Normally people oppose projects because it is in their backyard, I oppose UW-Milwaukee’s expansion in Wauwatosa because it isn’t in my backyard. I know that’s a strange concept but the list of reasons to build the Engineering School in downtown Milwaukee, my backyard, are numerous. It’s not just my backyard, but the backyard of 600,000 residents of the City of Milwaukee. It is these very residents who’s elected officials just this year passed two separate resolutions stating it was the City of Milwaukee’s position that UW-Milwaukee should expand in our backyard. So if and when the County Supervisors vote to support this land sale to UW-Milwaukee understand that it is a vote against the wishes of the residents of the City of Milwaukee.
Not only does voting for this project fly in the face of the citizens of Milwaukee, but it is also clearly a vote against the environment. Because with it comes additional congestion, pollution, storm water retention needs, a loss of parkland, and low-density sprawl. According to the most recent amendment to the proposed contract UW-Milwaukee intends to develop up to 853,271 square feet of the total 88.99 acres. This is the definition of sprawl. This style of design is inherently not green as it paves over large areas for parking, and requires the ability drive from place to place. Following the Park East guidelines this square footage could fit on Blocks 2 and 4 with room to spare. This would encourage people to commute by mass transit, bicycling or even walking, all of which would be better for our environment.
It will also be a vote against the students and employees of UW-Milwaukee, because it will add cost by requiring a car to access the new campus. The idea of putting such a great distance between the campuses essentially creates two separate institutions. This could hurt student retention by decreasing the number of undergraduates that continue on at UW-Milwaukee because it will require a complete life style change.
Despite these issues it appears likely that UW-Milwaukee will soon expand into Wauwatosa’s backyard, I wonder how soon we will realize this mistake as the fire pit so many install and never use.