Milwaukee Development News

[Twoaday]

@usbmfa Wow simply uninformed. The city, is today, on the ground spending millions (TIF is being used for redevelopment efforts, brownfield remediation, and you might remember Talgo) in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, which is the area this 'new' plan is focused on. Now, if this plan actually makes new funds available that's good, but to say Mayor Barrett hasn't done anything is simply, without a doubt uninformed.

[Milwaukee, WY]

@twoaday That's why I chose to ignore that part of his post and respond to the development related part. Sometimes it's not worth even arguing with people when the facts don't fit their particular world view. They won't ever be convinced otherwise. It seems like the only people who don't think Tom Barrett is a good mayor are non-city residents, or have far right political views, usually both. At any rate, he keeps getting re-elected by wide margins, so the people who he's supposed to be serving seem to like him just fine. I always have a good laugh to myself about people who think Barrett is bad on economic development whenever I go to a Brewers game and see all the new facilities built in the past several years in the valley.

[Twoaday]

@Milwaukee, WY Yeah I know why should I let myself get roped in. That said I don't think Mayor Barrett is perfect, and certainly have my complaints, but the pure misinformation begged to be responded to.

[usbmfa]

I am really at a loss to think of what proactive steps the mayor has taken improve job growth in Milwaukee. Some areas of the city have improved during his terms. The valley has grown(redevelopment began in 99, hardly rapid growth going on down there), but that infrastructure was put in place before he came along. Miller parkway has been growing, but again, the infrastructure was laid before him. Downtown and east side have improved, but that redevelopment momentum was in place before the mayor. Some businesses moved from the burbs to the city, but others are moving the way, so that is a wash. Barrett to his credit did not screw up the postive things that were happening in Milwaukee before him, but what is doing to grow Milwaukee in the future? Brown deer is in rapid decline. The inner city has not improved one bit. If the law is passed that allows city of Milwaukee workers to leave the city, they will. Public schools are in worse shape, city utilities have not improved and dumping still goes on. Safety is improving a little. The population flatlined, but all the growth is the yuppies and retirees moving downtown. The grand avenue mall is dead, just like most of the city west of the river. The parks are in ok shape, but that is more of the county's job. The airport was doing ok until yesterday, but again, the county. I really am asking what Barrett doing. I think the best you can say about him, is he does a good job of keeping the status quo.

[Twoaday]

@usbmfa Although the Valley efforts started in 99, projects on his watch include Ingeteam, Charter Wire, Derse, Falk (expansion), Palermo just to name a couple and all involved the City of Milwaukee. In the Downtown area The North End, Aloft, FlatIron, Manpower, The Moderne, The Brewery all happened on his watch and all involved the City of Milwaukee. Mayor Barrett has nothing to do with the running of MPS. Let me say that again Mayor Barrett has nothing to do with the running of MPS. The Grand Ave is simply not dead, its purpose is changing (new tenants in recent year MiKE, Spreekler, Vet Transfer, ART Milwaukee, Newaukee), much like most urban malls in America, and the mall has little to do with Mayor Barrett, unless you are suggesting the city toss more money in. "The population flatlined, but all the growth is the yuppies and retirees moving downtown." Well after decades of decline, flatline is a good thing, and I'm curious whats wrong with yuppies and retirees?

Additionally, back to the area that Governor Walker's plan is intended to help the city, under Mayor Barrett's lead, has been massively involved, assembling properties, passing policy both land use and financing, conducting brownfield remediation, bringing in Talgo, working with the neighborhood, and much more.

Further, that streetcar is economic development. Other cities have seen Billions of dollars, yes with a B, of economic development follow the line.

Finally, I' glad Walker finally noticed Milwaukee, it only took a decade, and I hope what I think (so far not a lot of solid details) is simply an expansion of existing WHEDA programs will result in something for Milwaukee (though just you watch all of these efforts will require the assistance of the City of Milwaukee).

PS Just a comical note this is a Conservative promoting a Government program to create jobs... Fun.

[SWDetroit]

Self-proclaimed conservatives likely will be perceived as being somewhat less (or more...) conservative when viewed by others...

The current sharp decline in Milwaukee's real-estate valuation also occurred during Barrett's tenure ( Milwaukee-area home prices trail U.S. metro numbers - JSOnline ). However, I am not stating that Barrett caused it. But nonetheless, the blame for Milwaukee having the worst decline in home prices will likely be directed primarily against Barrett--as he is/was the sitting mayor.

[miltown]

Originally Posted by HaletotheZoo

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee...proposals.html

40 stories is close to the USB, yet no cigar

Wow, no one is talking about this? I'm hoping for something nice!

http://www.jsonline.com/newswatch/149862645.html

[Jesse276]

Originally Posted by SWDetroit

Self-proclaimed conservatives likely will be perceived as being somewhat less (or more...) conservative when viewed by others...

The current sharp decline in Milwaukee's real-estate valuation also occurred during Barrett's tenure ( Milwaukee-area home prices trail U.S. metro numbers - JSOnline ). However, I am not stating that Barrett caused it. But nonetheless, the blame for Milwaukee having the worst decline in home prices will likely be directed primarily against Barrett--as he is/was the sitting mayor.

You do understand these are metro milwaukee numbers right? I mean you'd have to, since even your quote mentions metros, so how does the mayor of a city with less than 1/3 of the population of the metro, get the blame?

Not that anyone is really taking you seriously, but any thoughts?

[MarqKev]

Originally Posted by miltown

Wow, no one is talking about this? I'm hoping for something nice!

http://www.jsonline.com/newswatch/149862645.html

Speaking of potential developments, the Rinka Chung website has a number of interesting "Coming Soon" projects shown in the thumbnails. There aren't any bigger shots of these yet, but here are the pics:

Labeled "Residential High Rise" (Difficult to tell if this is for Milwaukee or not...could it be a proposal for the transit center?)


Labeled "Milwaukee Apartments"


Labeled "Milwaukee Hotel" (Assuming '2575' is the address, this seems like it would have to either be on Downer/Oakland, or in Bayview on KK)

[SWDetroit]

Originally Posted by Jesse276

You do understand these are metro milwaukee numbers right? I mean you'd have to, since even your quote mentions metros, so how does the mayor of a city with less than 1/3 of the population of the metro, get the blame?

Not that anyone is really taking you seriously, but any thoughts?

But of course, I understand what metro Milwaukee means population-wise. Here in metro Detroit, the city of Detroit (estimated population 675,000--two years after the 2010 Census date of record) makes up an even much smaller fraction of the metro's population of some 4 1/2 million here.

I also understand that a fair percentage of this and Detroit's forum members are New Urbanists, who favor the inner cities of both regions over their burbs. Therefore, you should not be too eager to blame the valuation declines there upon your burbs, with their higher real-estate valuations than Milwaukee proper. Metro Milwaukee's problems are largely Milwaukee-centric, much like the city of Detroit is primarily responsible for metro Detroit's problems.

In any event, the federal-funds spigot of both Detroit and Milwaukee is being turned off. You will simply have to live with that eventuality.

BTW, my parents lived in the inner-city 1/2 block away from Borchert Field (deep, straightaway left field...) when I was born, and they moved right then to 24th Place, across the alley from Saint Leo's. From there to 42nd and Capitol Drive, on the last three city lots left of my grandparents' 30 acres at Sherman and Capitol Drive--now owned by ex-GB Packer Willie Davis--before moving out to Brookfield in 1956. So, I sadly understand how much those parts of industrial and residential Milwaukee on either side of the Milwaukee Road railroad tracks nearby have deteriorated since the 1940s and 1950s.

[ThatGuy]

Originally Posted by MarqKev

Speaking of potential developments, the Rinka Chung website has a number of interesting "Coming Soon" projects shown in the thumbnails. There aren't any bigger shots of these yet, but here are the pics:

Labeled "Residential High Rise" (Difficult to tell if this is for Milwaukee or not...could it be a proposal for the transit center?)


Labeled "Milwaukee Apartments"


Labeled "Milwaukee Hotel" (Assuming '2575' is the address, this seems like it would have to either be on Downer/Oakland, or in Bayview on KK)

Ooh, I really like what I can see of the Residential High Rise. If that was 40 stories I would definitely take that. I liked the curved edges and oval-ish shape. Looks like something you see in futuristic movies, but never really see displayed in real life. Don't know how practical that might be though :P

[looksee]

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

Ooh, I really like what I can see of the Residential High Rise. If that was 40 stories I would definitely take that. I liked the curved edges and oval-ish shape. Looks like something you see in futuristic movies, but never really see displayed in real life. Don't know how practical that might be though :P

Oh, they exist all right.
This one's been in Manhattan for more than 25 years:


http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index...stick_Building

[Paule]

Originally Posted by miltown

Wow, no one is talking about this? I'm hoping for something nice!

http://www.jsonline.com/newswatch/149862645.html

They're not proposals though, just conceptual, nothing to really talk about really. Look, a 30 story office building was proposed several months ago for downtown and we're still waiting for news on that. The problem is with anchor tenents willing to commit and no one seems to want to commit.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by looksee

Oh, they exist all right.
This one's been in Manhattan for more than 25 years:


http://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index...stick_Building

Madoff had offices in the Lipstick Building. In other news: Kohl says it's time for a new arena, he'll pitch in

[CGII]

Good god the Journal Sentinel is a rag these days.

[skylinedude]

I think that the Bucks might be looking at locating a new arena over in the Menomonee Valley on Canal Street between 6th Street and I-43/94. That is west of the Harley Davidson Museum. Currently 15 to 25 acres of open land in that area can be combined to create an arena and multi-use facility. Some of the land in that area which might have ties to a sponsor of the Milwaukee Bucks may have some influence to locating an arena to that area. Also if the Potawatomi Casino can go in on the naming rights for a new arena, it will be a huge boost to the economy and put the focus of all the major professional sports teams in this city to be located in the Menomonee Valley which is a much less congested area than the north side of Downtown. The other advantage is that its centrally located to all of the Downtown, West Side and South Side restaurants and entertainment districts. People from around the state visiting Milwaukee would rather see a new Bucks arena in the Menomonee Valley with the Casino, Miller Park, Valley Fields and the Henry Aaron State Trail than cramming it in or demolishing neighborhoods on the north side of Downtown.

[Boatnurd]

Originally Posted by skylinedude

I think that the Bucks might be looking at locating a new arena over in the Menomonee Valley on Canal Street

I like this idea a lot and it is thinking outside the box. With shuttle services running regularly, getting to downtown, Third Ward, Walker's Point and the near south side is only moments away. Leave the car parked and hitch a ride. That area will be a destination location for all of the state and a influx of traffic for all of the new and existing activity planned in that area.. One might even consider parking downtown and taking a short bus or cab ride to the new arena in the Valley. I am truly excited about this.

[CGII]

An arena in the Valley could start to make a strong case for light rail, too, especially since a valley line could link to Miller park (as was always the plan).

[Eriol]

I thought that was crazy at first, but looking at a map, if the post office can finally be kicked out of that monstrosity so it can be blown up, that area could be something very nice, right by the H-D and the School of Water.

It would need to have sports bars and restaurants built, but what would happen to the area by the BC?

[GarfieldPark]

Eriol: "...but what would happen to the area by the BC?"

I think that is a key question. Do you think the Bradley Center will continue to sit there? And what about the MECCA (or whatever it is called now)? I don't think it makes sense to keep the outdated arenas in place. Who pays for their upkeep? Why should they be kept there to remain as competition for the potential new arena?

If it doesn't make sense to keep them sitting there - then what will take their place?

Sorry to bring a negative note to this idea -- but I really have doubts about some of the ideas expressed about people going to games at a new arena in the valley - and then taking a shuttle to downtown - or to other places. Or the other idea - that people would park downtown - and then take a shuttle to the valley. I just don't think too many people will do that. They typically want something that is as convenient as possible. I'm not going to expound on this too much -- but I'll just leave it that I think it is best to keep as many things as close together as possible. If new restaurants and bars open up near a new arena in the Valley - I think it probably is just going to mean that there will be less business for those bars and restaurants already located downtown.

BTW --- I've never seen the movie "Bridesmaids" before --- but I've got the Comedy Awards on right now - and "Bridesmaids" has just won its second award -- and each time they announce the nominees and show "Bridesmaids" as a nominee - they show the Milwaukee skyline. I didn't know it had anything to do with Milwaukee -- so at least that's kind of cool that the city is getting some "free" publicity tonight (at least for anyone watching who knows what the Milwaukee skyline looks like).