Looking for Neighborhoods (Milwaukee, Madison, Wauwatosa: best city, lofts, condos)

[colquhoun23]

I'm in the process of interviewing for jobs in Milwaukee and I would love to hear about potential neighborhoods. A bit about us: my husband and I are orginially from STL but have lived in the city of San Francisco for 9 years. We have a two yr old and plan to have more. We are looking for a home with character (no newer homes), in a "mid-town" location, no subdivisions, we would love to be able to walk places, like a coffee shop, in an excellent school district, and on the liberal side. Any suggestions?

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by colquhoun23

I'm in the process of interviewing for jobs in Milwaukee and I would love to hear about potential neighborhoods. A bit about us: my husband and I are orginially from STL but have lived in the city of San Francisco for 9 years. We have a two yr old and plan to have more. We are looking for a home with character (no newer homes), in a "mid-town" location, no subdivisions, we would love to be able to walk places, like a coffee shop, in an excellent school district, and on the liberal side. Any suggestions?

At first glance, my thought is a place like Shorewood or Whitefish Bay or even far eastern Glendale would be perfect for you. Super-charming / character homes, no subdivisions, very walkable, great schools, definitely liberal. They aren't necessarily "mid-town", but then again, have great, close access to almost anywhere in this city. This city isn't nearly as big/congested as San Fran...you'd be able to be from Shorewood/WFB (they are scenic communities that border Lake Michigan on the east side) to Brookfield (suburb on western side) probably in 20 or 25 minutes, unless traffic was horrid. In these communities, you'd be 5-to-10 minutes from Downtown Milwaukee...very close.

You could also do just simply the East Side of Milwaukee. This area fits the same bill that Shorewood / Whitefish Bay do...just a few minutes south of those communities and a little noisier/busy - great area though. Very liberal.

I would lean in these areas - also consider Fox Point / Bayside (much smaller villages on the Northshore near Whitefish Bay). They are the most walkable, least cookie-cutter, etc.

I am the opposite of you politically I think, but I still would easily live in these communities just because even though I don't agree on politics with many in these areas, they are such nice communities. Your only drawbacks here are that homes are $$ (although coming from San Fran they'll seem cheap) and taxes are higher (same).

Most of of the Western suburbs are much more conservative politically and much less walkable, and the Northern suburbs are much more conservative. Downtown Milwaukee would be great for you too, but probably not with kids (condos...no yards, etc.).

I would say the perfect fit for you: Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, East Side - Milwaukee, Bayside, Fox Point.

Finally, you could consider living in the village area of Wauwatosa (around 70th and State) which would offer much of these things, but I am guessing you'd be even happier with the afforementioned areas.

[brewtown12]

North-west side,mid town area sounds like what youre looking for.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by colquhoun23

I'm in the process of interviewing for jobs in Milwaukee and I would love to hear about potential neighborhoods. A bit about us: my husband and I are orginially from STL but have lived in the city of San Francisco for 9 years. We have a two yr old and plan to have more. We are looking for a home with character (no newer homes), in a "mid-town" location, no subdivisions, we would love to be able to walk places, like a coffee shop, in an excellent school district, and on the liberal side. Any suggestions?

I'll throw in my two cents on this. Have lived in Chicagoland, Washington DC, Phoenix, Milwaukee, and suburbs of each.

If you're not opposed to living in the city, the upper east side, particularly the area of Lake Park, Newberry Blvd, and north, is very nice. Fairly liberal, university area, a little bit noisy sometimes, but not bad overall. Safe. Houses have very much character in this area. Great for walking. In fact, when I spend time there, and in the many years that I lived there, I parked my car for days at a time. Last time I was at my house in Milwaukee, I drove on four different days... and I spent the better part of a month. Not joking either. I live near Downer Ave (seasonally). I walk to the lakefront, Locust St., North Avenue, Brady St., the lakefront, and as far as downtown. Many bars and restaurants. Love biking too... easy biking. 10mi+ of paved trails with no car traffic accessible easily. I am a sailor so I need access to the lake, got that too (walkable).

Shorewood is another nice area, very walkable, city-like atmosphere, nice architecture, not cheap, great schools, nice people, not quite as liberal as the city but close. I really like Shorewood. Lived there long ago, but it still produces a great feeling. Nice nice houses available there.

I've always felt that Whitefish Bay was a little bit too... "hometown" for my taste. Needs to branch out more. More conservative. Nice arcitecture though, and a breeze of a commute. Friendly people.

Fox Point: Lived there for a long time. Nice, if you like sleeping or mowing your lawn. Not nice if you like talking to your neighbors (or anyone). Not particularly outgoing. No sidewalks, no streetlights, no action after commute hour. City officials and police are turds who make everything three times the effort (at $10k++ property tax bill no less!). I used to joke about the most "prized asset" of Fox Point being its village dump. They guarded it like it was the White House. I'm not sure if they wanted to protect from things being left there, or from things being taken from there, but regardless, I didn't lose a piece of my heart when I left there. But, I have to give credit to the community for being liveable (just boring as sin). Nice schools and very attractive community.

Bayside: See Fox Point. Not much there, but very liveable.

Mequon: More ostentatious version of FP and Bayside. Less friendly, more sprawl.

You can also get city-like walkable, easy commute in other areas of the city, but they are either more conservative or more blue collar. I don't consider anything south of I-94 as "upscale", although there are some very nice areas. Stay away from South Milwaukee, St. Francis, Cudahy. They are OK, definitely not liberal.

Wauwatosa has some nice areas. A little more conservative, and away from the lake (my peeve about 'Tosa). Washington Highlands was always a consideration for me, because of the beautiful architecture. I like old houses with stone, woodwork, fancy tile, and other old world features.

Bay View may be worth a look, but it is a little on the up-and-coming side of things. Very active (now) and some nice houses, but not the kind of "nice" places you'll find on the upper east side, or in Shorewood.

Lots of options. Good luck.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by colquhoun23

I'm in the process of interviewing for jobs in Milwaukee and I would love to hear about potential neighborhoods. A bit about us: my husband and I are orginially from STL but have lived in the city of San Francisco for 9 years. We have a two yr old and plan to have more. We are looking for a home with character (no newer homes), in a "mid-town" location, no subdivisions, we would love to be able to walk places, like a coffee shop, in an excellent school district, and on the liberal side. Any suggestions?

Considering I have lived in all 3 of your places...I'll pipe in...

Okay...only thing you really didn't add was cost...others have covered some of it here.

Before I begin...let me say that Milwaukee is pretty tightly packed in....i.e...distance from downtown to some of these mentioned North Shore areas and burbs are literally only a few miles...it is much less spread out than say St. Louis. ...where 10 miles plus reaches Brentwood/Clayton via hwy.

City schools are not strong in Milwaukee. The East Side of Milwaukee would be right up your alley, minus MPS(Milwaukee Public Schools). The term East Side means just East and Northeast of downtown, but is referred to as the East Side...and its meaning is opposite of the term in St. Louis. The East side is walkable, liberal, diverse, ...sort of a U.City if you will, or Central West End. As you move up the shore on the East Side to the very close in burbs, school systems get progressively better as you go.

Shorewood, Whitefish Bay would be more up your alley than Mequon a little further North and Fox Point....Whitefish Bay had 2nd best High School test scores in state(2nd was a Madison WI area). Older character homes...small lots and small homes, and higher prices....close to Lake Michigan, which is a big draw from May-Sept. It is walkable to Lake, to parks, etc..and has a main drag of shops, and is very near/next to a bigger outdoor shopping mall that has everything else. Glendale hugs either side of 43 North. Cheaper, good schools, ...think Creve Coeur Mo in that it hugs 270 on either side.

The positive to a Whitefish Bay is it is 5 miles from downtown...and less than that(2-3 miles) to the lower East Side area of Milwaukee(the best fit for you via description, minus schools). Shorewood, is in between Whitefish Bay and East Side and really all 3 blend in together as you drive up the shore. Shorewood is a bit more liberal than Whitefish Bay.

Brewer's Hill was also mentioned...again, MPS schools here...it is NW of downtown...with a great view of downtown...being rehabbed and preserving some of the older character homes...it's an edgy area...the far North end and NW ends of that area border some very socio-economically deprived areas....think the border of U.City to STL city...

Downtown is a safe area, and a possibility, (MPS again)....as is Third Ward, just South of downtown by blocks...it is an old historic warehouse district, lots of brick and lofts...and condos...of all ranges and high end...pricey, with galleries, high end boutique shops...etc...very few homes here...it is lofts and condos...along the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan...(MPS again)

The other posts in here offer good info....

In the city, on the East Side...my favorite part of Milwaukee is Lafayette Hill Dr. to the South, head up Lake Drive, North, slide slightly right by Wahl Ave, keep going straight along Lake Park until Lake Park ends...the entire stretch in there is exactly what you are looking for minus the schools. You'll definitely want to make that drive.

The other posts in this thread pretty much covered it well. Only other area I could add would be South Central SE parts of Wauwatosa(or Tosa for short) which is close in Western burb, with older character homes and walkable areas...try near the village and Hart Park...better schools in Tosa than city. The areas East of Tosa aren't great and areas West of Tosa are suburbia you didn't want.

"East Side" of Milwaukee
Shorewood, Whitefish Bay
Brewer's Hill
Third Ward
Downtown

Some families live in the Southern end of Brewer's Hill, which is a small area, Downtown and Third Ward are more young professionals and empty nesters than families. East side is all kinds. and Shorewood/Whitefish Bay are more family oriented of all ages.

[mohammed wong]

wow when brewers hill is considered edgy
then we know that we are dealing with a severely risk averse crowd,
WOW!

yeah brewers hill is edgy as hell.
so edgy that alot of people would find it unaffordable,
that brewers hill, you better watch,
some preservationist may lecture you about your nonpreservationist ways,
or some local throwback may lecture you about
some antigentrification something or other.

watch out.
definitely watch it.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by mohammed wong

wow when brewers hill is considered edgy
then we know that we are dealing with a severely risk averse crowd,
WOW!

yeah brewers hill is edgy as hell.
so edgy that alot of people would find it unaffordable,
that brewers hill, you better watch,
some preservationist may lecture you about your nonpreservationist ways,
or some local throwback may lecture you about
some antigentrification something or other.

watch out.
definitely watch it.

I lived in Brewer's Hill, enjoyed my time. The areas NW of Brewer's Hill are socio-economically deprived and have high crime rates. That is a fact.

I won't give anyone a description that isn't objective nor inaccurate. As for the area itself, it is very small, with old historic buildings standing next to tear down rebuilds next to aboslute bleep hole buildings. The very Southern end is a lot of middle to upper middle class condos with best city views of Milwaukee.

I don't need to watch anything...but thanks.

[CarolV]

The MPS Elementary schools in Bay View are very good including an excellent Montessori School called Fernwood and another Montessori furth north in the area called Downtown Montessori. There are other traditional elementary schools in BV that are also very good. Bay View is an up and coming neighborhood with many historical homes and older architecture with excellent neighborhood feel, a weekend farmers' market by the lake, many coffee shops, a liberal leaning community and lots of parks. The areas closest to South Shore Park or Humboldt Park may be your best bet for parkways and greenspace. The Fernwood area is also very good. There are private school options in Bay View that are also good. The proximity to downtown is about 10 minutes via car. The bus system from Bay View to downtown is also good and, there are bike lanes if you are so inclined. Check out Bay View Neighborhood Association for more about the neighborhood and the neighborhood association.