storyhill.net
questions
Was
the city told by the VA not to talk to veterans service
groups and did it pass that along to veterans?
Another
vet said the city falsely has been claiming to have full
support from veterans' groups for the development, not
just the Freedom Center.
Has the city claimed such support?
Rowe's
response
We
want to invite veterans' groups and the community to join
us in a planning effort for the VA grounds to do the following:
-Ensure that
the historic area and healing grounds remain intact and
preserved -Ensure that groups currently occupying some
of the historic buildings continue to do so
-To determine
together a carefully planned, limited development near
Miller Park Way and National Avenue that brings in uses
that additional serve veterans. We consider biotech research
to be an enhancement to the medical work of the Clement
J. Zablocki Medical Center.
What we do not want to see:
-We do not
want to see random, unplanned commercial development
-We do not want to see any of the historic buildings gutted
or torn down
-We do not
want to disturb Wood National Cementery
-We do not want to bring in condos to Old Main
We are waiting for the Veterans Administration to decide
whether they will issue an RFP directly to commercial
developers or instead will allow the City of Milwaukee
to work with veterans and the community on a creating
a master plan that takes into account some of the concerns
expressed last night.
If the VA grants
us this opportunity, the first order of business is to
ask veterans what uses they want to see and not see in
certain areas of the ground.
Last night
some veterans expressed their wishes to see Wood National
Cemetery extended on the property. This is a question
for the Veterans Administration to answer.
Finally, we've
not made any sweeping claims about full support from veterans'
groups. We want to work with veterans on a plan that we
hope they'll ultimately support.
---posted
Aug. 11, 2006
