Plenty of Horne
RACM Approves Tax Funding for Streetcar
The TIF funding approved will also pay for infrastructure for The Couture high-rise, whose architect promised it will "push the boundaries of urban design."
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The TIF funding approved will also pay for infrastructure for The Couture high-rise, whose architect promised it will "push the boundaries of urban design." Back to the full article.
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I attempted to attend this meeting to voice my opposition and arrived at 7 oclock at the wisconsin center and every door was locked and there was noone tobe seen. The website said from 530 to 8 oclock. Nice to see there was lots of discussion for a multiple million dollar debacle. Its as good an investment as the city got when they funded the grand avenue mall . Several times.
@Aj I assume you are referring to a different meeting, as today’s meeting was at 2:30.
Al:
That is most unfortunate. I’m sure that your comments about a “choo choo” and about “Thomas The Tank Engine” would have been very helpful.
PS: the round metallic device on the door is called a door knob; if you turn it and the push or pull the door then you’re in business!
“The project should get Millennials excited, along with people looking to live in an urban environment. … This is what they’ve been looking for.”
I’m a “Millenial” and I’m not excited. We can’t afford to live there and won’t be shopping there. This is certainly for rich older folks who want to “live in an urban environment”. And by “urban” they mean an ivory tower.
I generally approve of development of any sort in this city, increasing the tax base/increasing density. However, if this particular development can’t float on its own merits let it sink. I’m tired of using public money to help finance the playgrounds of the super rich.
But Millennials repeatedly say that they want to live and play in cities with automobile alternatives and public transit. You don’t think they will use this system? Only the super rich will use it?
I hope all anti streetcar people are as disorganized as Al….. should be smoth sailing. Hey Sam, this may be the first time I’ve heard the term public transportation for the rich used in a setence. Very creative! Wow…. turn off the radio Sam. I remember Mark Belling going crazy over the proposed riverwalk system, the rubber tired trolley system, and on and on. It doesn’t matter what the city tries to do.
Milwaukee is a dense, walkable, beautiful city with great neighborhoods. Fixed rail is made for cities like Milwaukee. We have millions of visitors each year to our city and connecting them to our city and neighborhoods will be a game changer.
I’m not talking about the streetcar guys! I’m talking about the building (ivory tower wasn’t enough of hint?). I live in Milwaukee and love it. I like the streetcar idea, but wish it was used as actual public transit rather than primarily as a development tool (there are city lab articles and studies about this out there).
You guys are so quick to quash the right-wingers out there that you missed my point. This building project is designed for and caters to the super rich and taxpayers shouldn’t pay for it, period.
Also, Couture is a stupid name and can Rinka Chung make a skyscraper that isn’t white please? You have a full spectrum of colors out there guy.
The city isn’t paying for the Couture. They are only funding the public spaces of the building. Yes…. that does inlude the street car connection. Other than the public spaces, the Couture is financed privately – unless I’m missing something.
Actually, I believe I know why the city is expanding the street car line to the Couture in the first phase. Since the Downtown Transit Center was paid for with federal funds for a transit specific purpose, any changes to the building must include a transit component otherwise the county must pay back the feds. Much like the Park East freeway. That would increase the cost of the land far beyond what is considered feasible. So the connection would satisfy the requirement, allowing the county to sell at a reduced price.
I was kidding Sam. Sorry if I came across a bit harsh.
It seems like there’s a lot of trust that all of these things are going to happen. Both the Couture and the streetcar have a lot of opposition, so what happens if one doesn’t happen or one isn’t built until two years later? Will they build a streetcar with no station at the end? Will they build a highrise with an empty train station in it? It seems like the two really depend on each other.