Milwaukee, WI

Swing bridge plan architect shares vision for 794 corridor

Published

2 years ago

April 9, 2024

Swing bridge plan architect shares vision for 794 corridor

Milwaukee says it wants – and it definitely needs – big ideas. And few are proposing bigger and more exciting ideas than architect John Everitt.

Last year, Everitt – who graduated from UWM’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning in 2022 and has worked for Bray Architects – shared a plan for the old railroad swing bridge that sits idle in the Milwaukee River.

Now, with the support of Greg Walthers, he has produced an impressive catalog of ideas for how the land that sits beneath and adjacent to the current I-794 freeway spur Downtown could be reimagined.

This, of course, as the state Department of Transportation, the city’s Department of City Development and others discuss options for the spur, which range from doing nothing to replacing it to tearing it down.

One group supporting the removal of the freeway shared these renderings.

But, Everitt’s catalog runs about 30 pages and is filled with data and renderings and, most importantly, the spirit of thinking big.

“Over the past eight months, Greg Walthers – another passionate resident – and I have been working on a catalog meant to inspire more possibilities for a new Milwaukee downtown, one that isn’t split by I-794,” he says. “It features a new neighborhood, pedestrian/cyclist streets, a proper streetcar station, pedestrian/cyclist tunnels, and a vision of how we can reuse a road bridge.”

There are tree-lined pedestrian walkways, a mix of classic and modern architectural styles, tunnels, and even a stunningly imagined hub for The Hop streetcar.

One half expected to see Jane Jacobs in one of the renderings smiling down from above the clouds.

You might agree with some of these ideas, or even all of them. You might disagree with all or some of them. But, Everitt’s goal – which is an honorable and important one – is that we should be thinking about all of this stuff and about what’s possible, not simply sticking with what we see and know now.

“Neither of us has any stake in what happens to I-794 beyond how it affects us as Milwaukee residents,” Everitt says of himself and Walthers. “We understand how polarizing this topic has been. We welcome both editorial and public criticism; we just want everyone who cares to see how much we care.

“As the final decision lies in the hands of the DoT, it is up to us to catch their attention and properly inform the Milwaukee public of the weight of what is happening. This has been a passion project for both of us, and we are only trying to offer more visualization to keep imaginations going and to keep the discourse positive.”

You can see the entire 30-page catalog with its statistics, renderings, ideas and more here.

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Milwaukee, WI

Behind Milwaukee’s recent restaurant closures

Published

57 minutes ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Behind Milwaukee’s recent restaurant closures

Milwaukee’s dining community is grappling with a recent string of restaurant closures that includes longtime neighborhood fixtures and newer concepts. The losses have sparked disappointment among diners and raised broader questions about why even popular locations and prime riverfront spots are struggling to survive.

On Milwaukee’s Lori Fredrich told WTMJ’s Adam Roberts that restaurant owners are increasingly speaking candidly about the realities of running a business, using social media to share financial pressures and warn customers when closure may be imminent. The shift marks a departure from past practices, when restaurants often closed quietly without explanation.

With January and February historically among the toughest months for restaurants, local leaders are urging residents to buy local. Programs like Visit Milwaukee’s Buy Local Bonus aim to provide short-term relief, but many in the industry worry about what the year ahead may bring.

Hear more about this story on WTMJ’s Reporter’s Notebook, on Sundays at 10 am or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Milwaukee, WI

‘We’re still struggling’: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

Published

13 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

‘We’re still struggling’: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin has confirmed a new 24-hour rainfall record after more than a foot of rain fell in Milwaukee during historic summer flooding, but for some families like Victoria Kiepert’s, the damage never ended.

The August 9th and 10th storms brought 14-and-a-half inches of rain to northwest Milwaukee in just 24 hours, now officially the most rain ever recorded in a single day in Wisconsin. Behind that historic number are families still trying to rebuild as Christmas approaches.

“We lost all of our stuff in the basement,” Kiepert said.

TMJ4

Victoria Kiepert lost everything in the floods in August.

Floodwaters damaged Kiepert’s northside home, destroying nearly everything her family owned. She applied for help, but says months later, recovery is still falling on her shoulders.

“Beds, appliances, all that stuff, kids’ clothes, TVs, everything,” Kiepert said.

The Milwaukee mother, who cares for five children, says her family was left homeless for two weeks after the flooding.

Victoria Kiepert cares for five people in her home, she says she needs beds, clothing and dressers for her kids. — Victoria cares for five people in her home, she says she needs beds, clothing and dressers for her kids.

“We had to move, and I couldn’t find a house right away, so we were homeless for two weeks, and then we moved and still don’t have the things we need,” Kiepert said.

Watch: Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

Milwaukee mom seeks help after historic flooding as Christmas approaches

Climate experts say the storms were unprecedented, with rain falling one to three inches an hour for several hours, overwhelming basements, streets, and sewer systems. Radar estimates show 10 to 12 inches fell across northern Milwaukee and northeast Waukesha counties, confirming the devastation was widespread.

Kiepert says she and her kids have to sleep on air mattresses, and the holidays only add more pressure to an already overwhelming situation.

“People think that after people get FEMA money, it’s just done and over with, and that should be enough, but it’s really not because it takes months, even years, sometimes when you’re starting all over,” Kiepert said.

She’s unsure how she will provide gifts for her kids this Christmas, her family still needs basic necessities months after the flooding.

Victoria's family is hoping for a Christmas miracle. — Victoria Kiepert’s family is hoping for a Christmas miracle.

“We still need beds, dressers, kids’ clothing, a lot of stuff,” Kiepert said.

As Wisconsin marks a new chapter in climate history, families like Kiepert’s say recovery can’t stop at statistics, especially as Christmas approaches.

“This year’s really hard, because mostly because of the flood, cause all the stuff we lost, I have to buy them new stuff, because that money isn’t available for Christmas,” Kiepert said.

The flooding has made this Christmas particularly challenging for Kiepert’s family, including her youngest daughter experiencing her first Christmas.

“This is my daughter’s first Christmas, it would help for all my kids but mainly for her, to make like a Christmas miracle for them,” Kiepert said.

Despite the hardships, Kiepert maintains perspective on what matters most during the holidays.

“Sometimes it’s not about the gifts, it’s about being stable and having family around,” Kiepert said.

As Victoria’s family continues to rebuild, community support can make a real difference. A GoFundMe is available for those who wish to donate money or provide much-needed household items. If you can donate any of the furniture items she seeks, her email is Victoria.kiepert@icloud.com, or you can reach out to me by email at gideon.verdin@tmj4.com, and I will connect you with Victoria.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Milwaukee, WI

Tips for Milwaukee Mitchell holiday travelers: Don’t bring wrapped gifts

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Tips for Milwaukee Mitchell holiday travelers: Don’t bring wrapped gifts

Security officials at Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport offered advice for passengers navigating the busy holiday travel season this December.

Tim Goodman, Wisconsin assistant federal security director at the Transportation Security Administration, said Dec. 19 that the agency is prepared for high passenger volume at Milwaukee Mitchell in the next two weeks.

Goodman said the airport expects to process as many as 12,000 travelers during the busiest holiday travel days. These dates are projected to see the most traffic:

Sunday, Dec. 21
Monday, Dec. 22
Tuesday, Dec. 23
Sunday, Dec. 28
Monday, Dec. 29
Tuesday, Dec. 30

Here’s what to know about holiday travel at Milwaukee Mitchell this year:

Arrive early, especially for morning flights from Mitchell Airport

Goodman recommended travelers arrive no later than 90 minutes before their flight takes off, and longer if they’re boarding early morning flights.

Mornings are the busiest time of day for the airport, Goodman said.

“We are at capacity at the early morning hours,” he said. “We may see as many as 2,000 passengers going out before 7 a.m. on our busiest days.”

Don’t forget your Real ID when traveling through Mitchell

This is also the first winter holiday season after TSA began enforcing Real ID requirements for domestic flights. Starting on May 7, 2025, all domestic passengers must present a Real ID-compliant drivers license or other other acceptable forms of identification.

Earlier this month, TSA announced it will charge passengers $45 if they do not present a Real ID or other accepted identification starting Feb. 1, 2026.

In Wisconsin, Real ID-compliant drivers licenses are marked with a star in the upper right corner. More information about how to obtain a Real ID is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s website.

Goodman said 97% of Wisconsin passengers already have a Real ID. Those who don’t have proper identification will see longer waits and additional screening at security checkpoints.

A list of acceptable identification is available on TSA’s website.

Some holiday items may not get through security at Mitchell

Goodman said some common holiday items should not be put in carry-on bags since security officials struggle to open and inspect them.

Those items include snow globes and wrapped gifts. Goodman recommended any gifts instead be put in a gift bag.

Goodman also said passengers should completely empty bags before packing them for a flight. It’s common for travelers to forget to remove prohibited items in their bag, only to find themselves stopped at security checkpoints.