The Curse of the interstate continued...

What to do with a massive interstate running through the middle of the city:

1- Drop the interstate down to a boulevard and turn the land that used to be ramps and interstate into land to be developed as commercial and residential development.

This is already being done in Milwaukee where 26 acres have been made available to redevelop. In this case it is a viable option. Over $750 million in developement and redevelopment is planned to occur on the northwest side of Downtown Milwaukee over the next 5 years. As long as the county can get off their "lets not take a risk" mode Milwaukee will continue to thrive.

2- Demolish the interstate and make a boulevard and reconnect the city grid through the downtown into the Third Ward. With the newly emptied land design and plant a massive linear park/greenspace that continues the park frontage from Lake Michigan into the city and creates a breathing space for the Downtown/Third Ward employees as well as a breathing space for the residents of the Downtown and the Third Ward.

Seven Reasons to turn 794 into a "Greenway" and not use the land for commercial development:

1. Revitalization of adjacent properties.

Because there are several worn down properties or empty properties being used as parking lots next to the existing I-794 section of the freeway trying to use the new land for redevelopment will create too much empty land.

But by turning this land into a park you will automatically create a space to be used by people instead of empty dirt lots like in the Park East. By creating this space you will increase people traffice from the Third Ward and Downtown on the side streets connecting to the park. The lots and buildings adjacent to the park then will begin to revitalize and be developed as the flow of people increases.

2. Milwaukee Public Market

Instead of having the outdoor market at the new Milwaukee Public Market be underneath a freeway you can use the new greenspace as the outdoor market. This will create a more friendly atmosphere for shopping for fresh produce and other farm goods. This use will bring people into the park in the mornings and weekends.

3. Worried about traffic and parking?

Look to Chicago for a precedent - use the space underneath the park for automobile parking. It can be done and then you can take some of the garages along the greenway and redevelop them into commercial space at street level if not develop them into new office buildings or condos or apartments or other uses (look below for other uses).

The Park East freeway redesign has proven that dropping the interstate down to a boulevard level will not create congestion. It will actually allow for better traffic flow. I mean this is the reason the city streets are developed on a grid. They allow for traffic to flow through all the streets.

Yes people will have to learn to deal with the fact that can't drive 60 down Broadwayto get onto 794 travelling South. Yes people will have to drive through the city a little bit longer to get onto 94 . It really hasn't created any issues right now as they are doing construction on the Marquette Interchange. It will work - trust me! Only in America do we have freeway ramps in the middle of the city.

4 - Create a larger space for events such as Jazz in the Park.

Events such as Jazz in the Park are great. However if we could move it to a larger area and still keep it in the city it might be more comfortable. Currently it feels like you are in a can of sardines when you are at Cathedral Square.

However Cathedral Square is a really great park. Maybe we could have a different event take place there or different events such as a outdoor ballet take place at the new greenway. You could design a really great bandshell in the park. But again this may take away from the Meier Festival Grounds which could be better connected to the city if you demolished I-794.

5- Better Connection between Third Ward and Downtown.

If you were to build up the space between the Downtown and Third Ward some say you wouldn't get the proper experience of travelling into a different district. If you plant a greenway you would add a space to make you realize you are going into a different district.

6- Natural Connector
Not only would the park create a great connector between the different areas it would be adjacent to it would also be a great connection to the Milwaukee River and River Walk. Just west of Lake Michigan.

7- Different Uses

The spaces adjacent to the park could turn into either residential, entertainment, commercial or retail. Many people would rather be located next to a beautiful greenspace than to have windows pearing out onto a freeway. It would become prime real estate instead of the Lake view just being prime real estate.

Uses that could develop that would also bring more people to this part of town could include even a downtown movie theater or even a downtown shopping district. Wow --- maybe something that could bring people into the city?

I will touch more on these issues in a later blog.

I want to make sure people know I am not just pulling this from my rear. The school of architecture has actually done numerous studies on tearing down 794 people were just not ready and at the time the motto of the city was "Not in Milwaukee".

But my goal is to change everyone's opinion into "Why not in Milwaukee?"

Boston has a linear park stretching through the city known as the Emerald Necklace designed by Olmstead (same guy as Central Park and our very own Lake Park). New York City has a giant park in the middle of the city - it hasn't seemed to hurt them.

More can be said but for now I will leave with these thoughts.

I will continue on this subject more tomorrow.

Peace.

The curse of the freeway...

My first opinion I would like to share is about the control the freeway system has on America and Milwaukee in general.

I know people like to think the freeway system helps with traffic flow and control. However when the freeway system was built it demolished many neighborhoods, communities, homes, historic landmarks and the fabric of the city.

One great thing about Milwaukee is that we did get the courage to tear down the Park East Freeway. Its too sad that we couldn't do the same to I-794.

For those of you that don't know there is a a fairly short freeway extension from I-94 known as I-794 that stretches into downtown and disects the city in half from the downtown and the Third Ward.

This freeway should be demolished as it creates a dark, cold and sterile concrete wall in the city. This concrete wall is surrounded by parking garages and parking lots as not many want to be located next to a freeway. I mean who wants to look out of their office or home onto a freeway. Wait I do!!! Prime Real estate - superb views of gas gussling pieces of fiberglass, plastic and metal.

Here are some simple questions that many would like answers to:

What about my prime parking spot under the freeway? Wouldn't it take longer to get to work? How would I get to downtown? Why tear it down? What would you reuse the land as?

Well...

I have answers. Tomorrow's blog will take a look at the possibilities this wasteland would have to offer to the city of Milwaukee.