NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS
Foreclosures
In the mid-1800s Milwaukee was a highly commercial city, focusing on trade and agricultural goods. The transformation of the commercial trade industry to the manufacturing economy was the foundation on which the Milwaukee of the early 1900s was built. People began to recognize the city as the "workingmen's city" and "the city that works." The next few decades would bring a great expansion for Milwaukee communities, including Washington Park. Unfortunately, the past few decades have marked the economic downfall of this community.
Foreclosed houses have become an increasing problem in the Washington Park neighborhood and its surrounding communities. In order to preserve the structure of this once thriving area, community partners are teaming up to resolve the problem. Groups such as Washington Park Partners, along with ACTS Housing, Community First, Habitat for Humanity, and the Hmong-American Friendship Association have been working together in an attempt to find a solution to Milwaukee's foreclosure problem. Low household incomes are often the cause of foreclosure. Not only does this affect the families, but the community suffers as a result of foreclosure as well. Businesses thrive on stable communities, and instability has plagued Washington Park for some time now. Organizations like the ones mentioned have been active in the Washington Park neighborhood helping families become healthy and self-sufficient. One great example of things that are being done to help this community is a development project in the neighborhood. Groups have been working to develop three townhouses for use as an educational institution. Small projects like this townhouse renovation are great kick-starts to enrich this once thriving community. |
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3014 & 3016 W. Walnut Street
On the 30th block of W. Walnut Street, near N. 32nd Street, there is a total of nine houses. Two houses away from the factory, on the northwestern side of the block, there is a boarded up, empty house. The house appears to have had some fire damage and has probably been vacant for some time. According to the 1940 census data, 3014 W. Walnut Street was formerly occupied by the Jungton family, but no further information regarding when they left is available.
Habitat for Humanity started a Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative in 2013 that would allow them, along with neighborhood organizations and partner families, to start rebuilding or rehabilitating homes in the Washington Park area. "In addition to new construction, Milwaukee Habitat now offers rehabilitation, critical repair, weatherization, preservation, and community development." No information could be found about whether or not there were any plans for this house. It is believed that the best possible outcome is for Habitat for Humanity to either repair the fire damage and rehabilitate the house or to tear the house down and build a new, more energy efficient home. If Habitat for Humanity were to claim the house on W. Walnut Street and give it a makeover then hopefully the neighbors would feel inspired to refresh their homes as well. If the vacant lot which is just down the street from the home were to be turned into a community space that is kid friendly, then families would be more inspired to move back into the neighborhood, whose population has been decreasing at a steady rate in recent years. |
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