FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LIVING IN SHOREWOOD
What types of housing choices are available in Shorewood?
Shorewood is an architecturally vibrant community that offers a wonderful mix of housing options, including single-family homes, cozy bungalows, duplexes and apartments. New condominiums continue to be blended into our housing scene with thoughtful urban planning. As one of the area’s oldest suburbs, Shorewood boasts lovely neighborhoods and many architectural masterpieces built by craftsmen. With loving care, pride of ownership and strictly enforced building codes, homes in the Village have stood the test of time and continue to generate solid real estate values.

How quickly can you get from Shorewood to downtown Milwaukee and other area locations?
Shorewood is at the edge of the city - and the heart of everything. So getting just about anywhere from here is easy. We’re just minutes away from all the attractions of downtown Milwaukee via either a scenic lake drive or the Interstate expressway. Public bus transportation provided by the Milwaukee County Transit System also links Shorewood to other areas of Milwaukee. Beautiful Lake Michigan neighbors us on the east, and the scenic Milwaukee River is our western boundary, both very walkable destinations. Bayshore Town Center, one of the area’s most unique shopping malls, is right next door to the north. And if you’re in the mood for a getaway, many of Wisconsin’s favorite vacation spots are just a few hours away.

Are Shorewood taxes really higher than other nearby communities?
While property taxes in all of Milwaukee County, including Shorewood, may be among the highest in the state, it is important to be aware of the added values that Shorewood taxpayers receive. For example, many communities assess special fees for services such as roadwork, alley repair and garbage carts. Shorewood does not. Our Village continues to be one of the area.s most beautiful suburbs because of regular maintenance of our older public and historic buildings and infrastructure. Significant tax dollars are dedicated to maintaining the high standards of Shorewood schools, ensuring their ranking among the nation’s finest.

With a total area of 1.5 square miles and 6,361 houses, there is, unfortunately, no space for industry in Shorewood. As a result, the tax base is supported by small businesses and residential real estate taxes. The Village is working hard to increase the tax base by attracting new businesses and by adding to and diversifying our housing options to attract new residents.

How do Village services and amenities relate to the taxes?
Shorewood residents receive excellent value and a high quality of life in return for their tax investment. Residents enjoy many important advantages including the added safety and security provided by our own Police Department and the services of the North Shore Fire Department. The Village’s Department of Public Works ensures attractive, well-maintained streets, medians and parkways - as well as prompt and efficient trash and recycling pickup. The Village of Shorewood Library and Community Center, also home of the Senior Resource Center and Health Department, is one of the finest in the area. Citizens appreciate our safe, clean streets, excellent schools and the numerous community attractions – all convenient and within walking distance. Shorewood’s many services and amenities make our Village a very desirable place to live.

Why are housing permits required for home repair? And why is a building inspection required before a home can be sold?
Preserving the integrity of our buildings is a top Village priority. That’s why carefully crafted procedures and guidelines have been put in place to ensure that our older buildings continue to be well-maintained. Procuring a permit from Shorewood’s Planning and Development Department is necessary before beginning any building, electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. The permit generates an inspection by a building inspector to make certain that the work is done to national, state and local standards - and to protect the health, safety and welfare of residents. When a home is put up for sale, before the sale can be completed, a building inspection is required to ensure everything is up to code. The staff in Shorewood’s Planning and Development Department will be happy to work with you to make the process of obtaining permits as smooth and easy as possible.

Is Shorewood a safe community?
Feeling safe and being safe in their homes, neighborhoods and shopping areas are key to the well being and quality of life of our residents. In today’s challenging environment, the Village of Shorewood continues to maintain a low overall crime rate through community policing, an integrated approach to addressing and preventing crime.

Here’s how it works. The Village of Shorewood has its own Police Chief and Police Department, which lead the way in assuring the safety and security of the community. Police officers - all career professionals - are highly visible through patrols in squad cars, walking the beat in the business district and residential areas, and using an active bicycle patrol. Through community policing, the Police Department has forged partnerships with Shorewood citizens, businesses and organizations to actively engage in a collaborative effort to address issues that contribute to crime such as underlying problems, prevention, reducing victimization, developing responses and analyzing response time. Communication is an important part of the initiative. The Shorewood Police Department regularly presents programs for residents on how to practice simple, basic crime prevention to protect them and their property. The Shorewood Businesses Improvement District has instituted an e-mail hot line to immediately notify businesses when a crime occurs in any Shorewood business to make them aware of potential problems. Community policing in Shorewood is an effective program that works for all of our citizens.

How available is parking in Shorewood? Is overnight parking an issue?
Shorewood is a densely populated community with numerous multiple-family dwellings. The issue of adequate parking remains a concern for Village residents. Village government continues to research and implement a variety of options to ease parking issues. While on-street overnight parking is restricted, the community continues to work together to ease the problems. More information can be found on the Village website at www.villageofshorewood.org

What are the choices of schools in Shorewood?
Shorewood public schools excel in providing students with one of the state’s best educations. The Shorewood School District is comprised of Atwater and Lake Bluff Elementary Schools serving grades K4 through grade 6; Shorewood Intermediate School serving grades 7 and 8; and Shorewood High School serving grades 9 through 12. St. Robert School, a private Catholic school, serves K4 through grade 8. In addition, there are a number of pre-school/daycare options available in the Village for younger children.

How good is the education in the Shorewood School System?
Our exceptional school system is one of Shorewood’s biggest attractions. Standardized test scores are consistently among the highest in the state. Our schools have well-educated, nurturing staffs with more than 73% holding a master’s degree or above. Their commitment is to provide every child with a quality education and a foundation for a lifetime of learning and achievement. Shorewood High School was recognized recently by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top performing high schools in the country. More than 90% of graduates continue their education beyond high school at colleges and universities across the country. In addition to outstanding scholastics, SHS fosters achievement through excellent extracurricular opportunities including athletics, music, art and its nationally recognized drama program.

Shorewood is an excellent community for families, but what about singles, “empty nesters” and professionals without children?
Shorewood is a great place for everyone who wants to be active and engaged. If you love walking, hiking, biking, swimming or just being outdoors, Shorewood offers endless options: the Shorewood Nature Preserve; Hubbard Park along the Milwaukee River (its charming and historic Hubbard Park Lodge is a popular spot for a Friday fish fry and Sunday brunch); River Park offers a peaceful setting for a quiet walk or to study the ecology of the river; Atwater Park, overlooking Atwater Beach, provides spectacular views of Lake Michigan; the Milwaukee River walking/ hiking path, and the Oak Leaf Bicycle Trail are accessible from all Shorewood parks. And when you’re ready to tone-up for all this activity, there’s the Shorewood Community Fitness Center or the swimming pool at Shorewood High School (recently renovated and open to the public). The Recreation Department also offers a wide variety of athletic and continuing education opportunities for all residents.

Sound terrific? But what if you want something besides the great outdoors?
You don’t have to go far to find fun in our vibrant business district – always alive with an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. You’ll find fashions, florals, fine and casual dining, coffee shops, salons and spas, grocery and specialty boutiques, gourmet foods, outdoor cafes, and professional services.

Want more? Special events are staged throughout the village all year including the St. Robert Fair, the Shorewood Men’s Club Chicken BBQ, the 4th of July Celebration, the Criterium International Cycling Classic, National Night Out, Showcase Shorewood, and a Holiday ShopWalk. Shorewood schools also offer a variety of special events and activities including theatrical productions and concerts. Plus, block parties and neighborhood events are also cropping up. You can even try your hand at acting – or enjoy a good show presented by the Shorewood Players, providing quality live theatre for almost 80 years to the northshore community.

Are there volunteer opportunities in the Village? Who do I contact to get involved?
The creative energy and commitment of Village volunteers is an important ingredient in making Shorewood a thriving community. Volunteers make a difference in our community, and opportunities to volunteer are plentiful, along with membership in a variety of clubs and organizations. You can join the Shorewood Historical Society, the Shorewood Men’s Club or Shorewood Woman’s Club, or serve on a variety of boards, commissions or committees (Conservation Committee, Parks Committee Pedestrian Safety Committee and many others). School volunteers are tutors, chaperones, advisors and fundraisers.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet your neighbors and become involved in the community. To get started, contact the Village Manager’s Office at 414.847.2702.

What churches or other worship choices are available in Shorewood?
There are five churches located in Shorewood: Fourth Church of Christ Scientist, Kingo Lutheran Church, Luther Memorial Chapel, North Shore Presbyterian Church and St. Robert Catholic Church. A number of synagogues and other places of worship are located nearby in adjacent communities.

Shorewood is often referred to as a “walking community.” What does that mean?
Walking is a way of life in Shorewood. People walk their dogs, walk their kids, walk for health and just walk for fun! Shorewood’s charming residential streets are perfect for strolling and appreciating the architecture while exchanging a friendly hello with neighbors. Shorewood parks are also ideal for walking. And our parents and children have even formed a “walking school bus” to get to and from school each day.

Shorewood’s shopping district has new safety rules making it more pedestrian-friendly. It’s never been easier or more convenient to walk to every store or service in the business district for everything you need. Be sure to take your recyclable shopping bag when you head out to Shop Shorewood: Spend the Day. It’s true. We’re close to everything in Shorewood… including perfect.