NWSP is honored to have spent the past 10 years working alongside partners, neighbors and friends of the Near West Side, highlighting our vibrant neighborhood of neighborhoods as a great place to live, work, play and stay.
As we celebrate a decade of progress, we’re sharing 10 of the things we’re most grateful for this Thanksgiving:
1) Concordia 27
Together, we’ve witnessed the Near West Side’s revitalization in safety, housing, business growth, and community well-being. The grand opening of Concordia 27 on 27th Street stands as a testament to our progress—a vibrant community center and a new home for NWSP where neighbors can access health resources, connect in creative spaces, and explore new job opportunities.
2) New Affordable Housing Units
Thanks to new funding, Concordia 27 will soon feature new housing units on its upper floor, further opening up doors to neighbors in the Near West Side who earn approximately $15 to $20 an hour.
3) New Business in the Near West Side
This year, the Near West Side has proudly welcomed several fantastic new businesses. Among them are Fruition MKE, now open inside Concordia 27 (825 N 27th St.), Taco Pros (1400 W Wells St.), and Lisa Kaye Bistro (3801 W. Vliet St.), the latest venture by Chef Lisa McKay, our 2017 Rev-Up MKE winner. Each of these businesses contributes to the thriving community and unique flavor of the Near West Side.
4) NWSP’s First-Ever Near West Fest
NWSP launched its 10th anniversary with the first-ever Near West Fest during Near West Side Week 2024, hosted at the newest neighborhood gem, Davidson Park. The event was a fantastic success, and we were thrilled to celebrate with everyone, raising a glass of our special edition Molson Coors “10 Year Beer!”
5) Being a 2024 MANDI Award Recipient
NWSP is honored to have received the 2024 MANDI in the JPMorgan Chase Economic Development Award category this year. This award recognizes us as an outstanding program that stimulates economic and business development on a neighborhood scale.
6) Another Successful Year of Rev-Up MKE
Over 230 people joined NWSP for our Rev-Up MKE live pitch competition at The Rave this year! Out of the five great finalists who pitched their new business ideas, Mercedez Butts, founder of Joyce’s House Education Center, won with her pitch to bring accessible education classes to our neighborhood. In our community, she will be better able to connect with adult learners who desire to prioritize furthering their education and Milwaukee employers who are looking to upscale their workforce.
7) Davidson Park
NWSP brought a new 4.8-acre public park to the Near West Side, transforming a former parking lot on Harley-Davidson’s corporate campus. Davidson Park was built in partnership with anchor institution Harley Davidson, which has called the Near West Side home for over 120 years.
8) A Record Number of Survey Responses to the 2024 Housing Survey
The NWSP 2024 Housing Survey, led by the Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods (RON) Coalition, NWSP staff and paid volunteers, gathered a record-breaking 2,000+ responses—400 more than in 2022. This effort informs our organization on how to best connect homeowners with resources, grant funding and support systems for home repairs and maintenance in the Near West Side.
9) Improving Pedestrian Safety
NWSP and the City of Milwaukee are making our streets safer by closing hazardous slip lanes around the city and in the Near West Side. Mayor Cavalier Johnson praised our recent slip lane closure at Highland Boulevard and 27th Street for leading to a 14% reduction in turning speeds. These changes, though small, are having a big impact on our community’s safety.
10) All of YOU!
Last but not least, NWSP is thankful for YOU, our neighbors, friends and partners who have made all of this possible!
As we look forward to the next 10 years, we recognize that while we have accomplished so much together and have so much to be thankful for, we still have work to do to continue the revitalization of the Near West Side.
If you are also thankful for our work at NWSP, consider making a monthly donation to NWSP this Thanksgiving to make the Near West Side a great place to live, work, play and stay.
Donate today at Nearwestsidemke.org/give.
