North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance

The vision for this area is a progressive urban community intent on combining unique public spaces and commercial experience which interconnect vibrant, established neighborhoods.

The East Tosa North Avenue commercial district has had numerous studies over the years to address specific issues from parking to streetscape, yet it lacks a cohesive, strategic plan or “road map” to articulate the vision. As such, this area lacks a coordinated approach.

East Town North Avenue is one of several neighborhood oriented commercial districts that need some revitalization.

The Grant Task Force, made up of neighborhood residents, area alderman, commercial property owners, area business managers and Wauwatosa Community Development personnel, crafted a Request for Proposal for development of a road map intended to provide guidance in promoting successful business district which more appropriately reflect the character of the neighborhoods through which it passes thereby improving the quality of life in the adjacent neighborhoods that has made Wauwatosa one of the area’s most desirable communities.

The Request for Proposal was issued on November 10th. There is a desire to have consultants secured by early 2010 to begin the planning process.

Posted: November 14th, 2009 under North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance, Recent Success.
Comments: none

The Board of Directors is made up of 9-11 community stakeholders.   Board members shall be selected through a nomination process followed by Board approval with one board member appointed by the Mayor.  Board members serve a 3 year term.  

Board Meeting dates are listed on the calendar under “Upcoming Events.”

Posted: June 29th, 2009 under Alliance Meetings, Events.
Comments: none

Please join us for the first Clean & Green North Avenue event in East Tosa.   Focusing on North Avenue from 60th – 76th, this event is an opportunity for neighbors and businesses along North Avenue to take pride in our neighborhoods by helping to clean up. 

Volunteers should walk to their nearest North Avenue corner at 9am on June 20th with gardening/ work gloves in order to weed out the cracks and pavers.  Trash will be placed in black garbage bags, which will be provided, and plant material in the provided clear bags.  The city will pick up and dispose of the filled bags. 

We hope you join us to make North Avenue Clean & Green!

This event is hosted by Tosa East Towne Neighborhood Association.

Posted: June 12th, 2009 under Act Now, Events.
Comments: none

In April of 2009, residents and businesses of East Tosa were invited to join a Neighborhood Discussion.  Over thirty people attended.  Attendees shared their impressions of North Avenue now and their vision for what they want on North Avenue.   Click here to view the meeting minutes.

Posted: April 7th, 2009 under Alliance Meetings, Events, Neighborhoods, Our Community.
Comments: none

The North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance, in collaboration with East Town Business and Merchant’s Association, Inglewood Heights, Old Hillcrest, Pabst Park, Tosa East Town and Washington Highlands Neighborhood Associations,  submitted a grant to fund the development of a comprehensive, long-term master plan that best reflects the vision for North Avenue East Tosa.   This grant will be used to develop a plan and corresponding tactics for implementation to support economic sustainability on North Avenue from 60^th-76^th Streets.  Click Block Grant to view a complete version of the grant.

Planning Task Force

If you are interested being part of the Planning Task Force, feel you have experience that will help in this process, and can commit to the meeting schedule, please complete the form below.  Note, we will limit the size of the task force to ensure it is a workable size.

Posted: December 15th, 2008 under North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance, Our Community, Recent Success.
Comments: none

September 6, 2008
Attendees: Kathy Ehley, Warren Goff, Ed Haydin, Meg Miller, Scott Miller, Matt Stippich, Julie Terwelp

Though this group’s focus is on East Town Tosa,  we were overwhelming disappointed with the entire plan; it seemed to simple fill a perfunctory role to meet a mandate.

We would like to see the plan address the opportunity focus on reconnecting our communities and individual neighborhoods. We recommend the plan celebrate the unique personalities of these neighborhoods by:

− Considering opportunities to address “main street” areas like North Avenue in East Town Tosa
− Focusing on the unique personalities of each, individual neighborhood community.
− Incorporating walk ability and bike ability into the infrastructure as a means of transportation.
− Addressing the need for consistent solicitation and support for small business and small business infrastructure. Though there are great opportunities for larger developments, many residents live within walking of small commercial districts. There must be a plan to solicit and support small business in order for these neighborhoods to maintain their unique draw and grow.
− Addressing and conveying the vision of Wauwatosa as a series of unique neighborhoods that, together, create a vibrant, diverse, urban community.

We appreciate the opportunity to share our thoughts of the plan and hope to see more focus on these aspects in the approved plan.

Posted: September 16th, 2008 under Alliance Meetings, Our Community.
Comments: 1

The North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance, in collaboration with East Town Business and Merchant’s Association, Inglewood Heights,  Old Hillcrest, Pabst Park, Tosa East Town and Washington Highlands Neighborhood Associations has submitted a grant to fund the development of a comprehensive, long-term master plan that best reflects the vision for North Avenue East Tosa.  This grant will take the comprehensive plan developed for the city and hone in on this area specifically. The grant review will take place this fall.

Posted: September 1st, 2008 under North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance.
Comments: none

City of Wauwatosa Comprehensive Plan (July 2008 Draft)
Volume Two: Policies and Recommendations

Focusing on North Avenue: Tosa’s Main Street

Running east-west through the City, North Avenue functions as one of Wauwatosa’s most important neighborhood-oriented commercial corridors. In addition to providing convenient and accessible goods, services, and community facilities to the surrounding neighborhoods, North Avenue has the potential to better unify east and west town Tosa. To maintain and enhance the character of North Avenue, the City intends to work in collaboration with ETBMA, WEDC, business owners, and nearby residents to develop a corridor plan for North Avenue. Such a plan should address the following:

Read more »

Posted: September 1st, 2008 under Resources.
Comments: none

Survey respondents voiced concern about walking along North Avenue. Among complaints noted were speed of traffic, illegal use of left turn lanes and noncompliance of yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks were specifically noted as deterrents. Sixty percent (60.1%) of survey respondents stated that the fact that traffic doesn’t yield to pedestrians in crosswalks “impacts” or “greatly impacts” the walk ability of North Avenue while over 90% of respondents felt the walk ability of North Avenue is “important” to “very important” to the success of North Avenue. The Alliance, working with elected officials, has been working to make North Avenue safer.

Read more »

Posted: July 15th, 2008 under Recent Success, Resources.
Comments: none

North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance Community Survey

In a community survey, over 350 residents of the Pabst Park and East Town neighborhoods responded to questions about how current businesses meet their needs, types of business where they would likely spend money, pedestrian safety and crime.

Top concerns included pedestrian safety issues and the desire for greater variety of businesses and amenities catering to the needs of these neighborhoods.

Summary of Findings: This summary highlights the major findings of the North Avenue Neighborhood Alliance Community Survey. To view a PDF of the complete summary, please click here.

Posted: July 2nd, 2008 under Resources.
Comments: none