Work began in early June to improve the safety of Bluemound Road.  The first segment of construction is between Moorland Road and Calhoun Road.  The DOT anticipated that each segment would take about a month to complete.  We are at week four, so the newly configured highway should soon be "open." 

Businesses east of Calhoun should breathe a sigh of relief within a week or so. The learning process will then begin.

In the meantime, we have all enjoyed the traffic calming to date and traffic tie-ups. Especially enjoyable are the motorists who block other intersections while waiting.

Also noticed (while sitting through three stop light cycles) is that more drivers are making u-turns at intersections with stop lights.  The "no u-turn" signs are no longer at the intersections, so evidently they are legal now.  

Also, be especially wary of work that has been completed.  For example, Calhoun Road, north of Bluemound, has already made changes to traffic patterns, but one exit from the strip mall does not have a "no left turn" sign - yet.

When the work is completed east of Calhoun, crews will begin working on the Calhoun to Brookfield Road improvements.

The Department of Transportation began its improvements to traffic flow on Bluemound Road in early June.  The work will be done in three one-mile segments and each segment will take about a month to complete.

The first phase is between Moorland and Calhoun Roads.  Over the summer, work will progress westward (in one-mile increments) to Barker Road.

Since early June, the following work has been accomplished between Moorland and Calhoun Roads.  Temporary utility poles were installed and stop lights strung across the intersections. Orange barrels have been distributed along the roadway.  Barricades have been erected at many medians. The white diagonal lines that designated bus and right turns have been painted over.  Drivers may now drive in the right lane.  That is good, because drivers can no longer use the left lane.

As we enter week two:  Concrete medians are being removed.  Any trees and/or shrubs in the medians are being bulldozed.  Alas, I believe the trees and shrubs being sacrificed were once part of "streetscaping"  partially funded by taxpayers. Perhaps a reader can clarify.

Because there is construction on Calhoun Road and on Bluemound Road delays are compounded.  The difficulty entering/exiting V Richards Plaza is no doubt adversely impacting the businesses located there.

Perhaps the construction is really part of traffic calming for the 70,000 cars that travel east/west along Bluemound Road each day. 

As you speed down Bluemound Road, you may notice a large white barn and small two story home on a patch of green.  You'll find this gem on the north side of the road just east of Janacek Road (about 192^nd Street).  If you are more familiar with Best Buy and Menards, Eble Park is just across the street.

This 40 acre patch of green is courtesy of Florence Eble.  At one time, her family farm extended across Bluemound Road, and a barn was on the south side of the road.  Eble donated her forty acres to Waukesha County as a permanent green space.

Florence's Garden provides a welcome respite for drivers speeding past. Passers-by are enthralled by the flower, herb and vegetable gardens at Eble Park.  Some are stopped in their tracks by the season-long beauty in Florence's Garden.  Produce harvested from the vegetable garden is donated to a Waukesha County food bank.

The gardens are cared for by a dedicated group of Master Gardener Volunteers.  In case you haven't heard of "Master Gardeners," each person takes (and pays for) horticultural training by UW-Extension Agents.  In return, they collectively dedicate thousands of hours to gardens in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties each year.

This Saturday, you may see dozens of master gardeners working at Eble.  If weather permits, they will be taking perennial plants from the vegetable garden and potting them.  The plants were donated by master gardeners last fall and grew in the unused garden until now.  In the next few weeks, similar "digs" are scheduled at many, many homes. Thousands of perennials will be sold on May 17, 2008 at State Fair Park DNR area as part of the 13^th Annual Perennial Plant Sale.

Master gardeners volunteer at the Milwaukee County Zoo, State Fair Park, Havenwoods State Park (Milwaukee County) and also at Eble Gardens, Old World Wisconsin and Ten Chimneys (Waukesha County).  They also tend gardens at many other locations and care facilities throughout the metropolitan area.

The Town of Brookfield announced plans for development of the "Bluemound Road Corridor."  The area is bounded by Barker Road, I 94 and Bluemound Road and extends east of Poplar Creek.  The development covers about 80 acres. It includes the properties owned by Marcus Corporation and Menards. 

The Corridor plans include 4-8 story commercial buildings and 2-4 story multi-family units.  Since the plans were announced, the town has sought public comment and met with property owners. Town officials believe it's important to work with the business owners - to meld the visions of the town and business owners together.  There is a strong desire to achieve positive acceptance about the development. Indeed, suggestions about roadway placement and project flexibility have already been integrated into the consultant's plans.

The goals of the development plans are to address problems of circulation (pedestrian and automobile), maintain property values and provide an inviting consumer environment.  Plans for the Bluemound Corridor Node accomplish all three.

Traffic circulation will be improved by two additional east/west roads (parallel to I94) and a north/south road (beneath high-tension lines). Sidewalks will encourage foot traffic between the businesses and offices.

Taller structures (4-8 and 2-4 stories) provide more business / office space.  This yields a more economically-viable development while positively impacting property values. A planned parking structure will reduce the need for large asphalt parking lots.

An inviting consumer environment is provided through urban style architecture.  Ground level stores will have large windows, and include eateries and service providers. It's possible that a person working in an office or business could spend his/her lunch hour within the same complex.

The Town of Brookfield's administrator, Rick Czopp, said, "Government should be slow and deliberate because of the future impact on the community" and a desire to achieve positive acceptance.

The town's plans are consistent with Waukesha County's development plans.  The town is one of 27 communities that are collaborating with the county.

There are no plans for tax incremental financing (TIF or TID) for this development.  These designations are typically used in distressed areas.  The town did use TIF funds for the environmental clean up of the new Palladium Theatre site.  The ground had become contaminated by underground diesel storage leaks.

The Town of Brookfield will look much different in 10 years.

The City has announced its 2008 community improvements.  Beware the barrels.

We will be experiencing inconveniences soon as the state begins reconfiguring Bluemound Road between Moorland and Barker Road.  The goal: a safer highway.  This will be accomplished by closing medians to limit left turns.  Construction will start at Moorland; work will be done in sections.  About the time this road work moves to Calhoun Road, construction will begin on Calhoun Road south of Bluemound.

The road will be widened to four lanes and include a median and sidewalks.  This will be accomplished by "taking" the front yards of properties along the road.  Once the sidewalks are in, we should see more pedestrian traffic.  The widening of Calhoun Road will signal VK to finalize his plans for the 80 acre "Ruby Farms" property.   While the city seems to know VK's vision/plan it has not been shared with the community/taxpayers.

Brookfield Square will be adding two new businesses - a restaurant (2008) and a furniture store (2009).  Parking is already at a premium at the mall.  These additions will contribute more parking lot congestion.  The improvements at Brookfield Square are intended to make the shopping center competitive with the proposed Pabst Farms.

A recent Journal/Sentinel article about the Pabst Farms proposal likened the shopping experience to the upscale Mayfair and Bayshore malls.  Sorry, Brookfield.

We cannot forget the city's two new fire stations - on Calhoun Road at Greenfield and Capitol Drive. Ironically the Calhoun/Greenfield station will be on a four lane road with medians.  The Calhoun/Capitol location will not.

Let's hope your New Year's resolution included (a) no left turns except at controlled intersections and (b) more involvement in the city's plans.

Brookfield became a city in 1954.  In 1959, the city funded a master plan for development. At that time, the plan projected a population of 80,000 people, and it included a mix of residential, commercial and industrial development.

Because of this, Dan Ertl, Director of Community Development, becomes defensive when people talk about the over-commercialization of Brookfield. Dan was hired in 1987 and began reviewing the 1959 plan with Kate Bloomberg.  Ertl described development until that time as "frenzied."  Ertl and Bloomberg reduced the 1959 plans for density along North Avenue, 124 Street and Capitol Drive.  Ertl is committed to ensuring existing businesses' success and that the city remains inviting and competitive . 

In its 2020 Master Plan, the city has identified ten "targeted intervention areas." The targeted neighborhoods / nodes  are the Northwest Gateway, Brookfield-Capitol,  Calhoun-Capitol, Lilly-Capitol, 124 St.-Capitol, 124 St-Bluemound, South Gateway, Bluemound Road Corridor, Civic Center and Village Area.

The Department of Community Development has developed promotional pieces for the city overall, and for each of the "targeted intervention areas" (alternatively called nodes).  These are quite well done. Each two-page description of the area describes existing businesses, development opportunities, recent investments, traffic & transportation, rental rates and demographics.  The population, households, % owner-occupied homes, average and median household incomes, and total retail sales are given for a 1-mile, 3-mile and 5-mile radius. 

If you are concerned about future of Brookfield, please request the two page fact sheet(s).  These descriptions are also available on the city's website. 11/14/07  Pat Drinan, Economic Development Director provided the correct link for City of Brookfield marketing brochures: http://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us/index.asp?nid=123

We can't change what the City of Brookfield has become, but we may influence its future. We have a right - and an obligation - to be informed about the environment we'll find ourselves in by 2020.

(1)  My writing (and believing) that 124^th Street south of Greenfield was in Brookfield.  (Dec 12, 2006)

(2) A statement that the Town of Brookfield won't use TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) to redevelop property along Bluemound Road  (Aug 13, 2007)

(3) My belief that Greenfield Road has better traffic flow than Bluemound Road (Sep 28, 2007)

He was right on the first one. I will never forget that 124th Street south of Greenfield is in New Berlin. In fact, I acknowledged that Dec 31, 2006.  But I do maintain that a [non-environmental] TIF won't be used in the town, and that the traffic flow on Greenfield is better than that on Bluemound.

Here's why:

Legally, the town form of government cannot use a TIF.  But evidently there is an exception for lands needing environmental cleanup.  A state TIF was used (by the Town) in clean up of the Majestic theatre site.

In my opinion, Greenfield Road does has better traffic flow than Bluemound Brookfield Road (corrected 11/2/07).  While I normally head east on Greenfield Road to 124^th, I have taken Greenfield Road west to Waukesha.  Admittedly, the road does narrow west of Bluemound Road. (That’s because the Town of Brookfield chose not to fund the road widening at the level the state demanded.)  From my perspective, the alternate design the state created does not impede traffic flow.

I do live in the Town of Brookfield.  I enjoy the lower tax rates, town water, and sanitary sewer rates that are lower that the city’s.  Emergency response times have been good, and I am confident in the first responders’ skills.  As the word ‘town’ implies, it has smaller government which I feel tends to be more responsive than larger entities.

Nonetheless, I’m sorry I inconvenienced those who pointed out my errors. So please let me know about future misstatements by using the "commenting tool' on this blog.

It started as a deer path and then became an Indian trail through the forest.

In 1836 it became a “military road” to move military supplies and soldiers between forts and outposts.

In 1848 investors began constructing Watertown Plank Road – a 58 mile wood plank road between Milwaukee and Watertown.  Eventually, a portion of Watertown Plank Road became Bluemound Road.

In 1919, Bluemound Road became a two lane roadway overlaid in concrete pavement (approx. 11' travel lanes).  About 1,900 people lived in the 36 square mile Brookfield Township about that time.

In 1958, the road was expanded to four lane divided highway. It became known as “Bluemound Super Highway.”  The population of the city and town of Brookfield was 21,802 according to the 1960 census.

Between 1960 - 1980 a third west-bound lane was added between Janacek and Barker Roads.  The roadway was resurfaced in 1980.

In 1990 / 91 the current roadway configuration was constructed.  The road was expanded to three lanes with middle and auxiliary lanes for turning.  An estimated 39,675 people lived in the city and town of Brookfield.  In thirty years population had doubled.

In 1996 Goerke’s Corners was reconstructed.

In 2006, the Department of Transportation decided the road was unsafe.  Its plan is to close some medians and create frontage roads.  The frontage roads would reduce the number of driveway entrances to / from businesses along the route.  Town government provided comments to the DOT, the city chose not to.  The department's plans remain unchanged.

Stay tuned to 2008. 

Lately I've found myself traveling beyond Brookfield's borders into New Berlin.

I've found myself driving on Greenfield Ave. two or three times a week.  Greenfield Ave. is  a good east / west alternative to Bluemound Rd.  There is little traffic and few stop lights.  The 45 mph speed limit can easily be maintained.  There are relatively few businesses (except at the intersections), and many homes with large lawns.  I enjoy the suburban look.  (Yes, I do know that the westbound lane is Brookfield!)

Occasionally I'll take Cleveland Ave. east and west. The roadway seems to have a more country feel.  But once again, there's little traffic and fairly smooth traveling. 

Now, if only there were free-flowing north and south roads across Brookfield into adjoining communities.