Businesses, community organizations, faith-based groups focus efforts, resources on far northwest side revitalization.

April 12, 2002 Evan N. Zeppos, 414-276-6237

Area Business and Community Groups Coordinate Redevelopment Efforts

MILWAUKEE – Neighborhood groups, businesses and residents from Milwaukee’s far northwest side announced today the formation of the Historic Granville Corporation (HGC) -- a community development group dedicated to leveraging recent development and growth opportunities for the benefit of Milwaukee’s far northwest community.

The HGC has formed in hopes of harnessing the area’s positive signs of rebirth and significant economic development taking place in the last year and a half. These developments include the planned completion of Kohl Park and the Mequon nature preserve, the opening of the John C. Cudahy Branch of the YMCA, new ownership and a planned redevelopment of Northridge Mall, on-going improvements at Alexian Village and the purchase and renovation of the Heilig-Meyer property.

“There is a renaissance of sorts taking place in this area, and our organization is working to ensure that our residents and businesses experience the full benefit of those activities,” said Joe Thomae, chairman of the HGC board and TEAM Management’s general manager of the Woodlands Condominiums. “The Historic Granville Corporation was formed as a way for area businesses, organizations and individuals to come together and coordinate their development efforts for the good of the entire Granville area.”

The HGC includes among its members Alexian Village, the new owners of the Northridge property Tucker Development Corporation, the John C. Cudahy Branch of the YMCA, Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Northridge Estates Neighborhood Association and the Woodlands Condominium Association.

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The target neighborhood, which has taken its name from the historic Granville area that existed in the mid-1800s to the mid 1950s, is bordered by County Line Road to the north, Good Hope Road to the south, 124th Street to the west and 68th Street to the east. The town of Granville was one of the last large pieces of land annexed into the City of Milwaukee and was primarily rural in nature.

The HGC’s overall goal is to improve the quality of life and general prosperity of residents living on Milwaukee’s far northwest side. The non-profit organization aims to create a stable, healthy community through programs that support the housing, economic, civic and leadership development of the Granville neighborhood.

The HGC aims to provide funding and economic development assistance to further the positive redevelopments that have taken place in the last year and a half. By increasing the communication, coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders in the community – homeowners, businesses, community leaders, citizens, community organizations – the HGC hopes to foster economic development and strengthen the community as a whole.

“There’s a groundswell of support for redeveloping this area, and the HGC is excited to lead the way on those initiatives,” Thomae said. “Programs aimed at improving local housing, business opportunities, neighborhood improvement and other elements of this community will be undertaken in the coming months. Each of the individuals in our organization is focused on accomplishing one goal – to improve the quality of life in this area. Working together, we can make that goal a reality.”

Other HGC officers include its vice president, Al Hill, president of the Northridge Estates Neighborhood Association; treasurer, Gary Mohn, chief executive officers of Alexian Village; and secretary, Pat Buechs, Director of the John C. Cudahy Branch of the YMCA.

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