Monday, April 8, 2013
Inside the Bubble goes where few would think to go: Interviewing an Oak regarding Greendale's historic Hose Tower.
Long before there was a Ferch’s, long before there was a Greendale Village Hall, there was Oak. This Oak – as we have grown to expect in Greendale – is above average in every way. It was an All-State Acorn. It won Class AA “Best Leaf” 7 years in a row. It’s Bio, “My Bark is Not Worse Than My Bite” won a Participation Ribbon. This is not just another tree. Greendale Historical Society President Ted Mainella explained that this somewhat towering Oak is a “Witness Tree”. Being a “Witness Tree” is a fairly big deal. In its life – from a crazy little nut, to a gangling sapling and eventually to the strong hulk of tree you see today – this Oak has seen it all. This Oak witnessed the birth and the growth of Greendale. As a tree, it helped put …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Greendale Historical Society, which has secured more than $200,000 for the renovations, is expected to be among the bidders and will likely be awarded the project.
Citing a technicality and the suggestion of the Village attorney, the Greendale Village Board decided to put the remaining construction projects needed to turn the Hose Tower / Grounds Building at 5699 Parking St., into a cultural center out for bid. The decision came Tuesday even though it is widely understood that the Greendale Historical Society, through local, state and federal grants as well as significant private donations and pledges, will be tackling the project. “We were under the impression we didn’t have to publicly bid it, but (bidding) was brought up by the Historical Society,” Village Manager Todd Michaels told trustees Tuesday. “We had our attorney look into it. … We have to bid it, but the irony is, the Historical Society …
Friday, January 4, 2013
The historic building in the heart of Greendale’s National Historic Landmark District was targeted by vandals over Christmas break.
Graffiti found the day after Christmas on the historic Hose Tower building has people wondering who would do such a thing. An anonymous caller reported the graffiti -- large taggings located on two sides of the building -- Dec. 26 to the Greendale Police Department. Police say it’s too early to speculate on whether or not someone from the village committed the crime. They sent a photo of the graffiti to the Milwaukee Police Department to compare with similar taggings in the metro area. Village Manager Todd Michaels said that the Department of Public Works has been sampling different methods to remove the graffiti without damaging the brickwork. Michaels said they do not have an estimate of how much the work might cost the village. The Hose…
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Greendale Historical Society has formed a team to start work on the building interior for the construction of public restrooms, a kitchen, and other interior facilities including a public meeting space.
The Greendale Historical Society and a team will start work on interior construction on the Historic Hose Tower in December. Work on the re-adaption of the Historic Hose Tower will begin with preparation of the building interior for the construction of public restrooms, a kitchen, and other interior facilities including public meeting space for up to 100 persons. “Substantial completion of the building is planned for Village Days in August 2013, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Greendale,” said Historical Society President Ted Mainella in a release. “I can think of no better way to celebrate that important milestone than to readapt this important building and convert it to community use.” The Greendale Historical Society has raised…
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The Greendale Historical Society's architect has developed conceptual ideas for potential use of the Greendale Grounds Building and Hose Tower.
A conceptual plan for the Hose Tower and grounds building has been developed by the Greendale Historical Society’s architect. The project calls for the renovation of the building and turning it into a community gathering place. “Our mission is to plan, secure funds for and oversee the adaptive restoration of the Historic Greendale Grounds Building and Hose Tower into a Community/Cultural Center with public restrooms, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces and other facilities for community use,” said Greendale Historical Society President Ted Mainella. The plans are only conceptual. Much review needs to be done before any action can take place. If approved, work would be completed in accordance with state and federal requirements for historic…
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A third grade Canterbury class created and sold Greendale History books to help raise funds for the Hose Tower.
A third grade class at Canterbury Elementary School sold books about Greendale history and donated the $200 sales to the Greendale Historical Society’s Hose Tower Preservation project fund. On Friday the class presented Greendale Historical Society board members Ted and Mary Mainella with a "check" of $205. The idea emerged when teachers Jenna LePine, Randy Beres and Katie Matel took the class on a tour of Greendale's Village Center, which included the Hose Tower. The idea was born shortly after. It took the class about three months to complete the book, according to LePine. The Hose Project calls for renovation of the building and turning it into a community gathering place. The Village agreed last year to match funds raised by the …
Monday, March 19, 2012
Resident concerns about the concepts that included building a multi-family residential housing in the Parking Street parking lot prompted the Village of Greendale to schedule a second open house on April 18.
Redevelopment concepts to replace the Parking Street lot with multi-family residential housing was met with resistance by some residents at a March 14 Planning Commission meeting. Officials are giving people another chance to review the plans and bring ideas of their own. Trustee Sally Chadwick proposed having a second open house to gather more resident input. According to a press release from the Village, the five concepts have been developed to enhance and/or stabilize the tax base, improve the vitality of the Downtown area, attract customers, and build the Village’s reputation and value. The open house will allow residents to review concept drawings and provide input to Village representatives. The redevelopment discussions began after…
Thursday, March 15, 2012
In response to residents' concerns about a multi-family residential building that could be part of a future Village Center redevelopment on Parking Street, Greendale officials decided to hold a second open house on the concept plans.
The Village of Greendale will schedule a second open house for future Village Center redevelopment concepts on Parking Street after residents expressed concerns over a multi-family residential building. Wednesday night’s Planning Commission meeting was meant to be a concept planning exercise among commissioners, however, some residents expressed concerns over the building. A second open house was proposed by Trustee Sally Chadwick to get more input on the concepts. The first open house on Feb. 22 displayed five different concepts, designed by Milwaukee-based engineering firm GRAEF, for the redevelopment of Parking Street in the Village Center. Most of the redevelopment would be taking place at the parking lot on Parking Street. Some of …
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Village of Greendale will have an open house on Feb. 22.
Four concepts for the Village Center redevelopment will be presented at the Feb. 22 open house at the Greendale Safety Center. The goals behind the redevelopment is to try to enhance the tax base growth and stability, improve the vitality of the downtown area, attract more business and build the Village's reputation and value. The redevelopment will look to address circulation and parking, residential and other uses, historic character and public places. All four concepts incorporate off-street parking, street parking, drop-off/parking, multifamily units, courtyard, greenway links, active plazas, parks and gardens and preservation. The open house will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Courtroom of the…
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Village will hold the open house on Feb. 22.
The Feb. 22 open house will review Village Center redevelopment concepts and solicit public input for the Municipal Parking lot area. Concept drawings will be on display. The goals behind the redevelopment is to try to enhance the tax base growth and stability, improve the vitality of the downtown area, attract more business and build the Village's reputation and value. The redevelopment will look to address circulation and parking, residential and other uses, historic character and public places. The open house will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Greendale Safety Center located at 5911 W. Grange Ave. All interested people are invited to attend. Representative from the Village of…
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6:50 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Kudos to the Historical Society for such a creative approach to a worthy project! more ›