Brownfields and social/environmental justice in Milwaukee

Although Milwaukee has been one of the many "Rust Belt" victims of deindustrialization, it has been working hard in the past several years to attract new industries and manufacturing jobs. Much of this activity has focused on brownfields - you can find the EPA definition of these here. The highest-profile brownfields redevelopment project is undoubtedly the Menomonee Valley, but Milwaukee has also been working hard to redevelop the many brownfields located in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor.

The inner-city neighborhoods located adjacent to these brownfields redevelopment projects have taken a keen interest, working hard to make sure that they bring well-paid jobs for local residents. My recommendation for the Geography 564 projects is that you see what you can find out about these efforts. Here are some of the key organizations involved, but you'll probably be able to track down others:

16th Street Community Health Center: its program on Sustainable Community Development has been very active in the Menomonee Valley redevelopment project.

Good Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods, now part of Citizen Action, has been very active in the 30th Street Corridor.

Milwaukee's Department of City Development

You should also look up web sites for the neighborhoods surrounding both of these developments; you'll find  community development corporations and other groups that have been involved. One of our geogr PhD alums, Sandra Zupan, wrote her dissertation on these brownfields projects - you'll find this in the UWM library, and you may be able to find a digital copy on the web as well.