In recent years, Milwaukee Public Library has been heavily engaged in replacing its branch libraries with new, modern libraries, often in mixed-use developments that can help boost the city’s neighborhoods.
In recent years, Tippecanoe Library was renovated and Villard Square and East Library were replaced with mixed-use developments.
In the city’s 2014 budget, redevelopment of the branch libraries was a priority and $21.5 million was tabbed for the rebuilding of Forest Home Library, which was replaced by the Mitchell Street branch, Mill Road/Good Hope (currently under construction), King (now in the planning and financing stage) and now, Capitol.
MPL is holding a community open house at Capitol Library, 3969 N. 74th St., Monday, Nov. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., to gather public input on that project.
A new branch library here would, again, be part of a mixed-use building, that might or might not be on the same site as the current library.
"Currently the plan is to begin the development process by researching new potential library sites during 2018," reads the Capitol Library development page on the MPL website.
At the Nov. 26 event, MPL will offer an overview of the process and potential timeline for replacement of the Capitol Library. There will also be an update on the overall campaign with a slideshow of images of previous projects.
Bring your questions and ideas.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
