The Riverwest Currents comics page was first published in September of 2003. Since then it has evolved into its present incarnation that includes work from five Milwaukee area artists.

When an area has TID status the municipality borrows money to invest in improvements – street reconstruction, façade grants, and redevelopment of specific sites. Those improvements then increase property values and expand the tax base. The loans are repaid with tax dollars from the increased value of TID properties. This provides an alternative to raising taxes.

A thin wiry woman with a pleasant smile entered the room inconspicuously and took a seat in the back. Students from Pierce Elementary did not notice her, as they were busy participating in a daylong workshop at the Peace Learning Center.

The Neighborhood Plan and Guidelines were prepared jointly by the Milwaukee Department of City Development and by Jim Piwoni, AIA, and American Design Inc., in cooperation with the Historic Third Ward Association, Business Improvement District # 2, and the Third Ward Architectural Review Board. Goals of the Neighborhood Plan are to (1) guide new development in areas that are vacant or underutilized, (2) provide a predictable regulatory process, (3) Reflect a shared vision of the neighborhood, and (4) generate consensus among businesses, property owners, residents and associations.

According to the DCD website, “The Plan will provide a blueprint for future development of the area and will identify specific projects that will be undertaken to support that development. The Plan will provide policies based on shared values that will shape the character of development for years to come. The Plan will also outline an implementation strategy and a framework for community partnership.”