All News Archives - City of Wauwatosa

Upcoming Construction Near Blanchard Street, Wauwatosa Avenue, and Harwood Avenue

Utility work to support the upcoming Harlow & Hem multifamily development will take place over the next ten weeks in phases. This includes relocating electric lines by We Energies and installing AT&T conduit.

The first phase will occur on Blanchard Street (between Wauwatosa Avenue and 74th Street), which will be fully closed from approximately December 1 – 12, pending weather. The work will then shift to Wauwatosa Avenue adjacent to the work site, where one lane in each direction will remain open to maintain two-way traffic. Work on Harwood Avenue is expected to begin in mid to late January.

Sidewalks will remain open for most of the project, though short-term closures may be needed at certain points to maintain safety or if the work crosses the sidewalk.

Separately, Three Leaf Partners will fully close Harwood Avenue on December 15, 16, and 17 to remove a crane from the Vista Village site. Sidewalk access on the south side of Harwood Avenue will remain open during this work.

Please continue to support our local businesses throughout this work. View the roughly 550 free public parking spots in the Village.

Wisconsin Avenue Reopens

Wisconsin Avenue will reopen to vehicle traffic this afternoon, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. This includes Wisconsin Avenue from Glenview Avenue to Honey Creek Parkway and the intersection at 76th Street.

While the streets will reopen to traffic, sidewalks and traffic signals are still receiving their finishing touches at 76th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. 76th Street and Wisconsin Avenue will operate as a four-way stop until signals are installed. Please follow safety guidance and signage in these areas as the final work on the projects wraps up.

In 2025, Wisconsin Avenue underwent numerous improvements, including utility and street upgrades, a bridge replacement, enhancements to traffic and pedestrian safety, and more. Thank you for your patience as we completed these improvements.

Wauwatosa Employees Switching to New .gov Email Domain

As work continues to modernize our technology services, the City of Wauwatosa is transitioning email addresses from @wauwatosa.net to @wauwatosa.gov. Beginning on Monday, Aug. 17, employees and elected officials will respond to emails from their @wauwatosa.gov address.

If you send an email to a @wauwatosa.net address, we’ll still receive it. We have the proper settings in place to continue customer service during this transition.

As a reminder, the City of Wauwatosa will never ask for your Social Security Number, bank account information, or passwords by email. If you think you have received a suspicious email, report it as spam, phishing, or delete it immediately. Phishing emails may appear from the City of Wauwatosa but are designed to trick you into clicking on malicious links or providing financial information. You can always call our office to verify the legitimacy of emails.

City of Wauwatosa Accepting Applications for District 6 Aldermanic Vacancy

The City of Wauwatosa is currently accepting applications from qualified residents interested in serving as the Alderperson for District 6.

The seat became vacant following the resignation of former Alderperson Sean Lowe. Following community input, the Common Council voted to fill the vacancy via appointment. The appointee will serve on the Common Council through April 20, 2027.

Applicant Qualifications:

Be 18 years of age or older
Be a qualified elector in the City of Wauwatosa
Reside within Aldermanic District 6

Position Details

Alders are compensated $587.50 per month
Regular meeting attendance is expected, including Common Council meetings, assigned standing committee meetings, and resident outreach.

How to Apply

Interested individuals must submit an application packet containing:

Letter of Intent (must include full name and date of birth)
Current resume
Any additional supporting materials

Submission Deadline

The submission deadline is Friday, August 21, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.

Please submit your materials to the City Clerk’s Office:

in person during normal business hours
via mail (7725 W North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213)
via email at [email protected]

Selection Timeline and Interview

The Aldermanic Selection Committee will review applications and conduct public interviews at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26 at City Hall.
The committee will forward its recommendation to the full Common Council for confirmation following the interview process.

Mosquitoes Collected from Wauwatosa Test Positive For West Nile Virus

Mosquitoes collected from Wauwatosa have recently tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). The Wauwatosa Health Department reminds the community to protect themselves from mosquito bites. These are the first mosquitoes from Wauwatosa to test positive since surveillance began in mid-June. Currently, no human cases of WNV illness have been reported in Wisconsin in 2026, but WNV infections have been detected in birds and mosquitoes elsewhere in the state.

WNV is spread to humans and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes acquire WNV by feeding on infected birds. The virus is not spread directly from person to person, animal to animal, or animal to person.

Most people with WNV do not have symptoms. Some people may experience mild symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, rash, and fatigue. Severe symptoms may include high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation, mental confusion, tremors, paralysis, and coma.

Older adults and those with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of developing severe illness. If you suspect WNV, contact a healthcare provider.

WNV cases in humans have been reported from June through November, with most illnesses reported in August and September.

Tips & Prevention
The best way to avoid illnesses spread by mosquitoes is to reduce your exposure to mosquitoes and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. The Wauwatosa Health Department offers these tips to protect yourself and your family:

How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply an insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 to exposed skin and clothing.
Before heading outdoors, treat clothing with permethrin. Do not apply permethrin directly to skin.
Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning hours, when mosquitoes that spread WNV are most active.
Wear loose-fitting clothing, such as long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Remove water from items around your property.

Empty standing water from tin cans, plastic containers, flower pots, discarded tires, roof gutters, and downspouts.
Turn over wheelbarrows, kiddie pools, buckets, and small boats when not in use.
Change the water in bird baths and pet dishes at least every three days.
Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs, and drain water from pool covers.
Make sure window and door screens are intact and tightly fitted.

Trim or mow tall grass, weeds, and vines. Mosquitoes rest in these areas during the day.

Questions? Contact the Wauwatosa Health Department at (414) 479-8936 or [email protected].

Wauwatosa Names Nate Piotrowski as New Development Director

Following confirmation by the Wauwatosa Common Council on July 28, the City of Wauwatosa has officially named Nate Piotrowski as its new Development Director. Piotrowski brings over two decades of local government expertise to the role and will officially assume his duties in late August.

Piotrowski’s career spans years in public service, specializing in community development, planning, and zoning. In his most recent leadership role, he spearheaded major redevelopment initiatives that delivered more than $100 million in new community value over a five-year period.

“Nate’s proven track record of driving sustainable growth while respecting community character makes him an ideal fit for Wauwatosa. We are thrilled to welcome his depth of experience to our leadership team,” said City Administrator Jim Archambo.

A recognized leader in urban planning, Piotrowski is certified through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and earned a bachelor’s degree with a triple major in International Relations, Political Science, and History.

“I look forward to helping Wauwatosa development flourish and realize many of the goals of the recently completed comprehensive plan,” said Piotrowski.

In his new position, Piotrowski will oversee Wauwatosa’s economic development strategies, planning and zoning initiatives, building and safety operations, and long-term community projects.

Common Council Advances $107.2 Million All-New Building Option 4 with Reduced Tax Impact

The Common Council voted to advance Option 4, a proposed $107.2 million project to construct an all-new library and city hall building. Option 4 would replace the existing aging infrastructure built in 1957 with a modern, energy-efficient facility designed to serve the community for decades.

Breakdown of the Taxpayer Impact & Funding Plan
The Common Council heard from residents that they wanted the features of Option 4, but were concerned about the cost. So, they voted to cap the taxpayer-funded portion of the project at $67.8 million. For an average home assessed at $418,800, this equals $20/month over 20 years. (Remember that commercial properties will also contribute to funding this total based on their assessed property values.)

How the Remaining Cost Will Be Covered
Because lowering the direct taxpayer cap leaves a gap in the $107.2 million budget, the city will pursue a hybrid funding strategy:

Grant funding: Applying for federal, state, and sustainability grants focused on clean energy and public infrastructure.
Private fundraising: Launching targeted fundraising campaigns and seeking private contributions.
If there is a gap in the amount after that work is completed, the Common Council will further discuss the project. That discussion could include scope changes, increasing the city contribution, designing a different project, or more.

Features of Option 4

A new children’s library (relocated to 1st floor): Moved to the ground level for easier access, featuring enhanced interactive activity areas, a larger dedicated program room, and a secure outdoor play space.
Adds a dedicated Teen Zone, a specialized Local History Room, a high-tech Makerspace, and significantly more community meeting rooms and quiet study spaces.
Features a new drive-up book return and 24/7 accessible book lockers located near the exterior drop-off.
Net-zero energy. Designed so 100% of the facility’s annual energy needs are offset by renewable energy sources, protecting taxpayers from future energy costs.

Project Timeline and Next Steps
Because Option 4 involves razing the existing facility, the entire site layout remains flexible – and public feedback will directly inform the design. The Council asked for quarterly public updates throughout the process, beginning with an initial site plan update this November. Stay tuned for future meeting dates and opportunities to share your input. (The renderings shared represent concepts and not the final designs.)

Concurrently, the Wauwatosa Public Library will launch its private fundraising campaign.

Depending on the progress of fundraising and grants, construction could begin as early as 2028.

What Happens During Construction?
Because Option 4 requires the total demolition of the current site, city hall and library services will be displaced during construction.

City staff are actively exploring temporary leases nearby to host offices and core library services throughout the build phase. While essential city services will remain accessible, residents should anticipate reduced physical space and modified service offerings during the transition period.

Common Council Votes to Fill District 6 Vacancy Via Appointment Process

Following a vacancy in Aldermanic District 6, the City of Wauwatosa’s Government Affairs Committee initially recommended holding off until the April 2027 election to fill the seat via a special election. However, after hearing directly from residents who want to see the vacancy filled sooner, the Common Council decided to change course.

While the committee originally opted against an interim appointment due to the tight timeline (noting an appointee would only serve a few months before the spring election cycle begins) the Council is now moving to address the vacancy sooner.

More details on the updated process and timeline are coming soon.
In the meantime, District 6 residents will not be without local government support. Community members with questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to Common Council members or city staff.

Join the Tosa Men’s Shed Today!

The Men’s Shed movement began in Australia in the early-mid 90’s as a grassroots response to reduce social isolation and improve men’s health. The idea grew from older men desiring close friendships, but struggling to find them, especially after retirement.

The Tosa Men’s Shed is an example of how we’re increasing social connection and reducing negative health outcomes in our community. This program is open to any man, no need to be a resident of Wauwatosa.

This monthly program includes:

Things to do and find friends to do things with.
A safe, comfortable place to find social connection that is suited for men.
Free snacks!

The Tosa Men’s Shed meets the third Friday of the month from 10AM – 12PM in the Firefly Room of the Wauwatosa Library, unless otherwise noted. Join us on Friday, August 21st to learn about the history of Wauwatosa Cemetery, followed by a walking tour. If interested, meet at the Firefly Room at 10AM and RSVP to Michael Figueroa Osorio. Participants in the program help decide future activities.

Learn more about the program or about Bader Philanthropies.

News Type: All News