The Salvation Army’s future for Central City Plaza is becoming clearer.
The 160-year-old social service organization unveiled preliminary redevelopment plans for the site during the Bronzeville Advisory Committee’s Sept. 22 meeting.
The Salvation Army plans to build a homeless shelter and resource center on the site, at North Sixth Street and West Vine Street.
The agency plans to construct a two-story 7,100-square-foot addition onto its current emergency shelter lodge at 1730 N. Seventh St. A smaller, existing building at 1747 N. Sixth St. will serve as a clinic and pantry. The effort aims to expand the agency’s capacity to serve the city’s homeless population.
The plans combine the new and the old to preserve the architecture of the city’s first Black-owned, Black-operated and Black-designed mall. The state’s first licensed Black architect, Alonzo Robinson Jr., designed the three buildings comprising Central City Plaza in the early 1970s.
The Salvation Army, which owns two of the buildings, previously wanted to raze the smaller one, known as the Yellow Cab building, to make way for the shelter. But the historic preservation community intervened.
Instead, the agency worked with the architect’s family, the community and preservationists to come up with a design that incorporates the Yellow Cab building into its architectural plans.
Salvation Army Major Rachel Stouder said the process was a teachable moment in how to work with the community to preserve historic buildings while meeting development needs.
“We would be happy to share this experience with others and just encourage them in that,” said Stouder, Wisconsin Division general secretary.
The two-story building, called the “bridge,” will house administrative offices and shelter beds. The first floor will contain offices for caseworkers, a reception area, a dining room and a kitchen. The second floor will house the secured men’s wing, containing 44 beds.
The agency also plans to rehab its current shelter lodge or “the U Building.” That building will only house single women and women with children. The building will include a play area and education center.
The women’s and men’s wings will have rooms to accommodate people with specific gender identity needs and concerns.
“One of the things we are making sure to build into this new project is sustainability and versatility,” Stouder said.
The building will also allow the Salvation Army to expand its respite care program to 20 beds. The respite wing is for individuals who still need medical care but can no longer remain at a hospital and have no safe place to go to continue care.
New to the plans is a food pantry housed in the Yellow Cab building’s basement. Stouder noted the area is in an increasing food desert and the pantry will be open to both residents of the facility and the community.
The design will include a 980-square-foot glass enclosure that will link the two buildings and serve as the new main entrance. The current entrance on North Sixth Street is beyond repair. The concrete steps and ramp will be demolished, but the building’s exterior facade will remain.
But the enclosure, Stouder said, will do more than link the buildings. It’ll feature the history of the current building, Robinson, the Bronzeville community and others who made Central City Plaza possible, including civil rights leader Felmers O. Chaney, who developed the mall.
Stouder said the goal of adding those details is to “amplify the historic significance of the entire Bronzeville area.”
A new, gated playground will replace a parking lot and will contain a statue of Robinson. The playground will only be available to families living at the facility.
“We are really thrilled about how this has been evolving, and we’re just honored to continue to steward this site,” she said.
The Historic Preservation Commission will vote on the Salvation Army’s plans at its Oct. 6 meeting. Stouder said a construction date for the facility has yet to be determined. The agency still needs to pin down a general contractor and continue to fundraise for the building’s construction.
“This project requires a significant fundraising haul,” Stouder said. “There are so many factors that are relied on in order to get shovels in the ground.”
New after-school program focused on arts
Also at the meeting, the Bronzeville Advisory Council welcomed a youth-focused after-school program to the area. Fashion Art Teen Empowerment or F.A.T.E. is a youth arts and performing arts group opened July in the former Bronzeville Collective MKE, 339 E. North Ave. The program uses the arts to foster discipline, work ethics, personal growth and emotional well-being.
The program focuses on general arts, such as painting and photography, creative writing, fashion design and jewelry-making, which falls under F.A.T.E.’s “chic program.”
Rochelle Gust, F.A.T.E.’s founder and executive director, wants to build partnerships in the Bronzeville community and increase enrollment in the program. About 10-15 students visit the center weekly.
The program is geared toward youth 8 and up. The program costs $5 an hour or $10 a day. The program runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., but registration is required at fategroup.org. Snacks are provided.
“All supplies are included — everything — materials, textiles, paint,” Gust said. “Pretty much everyone just bring themselves. We don’t want to create any barriers or restrictions for anyone participating in our programs.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Salvation Army shows plans for Milwaukee’s Central City Plaza