The Common Council took action on two measures this Tuesday that shifts the proposed Harley-Davidson museum into a higher gear:
- The Council approved to spend $24 million to relocate the DPW's Traser Yards facility to a site within the Tower Automotive complex (along with two Water Works facilities). This move will open up the Traser Yards site for the proposed Harley museum at 6th and Canal Streets.
- The Council also approved selling the Traser Yards land, plus some other City-owned land across the street, to Harley-Davisdon (about 20 acres total, on all four corners of 6th and Canal Streets). The City will also provide about $7 million of tax incremental financing to help cover the cost of public improvements/infrastructure on the site.
Still, there are major concerns with the proposed site design (parking lots on all four corners, street access, zoning issues), which will need Council approval in the coming months. Resolving these urban design issues will be a key challenge for Harley, the Council, and the Department of City Development.
There are also still concerns about solidifying Harley's full dedication to the project, which is ultimately planned to include not just a museum, but office space as well.
As things stand now, the DPW is anticipated to be moved off-site by 2006; the museum is expected to be completed in 2008.
Check out the
Journal Sentinel article for specifics:
Harley museum is approved for Menomonee Valley