Promises Not Kept
Statement from Alderman Bob Donovan
I cannot believe it will soon be four years since Mayor Barrett tied the fate of the Milwaukee Streetcar to the development of the Couture apartment high-rise.
But, as the Journal Sentinel reminded us last week all the orange barrels, flashing barricades, and dangerous streetcar tracks now littered over downtown would not have been possible without three Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) districts, one of which was to help fund the Couture.
Now, let me be clear: I supported the Couture. I still do. I think it is a visionary project situated on one of the most desirable pieces of real estate in the state of Wisconsin.
And, as the article asks, what if the Couture does not happen? The Mayor’s staff continues to insist the Streetcar will go forward – funded by TIF districts that would otherwise dissolve.
And the Streetcar’s route through that area will apparently be an ugly one without the Couture. Remember the lovely drawings we were all shown promising an ultra-modern Streetcar servicing the housing complex of tomorrow?
My colleague, Ald. Robert Bauman, no Streetcar opponent he, is quoted in the article as saying, “If we don’t have some connection there, we basically have two long rail sidings.”
That’s a fine way to welcome visitors to our lakefront.
Here, as in so many other areas, the people of this city deserved better than Tom Barrett, a mayor who offers no vision, no direction, and only a basket of broken promises.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Milwaukee Streetcar
For more project details, including the project timeline, financing, route and possible extensions, see our extensive past coverage.
- Another Streetcar Collision - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 27th, 2025
- Streetcar Hit By Apparent Red Light Runner - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 16th, 2025
- Streetcar Will Run On Consolidated Route During Summerfest - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 11th, 2025
- City Hall: Milwaukee Must Replace Failing Streetcar Switches - Jeramey Jannene - Feb 24th, 2025
- Streetcar Confronts Limited Funding, Operations Challenges - Evan Casey - Jan 22nd, 2025
- Council Kills Streetcar’s ‘Festivals Line’ - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 31st, 2024
- Streetcar Will Use Festivals-Oriented Route Through Summer - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 9th, 2024
- The Hop’s Lines Will Merge For Easier Summerfest Service - Jeramey Jannene - May 30th, 2024
- Streetcar Begins Daily Service To The Couture, BRT Will Soon Follow - Jeramey Jannene - Apr 11th, 2024
- Milwaukee’s Three Streetcar Extensions Need Mayoral Direction - Jeramey Jannene - Nov 8th, 2023
Read more about Milwaukee Streetcar here
Mentioned in This Press Release
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