Yeah I think the Fox Cities GB corridor is just way too spread out to make sense. Madison has the benefits of a relatively dense DT which is lacking in the State's third largest CSA.
MILWAUKEE | Development News
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For a city it's size, Sheboygan has a great food scene.
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Honestly, I think Acuity should get into the housing game for its workforce. Sometimes, it takes these big developers being willing to push the envelope for things to happen. I think the success of NML is the single biggest reason the Ascent is happening. And...I hope that NML has plans for future downtown developments even if on a smaller, more affordable scale.
These big employers should be pressing their city - and regional developers to say "there is demand here, we are that demand, do it." We really need greater synergy between major employers and developers. It's win-win. The company can keep more workers locally and the developer has people a ready-built tenant pool paying rent or buying units. Most of the time, it feels like there's a job announcement and then there's at least a year lag before something gets proposed and even longer before its built. I get the caution, but imagine if these companies partner with a master developer and the city - and give the heads up so that there isn't a severe shortage that takes years to address?
These big employers should be pressing their city - and regional developers to say "there is demand here, we are that demand, do it." We really need greater synergy between major employers and developers. It's win-win. The company can keep more workers locally and the developer has people a ready-built tenant pool paying rent or buying units. Most of the time, it feels like there's a job announcement and then there's at least a year lag before something gets proposed and even longer before its built. I get the caution, but imagine if these companies partner with a master developer and the city - and give the heads up so that there isn't a severe shortage that takes years to address?
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Completely agree. We as a society, and even those of us on this forum who love the idea of mass-transportation will be slow to adopt it unless there is solid funding, efficiency, and easy access. As has been said many times, there is no reason why Milwaukee and Madison cannot support a successful mass-transit system. When doing these types of systems they have to be well laid out. One of my fears with the HOP system is that we need a critical mass (such as the system going to the North-East side) to really take full advantage of the system and win over detractors.
Oh i know it does and honestly I've been through Naples and the Amalfi Coast region and both pizzerias make pizzas that taste exactly the way they do there. I offered the remark more as a ribbing and a plug for both restaurants. I actually probably like Il Ritrovo a bit more, the bartenders at San Georgio's never splash extra wine in your glass just because.
That Riverwalk in Sheboygan's Harbor has been a great development and personally on those rare heat wave days I like to take the wife up to Sheboygan where seems as though it never gets above 78 degrees. Even when its 94 in the East Side of Milwaukee.
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I think this is both a challenge and a weakness for the state of Wisconsin. We have many beautiful mid-size cities. Also our population is more spread out in these cities compared to other states like a Minnesota or Illinois which is dominated by one large metro area. Like Green bay, Sheboygan, Appleton, Wausau, and the like. These cities have dense and old downtowns. The weakness is that it creates competition and rivalry instead of synergy against Milwaukee and Madison. Second, demographically those mid-size cities are not seeing the growth of larger cities like Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Madison, and Indianapolis.
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City OKs removal of Masonic Center's stained-glass windows, advancing conversion to apartments - Milwaukee Business Journal
A Chicago developer’s plan to convert Milwaukee’s historic Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center into apartments gained a needed city approval on Monday.
www.bizjournals.com
a stop in pleasant prairie could make a lot of sense....the line that amtrak uses goes pass the RecPlex, ample parking and a steady population growth....even if only a couple stops a day, it could increase the ridership further.....with the line going under hwy 165, there is less of a concern for effects on automobile traffic. go on the interwebs or maybe Amazon and please find that magic wand
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Well we are still on the subject of regional matters I wanted to offer up 2 things from an out-state perspective.
First, I really think the disdain for Milwaukee from other parts of the state is considerably shrinking. As someone from a more right wing background I have actually heard 5-10 times more good things about Milwaukee than bad over the past few years. I think the image of the city has changed and more people from around the state, at least in my young age group, are more interested than ever to consider a move or at the least more frequent weekend trips.
Second, I think growth anywhere in the state is good for us as a whole. I look at many of our smaller metros and see a lot of potential for projects that can bring density. Think of downtown Kenosha’s mixed use project or Wausau replacing its mall. As much of the rural parts of the state have lost population, the state as a whole has not.
If we can market the scattered array of 50,000+ urbanized areas as places for increased density and resettlement from rural towns as well as refugees I see a way for us to mimic the growth seen in Minnesota which has kicked ours for years. Milwaukee and Madison would be better served for their own growth by a cohesive web of thriving smaller urban centers in the state. Their purpose as gateways into the state and the largest hubs will never be challenged.
Just my idea as I hear too often about competition as a bad thing and not a good thing.
First, I really think the disdain for Milwaukee from other parts of the state is considerably shrinking. As someone from a more right wing background I have actually heard 5-10 times more good things about Milwaukee than bad over the past few years. I think the image of the city has changed and more people from around the state, at least in my young age group, are more interested than ever to consider a move or at the least more frequent weekend trips.
Second, I think growth anywhere in the state is good for us as a whole. I look at many of our smaller metros and see a lot of potential for projects that can bring density. Think of downtown Kenosha’s mixed use project or Wausau replacing its mall. As much of the rural parts of the state have lost population, the state as a whole has not.
If we can market the scattered array of 50,000+ urbanized areas as places for increased density and resettlement from rural towns as well as refugees I see a way for us to mimic the growth seen in Minnesota which has kicked ours for years. Milwaukee and Madison would be better served for their own growth by a cohesive web of thriving smaller urban centers in the state. Their purpose as gateways into the state and the largest hubs will never be challenged.
Just my idea as I hear too often about competition as a bad thing and not a good thing.
IIRC, both the Janesville train the actually operated and the Fond du Lac train that never started up were driven more by Amtrak's focus at the time on mail & express business, not passenger traffic (same with the very slow Kentucky Cardinal to Louisville of the same era).
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RE: WestDePere
Absolutely. Although Milwaukee and Madison are incredible cities, they are far from all the state has to offer. Wisconsin should capitalize on WFH to revitalize and grow smaller cities (Eau Claire, Fox Valley, La Crosse, etc.) A strong state and city branding program could make places like Wasau & Stevens point attractive options as much of the country goes underwater. Dense historic downtowns with proximity to larger cities are lacked in western and southern small cities, while access to pristine nature and immunity from natural disaster are lacked in the east.
Absolutely. Although Milwaukee and Madison are incredible cities, they are far from all the state has to offer. Wisconsin should capitalize on WFH to revitalize and grow smaller cities (Eau Claire, Fox Valley, La Crosse, etc.) A strong state and city branding program could make places like Wasau & Stevens point attractive options as much of the country goes underwater. Dense historic downtowns with proximity to larger cities are lacked in western and southern small cities, while access to pristine nature and immunity from natural disaster are lacked in the east.
Xylem will move its Sanitaire operations to Milwaukee's Global Water Center
Xylem, a Rye Brook, New York-based water technology company, is moving its Sanitaire operations from Brown Deer to the Global Water Center in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood.
biztimes.com
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Thanks for the input!
I think one thing we can ALL agree on is the fact that we will be far better off with much higher levels of regional and state-wide cooperation than we currently see.
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Temporarily anyways, WE ALL AGREE! I feel like this is a milestone moment in the history of this forum.
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Milwaukee seeks designer of new public space in Harbor District: Report
The City of Milwaukee is looking for a company to design a three-quarter-mile space along the river walk in the Harbor District, our partners at the Milwaukee Business Journal report.
www.tmj4.com
The city has issued a RFP for public space in the Harbor District next to the Komatsu site, targeting a 2022 opening. "Some ideas being floated for the space include a smaller soccer field, educational areas about the property's history and "aquatic habitats," according to the BizJournal, citing Remington. It may also have a large bridge across a former ship docking area, south of Komatsu's headquarters."
The bridge would be a really nice feature. I didn't realize that this area has been closed off from public access for over 100 years!
That's really cool. And yes I agree as well about outstate areas succeeding. I really like some of the stuff going on in downtown Green Bay, Wausau, La Crosse, etc. I've never been to Eau Claire but I've never heard anything bad.
A socially unified Wisconsin with all of the small to mid-size 50k-ish cities connected to Milwaukee/Madison via high quality rail is my dream for the state. I think the biggest step is getting the outer Milwaukee burbs that I love to skewer to see themselves as a greater Milwaukee and not as an adversary taking all their tax dollars (even though that isn't at all true).
A socially unified Wisconsin with all of the small to mid-size 50k-ish cities connected to Milwaukee/Madison via high quality rail is my dream for the state. I think the biggest step is getting the outer Milwaukee burbs that I love to skewer to see themselves as a greater Milwaukee and not as an adversary taking all their tax dollars (even though that isn't at all true).
There is precedence for this. Oracle either bought or developed some big apartment buildings in Austin that are for its employees there. They get to rent there at rates well below market. Kind of cool. Probably something a company would only do if needed... and around here the rents aren't high enough to support. But it can be done
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Looking at Amtrak’s national map, I see at least four larger metro areas in the contiguous 48 US without common-carrier passenger rail service.
Columbus, OH ~ 2.1 million
Nashville, TN ~ 1.9 million
Louisville, KY ~ 1.3 million
Las Vegas, NV ~ 2.1 million
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Thanks for the fact check, but...
The POINT is, even if it isn't the biggest CSA with common passenger service - NE Wisconsin is certainly underserved, and could benefit from commuter rail if done right. If Milwaukee was a spoke - connecting both Madison and GB / the Fox Cities would theoretically serve more than half of WI's 6M population. There being other larger metros without doesn't negate the need. The fact that Milwaukee is one of the busiest non-coastal stations in the country clearly means there is an appetite. Even it is connecting two close by metros of nearly 11M combined, those numbers alone mean an extension should merit closer look. Of course, barriers to service are numerous and Amtrak is not on stable footing. But having Mayor Pete at least gives me some hope. Give people good options, and they'll take them.
The POINT is, even if it isn't the biggest CSA with common passenger service - NE Wisconsin is certainly underserved, and could benefit from commuter rail if done right. If Milwaukee was a spoke - connecting both Madison and GB / the Fox Cities would theoretically serve more than half of WI's 6M population. There being other larger metros without doesn't negate the need. The fact that Milwaukee is one of the busiest non-coastal stations in the country clearly means there is an appetite. Even it is connecting two close by metros of nearly 11M combined, those numbers alone mean an extension should merit closer look. Of course, barriers to service are numerous and Amtrak is not on stable footing. But having Mayor Pete at least gives me some hope. Give people good options, and they'll take them.
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