High Tides, Rising Boats and Who's Ox Gets Gored

A high tide lifts all boats.

Keep that in mind while we try to figure out to do with a desert in the middle of Milwaukee's downtown.

Ponder.

Study.

Think.

Do a report.

Meanwhile, 16 acres of prime land vacated when the Park East Freeway came down sit idle while developers wait, the downtown establishment frets and Mayor Tom Barrett says...nothing.

It almost makes me wish they'd never knocked the ugly spur down in the first place.

The proposed Harley Museum was supposed to fill a spot but restrictions and prohibitively high construction costs forced the cyclemaker to move it to 6th and Canal--within earshot of downtown, but a lost opportunity for the Park East nonetheless.

The article in this morning's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel quotes Department of Development officials as saying the city shouldn't back "speculative" efforts while creating surplus space that hurts existing downtown business. It goes on to say, "The city is under pressure from some owners of existing businesses who don't want to be undercut by city-backed developments."

Remember the original Schlitz Park concept that went up in flames because existing bars and entertainment venues were so worried about what might happen to their joints? Instead of thinking about the aforementioned tide, their parochialism helped skewer the effort--triggering one good side-effect: it was the one time I can remember an emotional outburst from His Honor, the Mayor. A reconfigured Schlitz plan is getting off the ground--finally--but we lost time and tax revenue in the meantime.

With this kind of thinking, there'd be only one bank downtown...one bar on Water Street...a restaurant representing every taste, but only one because, Lord Almighty, we wouldn't want anything that might disrupt the competitive balance.

Meanwhile, 16 acres sit idle, gathering gulls instead of tax dollars.

Businesses content with the status quo do no one any good--only themselves, as they guard their bottom lines.

Then again, a city with vision creates opportunities to make sure everyone's coffers stay full. Is that new outdoor soccer stadium ever going to happen? How about a new arena? And, while we're at it, how's about a convention center built to handle major national events, instead of the one configured to fit only the mid-sized?

Our tide would seem to be in--a 16 acre opportunity.

Who's boats will rise, or will we just be happy to float where we are for a few more years?

The only ones happy then will be the gulls.