Departing the Green line at the intersection of Mitchell and First St. There is something that is oddly inviting. Walking closer you begin to recognize distinctive features of the building façade. Adorning the building’s dirty brown brick exterior are inlaid accents of a once brilliant white limestone. These accents embellish window corners and emphasize the storefront by wrapping entire building just above the first floor windows. The rumble of nearby motorcycle distract you as cross the street. You notice bright green lettering in cream colored stained glass windows that run above the storefront, each window displays a different word: Candies, Ice Cream, Stationery, and Prescriptions. Your eyes focus just over the door – Transfer Pharmacy. Right above this stained glass is a neon sign displaying the name of the restaurant that currently occupies this storefront – Transfer Pizzeria.
|
|
|
Once a classic cornerstone drugstore that for 50 years supplied a thriving community with goods and services, Transfer Pizzeria now stands in its namesake’s shoes. The pharmacy was aptly named for the bustling intersection at which it stands. Inside, patrons are greeted by a large horseshoe style diner counter that dominates the restaurant. Perched high above on a shelf overlooking patrons sits a picture from the 1930’s of Joseph Gaudynski, founder of Transfer Pharmacy. In the picture, Gaudynski’s stoicism commands respect - as he stands guard over his pharmacy. The ceiling provides a look at the building’s original layout; you can see the occasional odd augmentation, but the original dark brown wood work is still in place. Meanwhile the floor tells a story of recent history, in the 1960’s the pharmacy was converted to a neighborhood diner with a rusty red and cream colored tiled floor. Tables span the front windows, providing patrons a snapshot of the historic intersection just outside.
The street intersection of Mitchell Street, 1st Street, and Kinnickinnic Avenue brings us to the location of a unique environment. This site is stuck between the historic Third Ward and the rapidly gentrifying Bay View. Transfer Pizzeria brings in a different sense of community. Extending its reach past a one to two block radius. Transfer Pizzeria embodies the high volume of commuters’ right outside their window. Without trying to become an extension of Third Ward or Bay View, this active intersection is caught in the middle as it tries to regain its own sense of community without losing their history and traditions. |
Project 1
On the corner of west Mitchell street and south 1st
street sits a building that has remained there for more than a
century. Located in the Clock Tower neighborhood of south
Milwaukee the building has endured a variety of businesses
throughout its history. With communters from Downtown and
Bay View, the corner has always been a major transfer point.
The building was initially built in 1897 by American
architect, Frank Drolshagen, who work on many projects, both
residential and commerical, throughout the Milwaukee area.
For many years it was “Gull Food and Drug Store” which was
later named Transfer Pharmacy until in closed in 1955. The
stained glass reading “TRANSFER PHARMACY” can still be
seen today under the new stylized neon sign for the pizzeria,
“TRANSFER.”
The building has gone through phases of vacancies.
A George Webb burger joint came and went followed by a
breakfast restaurant Scrambled Ed’s. In late 2007 after years of
being vacant Transfer Pizzeria opened, its title paying homage
to the pharmacy that stood for years. Although there have
been minor touch-up’s throughout the years the exterior of
the building has remained the same. Once again, the transfer
point at 101 West Mitchell Street is booming hotspot for daily
commuters. Opening at 6:30 a.m the pizzeria serves breakfast
and coffee with over 40 pizza options for lunch and dinner.
street sits a building that has remained there for more than a
century. Located in the Clock Tower neighborhood of south
Milwaukee the building has endured a variety of businesses
throughout its history. With communters from Downtown and
Bay View, the corner has always been a major transfer point.
The building was initially built in 1897 by American
architect, Frank Drolshagen, who work on many projects, both
residential and commerical, throughout the Milwaukee area.
For many years it was “Gull Food and Drug Store” which was
later named Transfer Pharmacy until in closed in 1955. The
stained glass reading “TRANSFER PHARMACY” can still be
seen today under the new stylized neon sign for the pizzeria,
“TRANSFER.”
The building has gone through phases of vacancies.
A George Webb burger joint came and went followed by a
breakfast restaurant Scrambled Ed’s. In late 2007 after years of
being vacant Transfer Pizzeria opened, its title paying homage
to the pharmacy that stood for years. Although there have
been minor touch-up’s throughout the years the exterior of
the building has remained the same. Once again, the transfer
point at 101 West Mitchell Street is booming hotspot for daily
commuters. Opening at 6:30 a.m the pizzeria serves breakfast
and coffee with over 40 pizza options for lunch and dinner.
Project 2
no final version on record. very poor quality maps. All information from the images can be gained from looking at google maps and a Milwaukee City report
Project 3
The Historic Mitchell Street and surrounding neighborhoods is the heart of a densely populated,
largely Hispanic area of Milwaukee’s near south side. The Mitchell Street commercial district is one of
Milwaukee’s oldest neighborhoods. Most of the houses in the neighborhood are two- or three-story flats,
the area also has some five to six story brick walk-ups and apartment buildings. Mitchell Street itself is
a popular and vibrant retail district.
Milwaukee’s South Side is synonymous with the Polish community which settled here. The group’s
proud ethnicity maintained a high profile here for decades and it was not until the 1950s and 60s that
the families began to disperse to the southern suburbs. Poles historically have had a strong national
cultural and social identity, maintained through the Catholic Church. A view of Milwaukee’s South Side
Skyline is replete with the steeples of the many churches these immigrants built, churches that are still
vital centers of the community. One of the churches is the St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church on
Mitchell and 5th. St. Stanislaus is one of the city’s first Polish Roman Catholic Churches. It has domes
which have been popular landmarks since they were gilded with 23 carat gold leaf in the early 1960’s.
The church is referenced as the “church of the gold domes.”
In more recent years Milwaukee’s South Side has become a multi-cultural population of African
Americans, Caucasians, Asian Americans and Hispanic cultures made up mostly of people of Mexican
and Puerto Rican backgrounds. Mitchell street has a Dense population in a commercial corridor, often
called the downtown of the South Side. Unfortunately, Mitchell street started to fade away during the
90’s. They had countless retail stores close up shop, Business died and small “mom and pop” shops left
the neighborhood. With all of the businesses closing the area’s property value not as affluent as it used
to be.
Crime is all over Milwaukee, with Low income/ property value in the area some crime will be
present. Interviewing people on Mitchell street we heard countless stories about muggings or some
other type of crime. One resident recalled a 62 year old man was walking down the street and got
mugged by a man with a broken bottle. The resident also told us about gunshots and how it’s not safe to
be walking around the area at night. They stated that the crime is expected, “we live in milwaukee one
of the top ten dangerous cities to live in”, the area is filled with crime, drugs, and homeless. The West
Historic Mitchell Street Improvement District (BID) however, has been making strides to improve the
area back to its original state. They offer maintenance services for the entire district including keeping
the area clean, graffiti removal, and newly installed state of the art security cameras. Along with the BID
group, The police department holds monthly meetings addressing all issues and taking note of possible
improvements for the area. These services help create a safer and positive experience for everyone on or
around Mitchell street.
Something noticeable in the area is the fact that there has been almost no new construction on Mitchell street. We found out that many of the buildings have been Renovating. Businesses on the street have been doing this by applying for “Façade Grants” from the city, which allow businesses to remodel the inside of the shops and install new signage. Along with renovations, all of the vacant storefronts have been filled. Bringing in job opportunities to the area. Three major renovations on the street include the Modjeska Theater, Mitchell street Market Place, and the Mitchell street branch Milwaukee Public Library. The Modjeska opened in 1925 and was used for both films and vaudeville performances. It stopped regular movie showings in 1989. The stage has since been altered to open up the orchestra pit. Also the building has been cleaned up and outfitted with a new heating and power system upgrade. The new grocery store on the street, is not only convenient for people on or near the street, but also a job creator. Mitchell street marketplace has created 30 plus jobs in the area and filled one of the vacant businesses.
Another renovation project, is part of a trend in Milwaukee of replacing old branches of the Milwaukee Public Library system with new ones that are part of mixed-use developments. In mixed-use development, retail shopping is often placed on the first floor with housing on the upper floors. The city has tweaked the model by putting libraries at street level with housing above. The Mitchell St. library will be topped by 57 market-priced apartments. The building was constructed in 1919 as the Hills Department Store which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has decorative features at the top of columns, historic stair railings and a mezzanine. The library is near St. Anthony School of Milwaukee and is within walking distance of South Division High School. The library will serve one of the youngest and most diverse communities in the city.
In an effort to revitalizing the historic beauty and to maintain its retail vibrancy in this culturally diverse district. Mitchell street is trying to create a feeling of community. The area offers excellent opportunities for not only future businesses but also future family’s. The Mitchell Street distric every year hosts a family friendly event called the Sun Fair, which started in the 1960’s. It is a festival held on MItchell Street, which attracts crowds of people from the whole south side who come to shop and enjoy the summer weather all while listening to music and enjoying the multitude of food and drink options. The fair closes off five blocks on the street and brings in an average of 20,000 people. The fair is sponsored by the Mitchell Street Business Improvement District 4 and the Hostroic Mitchell Street Preservation Corporation.
largely Hispanic area of Milwaukee’s near south side. The Mitchell Street commercial district is one of
Milwaukee’s oldest neighborhoods. Most of the houses in the neighborhood are two- or three-story flats,
the area also has some five to six story brick walk-ups and apartment buildings. Mitchell Street itself is
a popular and vibrant retail district.
Milwaukee’s South Side is synonymous with the Polish community which settled here. The group’s
proud ethnicity maintained a high profile here for decades and it was not until the 1950s and 60s that
the families began to disperse to the southern suburbs. Poles historically have had a strong national
cultural and social identity, maintained through the Catholic Church. A view of Milwaukee’s South Side
Skyline is replete with the steeples of the many churches these immigrants built, churches that are still
vital centers of the community. One of the churches is the St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church on
Mitchell and 5th. St. Stanislaus is one of the city’s first Polish Roman Catholic Churches. It has domes
which have been popular landmarks since they were gilded with 23 carat gold leaf in the early 1960’s.
The church is referenced as the “church of the gold domes.”
In more recent years Milwaukee’s South Side has become a multi-cultural population of African
Americans, Caucasians, Asian Americans and Hispanic cultures made up mostly of people of Mexican
and Puerto Rican backgrounds. Mitchell street has a Dense population in a commercial corridor, often
called the downtown of the South Side. Unfortunately, Mitchell street started to fade away during the
90’s. They had countless retail stores close up shop, Business died and small “mom and pop” shops left
the neighborhood. With all of the businesses closing the area’s property value not as affluent as it used
to be.
Crime is all over Milwaukee, with Low income/ property value in the area some crime will be
present. Interviewing people on Mitchell street we heard countless stories about muggings or some
other type of crime. One resident recalled a 62 year old man was walking down the street and got
mugged by a man with a broken bottle. The resident also told us about gunshots and how it’s not safe to
be walking around the area at night. They stated that the crime is expected, “we live in milwaukee one
of the top ten dangerous cities to live in”, the area is filled with crime, drugs, and homeless. The West
Historic Mitchell Street Improvement District (BID) however, has been making strides to improve the
area back to its original state. They offer maintenance services for the entire district including keeping
the area clean, graffiti removal, and newly installed state of the art security cameras. Along with the BID
group, The police department holds monthly meetings addressing all issues and taking note of possible
improvements for the area. These services help create a safer and positive experience for everyone on or
around Mitchell street.
Something noticeable in the area is the fact that there has been almost no new construction on Mitchell street. We found out that many of the buildings have been Renovating. Businesses on the street have been doing this by applying for “Façade Grants” from the city, which allow businesses to remodel the inside of the shops and install new signage. Along with renovations, all of the vacant storefronts have been filled. Bringing in job opportunities to the area. Three major renovations on the street include the Modjeska Theater, Mitchell street Market Place, and the Mitchell street branch Milwaukee Public Library. The Modjeska opened in 1925 and was used for both films and vaudeville performances. It stopped regular movie showings in 1989. The stage has since been altered to open up the orchestra pit. Also the building has been cleaned up and outfitted with a new heating and power system upgrade. The new grocery store on the street, is not only convenient for people on or near the street, but also a job creator. Mitchell street marketplace has created 30 plus jobs in the area and filled one of the vacant businesses.
Another renovation project, is part of a trend in Milwaukee of replacing old branches of the Milwaukee Public Library system with new ones that are part of mixed-use developments. In mixed-use development, retail shopping is often placed on the first floor with housing on the upper floors. The city has tweaked the model by putting libraries at street level with housing above. The Mitchell St. library will be topped by 57 market-priced apartments. The building was constructed in 1919 as the Hills Department Store which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has decorative features at the top of columns, historic stair railings and a mezzanine. The library is near St. Anthony School of Milwaukee and is within walking distance of South Division High School. The library will serve one of the youngest and most diverse communities in the city.
In an effort to revitalizing the historic beauty and to maintain its retail vibrancy in this culturally diverse district. Mitchell street is trying to create a feeling of community. The area offers excellent opportunities for not only future businesses but also future family’s. The Mitchell Street distric every year hosts a family friendly event called the Sun Fair, which started in the 1960’s. It is a festival held on MItchell Street, which attracts crowds of people from the whole south side who come to shop and enjoy the summer weather all while listening to music and enjoying the multitude of food and drink options. The fair closes off five blocks on the street and brings in an average of 20,000 people. The fair is sponsored by the Mitchell Street Business Improvement District 4 and the Hostroic Mitchell Street Preservation Corporation.
Project 4
Not found