Somers Village President George Stoner, left, and Pritzker military Museum & Library Founder and Chair Jennifer Pritzker talk during the Mission94 indoor gun range groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning. The range will offer 15 firing lanes.
Somers Village President George Stoner, left, and Pritzker military Museum & Library Founder and Chair Jennifer Pritzker talk during the Mission94 indoor gun range groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning. The range will offer 15 firing lanes.
Work on a major multi-year development plan that would fundamentally reshape Downtown Kenosha could begin this year.
Mayor John Antaramian talks about the proposed development for Downtown at his office in City Hall on Thursday.
The comprehensive plan unveiled this week covers nine blocks of Downtown bordered by Sheridan Road on the west, 52nd Street on the north, 56th Street on the south and Lake Michigan on the east It’s a partnership with Cobalt Partners, LLC of Milwaukee and C. D. Smith, a general contractor and development firm based in Fond du Lac.
Mayor John Antaramian said the plan is the result of collaborative efforts by the city and a development team to craft a mixed-use district taking advantage of the lakefront, existing attractions and amenities, as well as multi-modal transit access including Metra train service from Chicago.
“The city has been planning for the next generation of Downtown development for a number of years,” Antaramian said a statement Wednesday when the effort was first announced. “The development team brings a fresh perspective to Kenosha, backed by significant experience in public/private partnerships throughout Wisconsin and in other states.”
The plan calls for over 1,000 living units in several mid-rise buildings and one larger tower, along with condominiums on the eastern most block to complement the existing Harbor Park district. A central park and laneway would connect residential buildings with a market hall, food kiosk and retail space, according to a city release. Plans also call for a full-service hotel on Sheridan Road along with two office buildings.
“Ample green space, green roofs and use of solar panels are just some of the sustainable features planned in the development,” according to city documents.
The developers will work with the city to develop a new municipal office building, freeing up the current city hall site for a residential tower and mixed-use development.
The city is also in discussions with veteran’s organizations to create a new Veterans Memorial Park and expand the current park on the site.
“We’ve been impressed with the strong economic growth in Kenosha for many years,” said Scott Yauck, president of Cobalt Partners, in a statement. “Kenosha’s lakefront is beautiful, and the Downtown has many attractions, restaurants and shopping. We are confident in the market for high quality multi-family with fantastic views and within walking distance to all the downtown and lakefront have to offer.”
Mike Krolczyk, senior vice president of C. D. Smith, expressed similar sentiments.
“We have worked on large scale public/private partnerships in the Milwaukee, La Crosse, Madison, and Appleton communities. We see significant potential in Kenosha for the Downtown to really blossom,” Krolczyk said in a statement.
The City Plan Commission was set begin considering the plan on Thursday evening, and the City Council’s Public Works and Finance committees will review the development agreement prior to full City Council consideration on May 15.
The plan utilizes the existing Tax Increment District No. 27 to assist in funding needed public improvements, parking and the central park space, city officials indicated.
Construction could start in the fall, and the development is anticipated to be completed in several phases over a decade.
This is an rendering of the proposed Kenosha Downtown Development Project, which would take much of the next decade to develop on nine city blocks in the Downtown area.
The development is expected to create more than $450 million in value, Antaramian said.
The conceptual master plan and preliminary building designs were developed by SCB Architects – Chicago. SCB designed the 7SEVENTY7 (Van Buren) apartment building in Downtown Milwaukee, as well as the 333 North Water Street apartment tower, currently under construction in Milwaukee’s Third Ward.
During a Thursday morning interview Thursday morning Antaramian expressed excitement and support for the effort. Antaramian said the project has been in the works for years and believes most alderpersons will support it.
“This plan has been coming down for many years. I know that people always like projects to happen quickly but the reality is projects like this just don’t happen overnight,” Antaramian said. “This will be huge. This project we anticipate roughly at the present time building out about $450 million and we believe that’s low.”
Antaramian said the plan includes a new City Hall, a multi-story hotel, a large corporate office building, apartments, a market, fountains and a park, among other things.
“This will add a number of people into the Downtown area,” Antaramian said. “It does provide commercial office activities but it doesn’t take away from the rest of Downtown. ... The amenities that are here are going to be draws to get more people to come Downtown and enjoy it.”
Kenosha Police Department Sgt. Dusty Nichols, left, places the name of a fallen officer on the flag during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday.
Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Andrea Mehring, left, and Kenosha Police Department Sgt. Dusty Nichols, right, watch as Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman, second from left, and Mayor John Antaramian place the wreath during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday.
Kenosha Police Department Sgt. Dusty Nichols carries a rose to be placed at the Public Safety Monument in memory of a fallen officer during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service on Wednesday.
Members of the Kenosha Area Pipes and Drums plays “Amazing Grace” during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday.
The Honor Guard performs the rifle salute during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Kenosha Police Department Chief Patrick Patton address the crowd during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner address the crowd during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Kenosha County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Andrea Mehring places the name of a fallen officer on the flag during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Kenosha County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Andrea Mehring salutes a fallen officer during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Sgt. Andrea Mehring with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department places a rose in memory of a fallen officer during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Kenosha Police Officer and member of the Honor Guard Nelson Mendez plays Taps during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
The Color Guard posts the colors during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Members of the Kenosha Police Department put their hands to their hearts as Andrea Squires, not in photograph, performs the National Anthem during the Kenosha Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Public Safety Monument on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
The annual Kenosha County law enforcement memorial service at the Public Safety Monument in Harborpark Wednesday marked fallen officers and recognized current members of law enforcement.
Kenosha Police Department Chief Patrick Patton said the day was about keeping a promise to remember officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“It’s one of those we are going to continue to come out here and make sure your name is not forgotten,” Patton said. “We say it every year. We will look your family in the face and say we have not forgotten. We still do it. It’s just honoring that promise that we made.”
Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner echoed Patton’s sentiments.
“We ask these young people be paladins. to be warrior, and of give themselves to a degree that so many in civilian world don’t, and they have to know that what they do is recognized and appreciated,” Zoerner said.” God forbid one of them pays the ultimate price with the loss of their life; they’re gonna be taken care of (and) their honor will be cherished.”
Patton said speaking at the ceremony was moving for him as he saw the faces of the Kenosha Police Department looking back at him as he spoke.
“I get this real heavy heart when I stand up there,” Patton said. “I don’t know if, one day, I’m going to get the knock on my door or a phone call saying it’s one of my officers. When I get up there I think about that.”
Zoerner said the ceremony was also a day to recognize those whose names are not etched on the monument.
“I wanted to show appreciation for the people who aren’t on the monument, because over the last few years we’ve lost people from our agencies that weren’t in a gunfight that gave of themselves so much,” Zoerner said. “I just want to make sure that the commitment is to all of the people we’ve lost whether they’re on a monument or not recognized.”
Kenosha County Court Commissioner Loren Keating gave the keynote speech and discussed how to honor fallen officers.
“How do we, the living, honor those who died in service,” Keating asked. “We do so by never forgetting who they were and what they sacrificed. We must continue to remember their service, their higher calling. Those who we honor today are not simply names on a monument, they mattered.”
The ceremony incnluded national anthem, sung by Andrea Squires, great-granddaughter of fallen Kenosha Police Officer Antonio Pingitore, followed by the presentation of the colors and remarks from the Kenosha Sheriff’s Department Chaplain John Hagerty.
“Today is a time of celebration,” Hagerty said. “This memorial is celebration of who we are memorializing, a celebration of their lives lived, a recalling of the family and friends they left behind, (and) a remembrance of the ultimate sacrifice.”
The national Officer Down Memorial Page indicates there were a total of 245 officers who died in the line-of-duty in 2022 including 81 that were COVID-19 related. This year, there have been over 33 line-of-duty deaths.
During 2022, there were also 25 law enforcement K-9’s that died in the line-of-duty in 2022.
“We have already seen more officers die in the line of duty this year than any year since 2000,” Patton said.
A rendition of “Amazing Grace” was performed by the Kenosha Area Pipes and Drums Association, a benediction given by Pleasant Prairie Police Chaplain David Pagel, a rifle salute from the law enforcement honor guard and playing of taps by the Kenosha Police Honor Guard.
“This memorial is a reminder that our area is not immune to big city problems,” Pagel said. “Line of duty deaths are always tragic, (and) we remember the fallen who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.”
Carthage College students, Sydney Anderson, end left, and Briseyda Bautista-Gonzalez listen to Kyah Jernigan, also a Carthage student, who spoke on time constraints to reading and access to books during a panel discussion on the growing concern over book banning held at the campus' student union Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
Julius Crump, left, an associate professor at Carthage College, listens to Gregory Bennett Jr., executive director of Peace in the Streets. Bennett was a member of a seven-member panel, which discussed the growing concern over book banning. The Courageous Conversations event, sponsored by the Kenosha Coalition for Dismantling Racism was held at the campus' student union Wednesday, May 10, 2023.
A panel concerned over the growing number of book challenges and bans convened at Carthage College Wednesday night to address causes and what can be done to begin to address them.
The panelists included Carthage College’s Jacqueline Witter Easley, professor of education and co-director of Teaching Commons; Barbara Brattin, director of the City of Kenosha Library and Kenosha County Library System; and Gregory Bennett Jr., executive director of Peace in Our Streets-Kenosha, Inc. Carthage students also participating in the panel were Myles Chubin, Sydney Anderson, Brisedya Bautista-Gonzalez and Kyah Jernigan.
Carthage’s Julius Crump, assistant professor of religion and director of equity and inclusion for faculty and academic integration, facilitated the discussion.
During the “Freedom to Read: The History and Threat of Book Banning” event, the panel evaluated historical and current attempts to ban and challenge books at schools and public libraries and discussed the effect such campaigns have had on restricting information, freedom of thought and expression of cultural, religious and racial diversity.
The Courageous Conversation event was organized by the Kenosha Coalition for Dismantling Racism.
Book banning in the U.S. has its roots in the 1800s, starting with Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written in 1852, which was the first to be banned nationally by the federal government because “they feared it would promote abolitionists,” said Easley during her presentation.
By 1873, U.S. postal inspector Anthony Comstock, initiated a law that sought to suppress the “trade in and circulation of obscene literature and articles for immoral use.”
“So, in other words, nothing through the mail that was deemed immoral or obscene could be distributed,” she said.
The Comstock Act also restricted the distribution of certain medicines, including birth control and materials that could be used for abortion and has resurfaced current national debates. The ban extended to James Joyce’s literary novel Ulysses published in 1933 and deemed obscene for distribution purposes. The ban was later repealed in 1957. Portions of the act still apply to the distribution of medicines, however, according to Easley.
As the trend toward greater censorship picked up steam, by 1982, the American Library Association created its first-ever national “Banned Book” week, in an effort to educate the public, said Easley. Each year, since then, the association has published its top 10 banned books and also top 100 list over time.
Most of the books since 2019, have been on topics centered on LGBTQ issues.
According to Unite Against Book Bans, the attempts to ban titles have nearly doubled in a year. Citing the organization’s most recent data, Easley said book ban attempts numbered 1,269 last year compared with 729 in 2021. The challenge to “unique titles” rose from 1,858 to 2,571.
“Ninety percent of the overall number of books challenged were part of attempts to censor multiple titles and that’s why we’re seeing the big increase,” she said. “So, instead of individuals approaching a school or a library … it’s now something that they’re having entire lists for that they’re putting out.”
She said various organizations are also publishing lists for people to bring to local schools and libraries.
According to Bennett, the rate at which books are increasingly challenged and/or banned is because the information is “at your fingertips.”
“Back in the day, you used to go to school catalog and actually do the research. So the same people that were being judged when it was greasers and rockers and their parents told them rock and roll was bad and it’s evil. The same people are trying to ban the books now,” he said “They became the parents.
“At the end of the day, everything’s at your fingertips, and the more you escalate in school and keep going up and up. Then, you start wanting to learn more, you start doing the research yourself, and now it’s harder to hide,” he said.
The panel also discussed why fewer students, especially teens and young adults read less. Anderson said access is important.
“Not every kid has access to all the books in their library, let alone books that are banned,” she said. “So, I think if legislation is passed to ban books, obviously that dramatically decreases literacy, but it is also very discouraging for kids who maybe don’t have an outlet to ask for the books.”
Chubin said while students are still reading because they have to for school, reading for enjoyment has decreased. However, he said when books are banned they receive more attention.
“When, ‘This Book is Gay’ was banned across the United States, I think it sold another 2,000 copies on Amazon and sold out within weeks,” he said.
Bautista-Gonzalez said she was more interested in reading books that have been banned.
“I feel like they are more educational,” she said.
“A lot of it is we talk about illiteracy .. and the fear that students will not know how to read, but what this is a signal of is ‘aliteracy,”’ Easley said. “That is people who know how to read and choose not to.”
Bratten said when it comes to age-appropriate materials she said it was up to parents to decide when they want to educate their children about certain topics.
“I also think it’s important to recognize that it’s not like teachers are brainwashing kids, or sharing information that’s way above their age level,” she said. “Teachers have done research. Teachers have studied and they’re perfectly capable of knowing what is age-appropriate content and what is not. And I think it’s absolutely ridiculous to be attacking teachers and saying that they’re indoctrinating kids.”
Terri Wruck, a member of the coalition, said among the things that people can do to address concerns over banning books and censorship challenges is to join book clubs in order to gain a better understanding of them, discussing the issues with local legislators, writing letters to the editor and visiting libraries.
“We know that information is power,” she said. “Our libraries hold the key to power that can level the playing field and open doors to inspire an enlightened people.”
