Eyes on Milwaukee
Developer Credits Streetcar As Factor In Building Tower
32-story tower on Water Street a "prime example" of transit-oriented development.
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32-story tower on Water Street a "prime example" of transit-oriented development. Back to the full article.
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That tower blends into the neighborhood like an elephant in an ant colony. Now you’ll have to demolish all the beautiful historic buildings around it to make it look right.
Am I the only one that believes developers bribe city officials to get their ridiculous projects ok’d?
Why can’t they build all the new towers into an area by themselves, away from Milwaukee’s historic buildings? Now it looks like an eyesore.
Europe completely segregates new construction from historic areas of their cities. They care about their heritage, culture, and history unlike Americans.
Don’t forget GREEN Line (to airport among other useful destinations) and route 15. Both serve Bay View and East Side with frequent service.
Notwithstanding, I still have trouble understanding how a project with 390 parking spaces qualifies as “transit oriented”, at least as the term is understood in other cities.
The Third Rule of Life: Development always follows streetcar lines in the modern world. You can look it up.
Prime example Potemkin village?
Whatever it is, the streetcar is not practical transportation for most Milwaukee citizens, and unless its said economic benefits reach beyond the downtown area, I worry it will become the centerpiece of a prime example Potemkin village.
sbaldwin: While there may be valid criticisms of the streetcar, I’m not certain that you have a solid grasp on what a Potemkin village was/is. You may want to look it up, along with development following streetcar lines.
The Historic Third Ward has had a strategic plan in place, at least since 2005. That plan includes a few building sites delineated as signature/gateway sites, that were contemplated as high rise sites. The 333 site is one of them. So, people should not be shocked when such a project moves forward. Maybe not even opposed. The Third Ward has been a success by any measure and some credit is due to the long range planning. An easy knee jerk reaction is the NIMBY reaction. It is a great place to live, it is a destination and it contributes mightily to the tax roles. Oh, and it pays for a good portion of the streetcar too.
Walk north between the tall buildings on Water Street starting at Wisconsin Avenue. The solid wall of tall buildings along Water Street create a strong wind tunnel at street level.
As you’re walking north, you soon discover that you’re walking into hurricane speed winds that rip the flesh from your face… The shirt on your back inflates like a parachute as you lean forward into the 40-50 mph wind… Your eyelids are nearly closed in order to protect your eyes from the grit, sand, and debris that’s sand blasting your face… But the wind speed is less than 5 mph everywhere else in the city. This is the normal every day weather condition on Water Street.
Welcome to the future of Milwaukee.
Vulture real estate developers and Milwaukee’s elected officials are gradually turning the Third Ward, Eastown, Westown, Walker’s Point, and Brewer’s Hill into flesh ripping wind tunnels. The vultures are tearing down all of our historic buildings and replacing them with lifeless, featureless, cold, 40-50 story, steel and glass, wind tunnel buildings from hell.
Addressing NieWiederKreig,
I don’t disagree with the downside of concrete canyons. I would direct you to the Historic Third Ward plan. It is insistent that such an environment will be discouraged. They a have a couple of gateway site, including the 333 site. Your concerns, while valid in my opinion, won’t happen in the HTW.