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.
