The chief opponent of the art museum’s $25 million repair plan has stood by while the War Memorial rotted away.

The art museum’s plan to repair the War Memorial will cost $25 million, not $15 million. And that’s not all the errors.

This week’s Eyes on Milwaukee column explores Herb Kohl’s commitment to a new arena, the idea of another downtown strip club, Northwestern Mutual’s potential new downtown building, and a whole lot more.

Welcome to the eighth installment of Eyes on Milwaukee. This week I invite you to a handful of Urban Milwaukee events, challenge you to name the new river skimmer, and share a fair amount of development news and information about new restaurants in Milwaukee.

If you care about transit in Milwaukee, or if you simply want the best view of the city available, come to the 40th floor of the US Bank Center next Monday night, April 16th from 5:30 until 8:00 for a cocktail hour and discussion on the future of transit in Milwaukee and how we move through the city.

Are Milwaukee’s historic preservation laws too strong or too weak? Should the entire ordinance be re-written, or is just a revision in order? Alderman Witkowski’s proposed overhaul to Milwaukee’s historic preservation ordinance sparked these very questions.

Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee City Plan Commission both unanimously recommended approval of the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s parking garage proposal in the Park East. These approvals point out that City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County politicians are anxious to see new development in the Park East. Unfortunately, as currently conceived this isn’t a project worthy of approval.

As the US economy continued it slow recovery from the Great Recession, Milwaukee was left with a couple of failed development projects to complete or redefine, a changing real estate market, the opportunity to make small infrastructure changes, and questions about the future of transit.

It has been more than a week since Wells Street was converted to two-ways, and it has indeed been Carmaggedon. Drivers have been confused by the unusual street configuration. Two-ways, really? The fear generated by being able to turn right and go East on to Wells St. has caused mass hysteria causing more than a few people to quickly park in available parking spots.

During the lunch hour on Wednesday, there will be a design charrette for the Brighten the Passage project. If you’re like to stop by to contribute, the group will be meeting on-street at the corner of Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue.