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This year, Near West Side Partners celebrates a milestone: 10 years of community-led progress, anchored in the belief that building a shared vision through collaboration can transform the Near West Side into a great place to live, work, play and stay.
Beginning in 2015, NWSP has brought together neighbors, local businesses and five of Milwaukee’s most prominent anchor institutions – Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, Molson Coors and Potawatomi Ventures – to serve as a catalyst for revitalization in the Near West Side.
Over the past decade, our work has been rooted in a simple yet powerful idea that when we listen to one another, work together and focus on what makes our neighborhoods strong, even the boldest visions become possible.
We marked our 10-year anniversary at Concordia 27, a building that, just a few years ago, stood vacant and today serves as a welcoming community center and resource hub. Concordia 27 features a cafe, creative and co-working space, room for community events and meetings, 33 affordable apartment units and offices for local organizations – all developed to meet the priorities and needs of our neighbors.
Looking ahead
As we reflect on a decade of neighbor-focused revitalization, it’s clear that the vision and dedication of our community have driven meaningful, measurable outcomes across our four key focus areas: enhancing safety, strengthening housing, supporting commercial corridors and promoting community health. =
Crime is down, and more than 60 businesses have launched or grown with our support, many of them led by residents. Since 2021, over $1 million in grants have been awarded to local entrepreneurs to activate buildings and storefronts along key corridors, such as Vliet Street and 27th Street, which are now filled with new energy and activity.
As we look ahead, our commitment to deepening our impact is stronger than ever. As a result, our team at Near West Side Partners is building a refreshed strategic plan to guide our next decade, one that amplifies the voices of neighbors, addresses housing access and affordability and strengthens public safety.
We’re already laying the groundwork for that future. One example is the recent 35th Street Design Charrette, an incredible full-day event hosted at the Harley-Davidson campus.
Architects, neighbors, business owners and civic leaders came together to imagine what could be possible along one of our most critical corridors. From a food hall and recreation center to green spaces and affordable housing, the ideas generated were bold, forward-looking and deeply rooted in community priorities.
Last month, we gathered once again, this time over a community dinner at Concordia 27, to present the updated designs to neighbors and stakeholders, marking the beginning of a new tradition of sharing progress and a meal together as a community.
At its core, the story of Near West Side Partners is a story of what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose.
As we celebrate our first 10 years, we’re not just reflecting on the past – we’re building momentum for what’s next. Our revitalization isn’t just about buildings or statistics, but it’s about people and the possibility of what’s to come.
Lindsey St Arnold Bell serves as the executive director of Near West Side Partners.
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