contact the right person from the right department, consistently follow up with the contact, and they do work with you to come up with a solution.”

The two-hour meeting also featured brief presentations by Bevan Baker, Milwaukee’s commissioner of health, Municipal Court Judge Phillip Chavez and other officials from the sanitation, neighborhood services and public works departments.

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Community, Home, Housing, Neighborhoods, News, North, Sherman Park

About Marlita Annette Bevenue

Comments

  1. M. C. Williams says

    November 4, 2015 at 9:32 am

    Very good article Marlita. We have a great opportunity here to invest and rebuild this community. Sherman Park has some of the best well built housing stock in the city. We need 2 strengthen this community by buying and refurbishing the homes. Usually the criminal element will go down when people get recharged to beautify and support their neighborhoods. We know these are troubling times for our young males but we have to let them know that they just can’t hold the livelihood of neighbors and families hostage with these robberies, shootings, car thefts, and senseless violent acts. People are afraid to leave their homes. Oh, and Congratulations, I am glad you are a person who believes in what they write, I understand that you just recently purchased a home from the city of Milwaukee to refurbish in the Sherman Park Neighborhood.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Recent News

Community First hires two developers, makes plans to serve more residents

OPINION: An open letter to the police chief: Surveillance and profiling are the not the building blocks for police reform

Post from Community: Looking for a job? Here are some opportunities.

Advertisement
Give today to support our mission. Donate to Milwaukee NNS.
Advertisement

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Milwaukee NNS Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494


Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in