UWM Downtown

On April 15, 2008, on the day of the inauguration for Mayor Tom Barrett’s second term, the Mayor signed a resolution promoting the expansion of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (“UWM”) within the City of Milwaukee, specifically in the downtown area.

A week earlier, this resolution was unanimously approved by Milwaukee’s Common Council. The entire resolution can be found here.

UWM Downtown applauds this effort and believes that downtown Milwaukee offers the best location for a UWM expansion in the entire Milwaukee region.

Maybe the better question would be: What Does the Milwaukee Region Want to Become and How Can UWM Help Make that a Reality?

In the increasingly global economy, former economic powerhouses such as Milwaukee are still trying to find their new niche in the world.

Pick up the paper and you see national water shortages, an energy crisis and increasing global climate concerns. It is clear that freshwater, energy and environmental research and technologies will be extremely important in the coming years. Recent studies by the M7 initiative indicate that Milwaukee has a strength in advanced manufacturing, green technology, energy efficiency and to a lesser extent, biomedical.

So why does the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (“UWM”) want to expand its engineering and research at the County Grounds near the Medical College of Wisconsin (“MCW”) and other biomedical institutions? While the research being done at MCW is tremendous and a great benefit to our economy, its work doesn’t align with UWM’s strengths. Further, it is clear that UW-Madison is a global leader in biomedical research and will continue its dominance in gaining biomedical research dollars.

So shouldn’t UWM try to carve out its own niche in the regional and global economy by focusing on advanced manufacturing, green engineering and energy research. Milwaukee already has several major global companies that work in these fields, such as Johnson Controls, Rockwell Automation, WE Energies and Eaton.

Not only could UWM be teaming up with these corporations, but they could also team up with Marquette University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering, to create a cluster of engineering research that would make Milwaukee a global leader in advanced manufacturing, green engineering and energy research. A central location to all of these institutions is downtown Milwaukee . This cluster would enable Milwaukee to attract researchers from around the world, as well as make Milwaukee a great place to start a company related to any of those fields.

So again: What Does the Milwaukee Region Want to Become and How can UWM help make that a reality?

Students are the main customers of a university. It is important to the Milwaukee region that we attract students to Milwaukee and keep them here after they graduate. Therefore, our universities must always keep the students in mind when developing plans for the future. Unfortunately, UWM’s plan to move its engineering school and related research to Wauwatosa is not in the best interest of UWM students. Downtown Milwaukee, however, is an excellent place for students to live and learn, and downtown would welcome the vitality that students bring. Here are just a few of the important reasons why expanding UWM downtown would be beneficial to the students, and ultimately, the Milwaukee region as a whole:

• Class Scheduling. Having classes on the same campus or a satellite campus in close proximity, such as downtown Milwaukee, makes it much easier to get to class. As a result, more students are likely to attend class. They will also be able to have more flexibility in their schedule to allow time for a part-time job or additional study time. A recent study by Ohio State University shows that the distance a student lives from their classes is directly correlated to how many years it takes them to graduate and their overall GPA: Article
• Transit Access. In addition to being environmentally friendly and reducing the demand for parking on East Side, being able to take efficient transit to class is a major benefit to students. They do not need to spend money maintaining a car or paying for parking that could be better spent on tuition. They save time that could be better spend studying. Taking transit to the UW-Tosa site from the East Side would take over 45 minutes. However, downtown is currently served extensively by transit, with buses running from downtown to the East Side on a regular basis and taking between 10-15 minutes.
• Housing Options. The East Side provides several housing options for students, including dorms, apartments and duplexes. A UWM expansion downtown would only increase the number of housing options available to students in both the type of housing and rent levels. With a cluster of Marquette, MSOE and MATC students nearby, it is likely that private dorms or apartments aimed towards students would be added to the housing mix in the downtown area. This will reduce the strain that students are currently placing on the East Side neighborhoods. In addition, having students downtown will show our young professionals of the future the great urban living environment that downtown Milwaukee offers. When these students graduate, they will be more likely to stay in Milwaukee and contribute to the region’s success, helping to curb brain drain.
• Convenience. A downtown location for UWM would be extremely convenient for students looking for internships or part-time jobs. With over 70,000 employees downtown, there are plenty of opportunities for internships. Also, with a strong service economy with many sporting events, conventions and other special events, downtown Milwaukee is an easy place for students to get that part-time job they need to buy books and cover rent. A downtown campus would also be near several major educational and cultural amenities for students, such as the Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee Public Museum and Discovery World.
• Access to Education. UWM expanding downtown makes access to higher education easier for the residents who need it most. The strength of the Milwaukee region depends on the success of the inner city. UW-Tosa would be moving higher education further from Milwaukee’s inner city. However, putting UWM downtown will make the path to higher education easier for those who might not have even thought of college as a viable option.

We must give Milwaukee and Wisconsin residents a reason to choose to attend UWM, instead of giving them reasons not to enroll at UWM. UW-Tosa will be a major deterrent to potential engineering students solely because of its isolated and inaccessible location. The Milwaukee region cannot afford to lose some of its brightest students to other areas of the state or other states entirely. One of the best ways to attract them to UWM is to offer a learning experience that cannot be found at other universities. Downtown Milwaukee would provide a setting and environment that would excite students about enrolling at UWM and staying in the Milwaukee region after they graduate.

One of the main reasons given for expanding UW-Milwaukee in Wauwatosa is that there is plenty of room out there for spin-off companies that result from the research conducted at the new campus. Spin-off companies are what will drive the region’s economy and having room for them to grow is vital in order to capitalize on the potential research done by UW-Milwaukee.

While the space may be more obvious in Wauwatosa (as there is ample space for greenfield development), that does not mean that downtown Milwaukee does not have the capacity for spin-off companies. Quite the opposite is the case. Downtown has much more room than is needed for both UWM research and growth of spin-off companies.

There are several areas in downtown with either available office space or undeveloped land that could accommodate research/university functions or spin-off companies.

In total, using a conservative estimate, downtown Milwaukee has 2,400,000 SF of space currently available, 1,500,000 SF of potential space and 71 acres of available land for development:

The Brewery – Work is already underway to convert several buildings to office and residential uses. However, there still is not a major catalyst to drive demand at The Brewery. Currently, there as is at least 750,000 SF of potential space there.

MacArthur Square – A plan was recently put together showing what the future of MacArthur Square could be. Several potential buildings have been contemplated, but none of them have tenants. Conservatively, 750,000-1,000,000 SF of space could be made available.

Park East – Many projects in the Park East are underway, however, there is plenty of acreage left for new construction. Generally, there are 14 acres west of the river and 12 acres east of the river that could be developed.

Haymarket – The area north of the Park East and west of Martin Luther King Drive is full of opportunity. Haymarket is a mix of century-old buildings, underutilized warehouses and vacant lots. There is at least 45 acres of vacant land or deteriorated/obsolete buildings for development. In addition, the older buildings could be rehabbed into cheap incubator space.

Schlitz Park – There is approximately 200,000 SF of space available at Schlitz Park.

Central Business District – The CBD has 2,200,000 SF of vacant space of all types and rents.

Not only does downtown have enough space to handle UWM’s research vision and associated spin-offs, it has much more variety than would be available in Wauwatosa. The above areas provide a wide range of office spaces, from warehouse conversions to Class A space in an office tower. A new start-up company many not be able to afford rent in a new office building like is proposed for UWM Wauwatosa campus. However, they could more easily afford space in a warehouse at The Brewery or in Haymarket, allowing them to spend their resources on research instead of rent. As a result, UWM’s expansion into downtown Milwaukee would have a greater economic impact on the Milwaukee region than any other location.

Everyone in the Milwaukee region should support higher education and understand the value that research institutions play in creating jobs and growing the economy. Likewise, it is understood that it is in the best interest of the entire region to have new jobs and investment today, rather than tomorrow.

UW-Milwaukee’s plan to build an engineering and research campus on the County Grounds in Wauwatosa will certainly be a benefit to the region’s economy. However, there are many obstacles that will delay the campus from becoming a reality, and as a result, will delay the economic benefits to the region. Here are just a few of those obstacles (while none of these are necessarily deal-killers, they will certainly cause significant and costly delays):

Opposition to Building on County Grounds. For years, there has been opposition to developing the County Grounds from various groups. The areas that have already been developed were much more commercial in nature. However, the remaining piece being proposed for UWM, between Swan Boulevard and Watertown Plank, is currently open green space. Several environmental groups will oppose construction on the remaining open land.

1. Opposition to University Expansion in Wauwatosa. Wisconsin Lutheran College, located just on the other side of the Medical Complex from the UWM site has been in a constant struggle with neighbors to expand their campus. Residents have opposed expansion for several reasons, including (like on the East Side of Milwaukee) a disinterest in additional students housing in their neighborhood.
2. Site Issues. There have been recent reports about the pauper cemeteries on the County Grounds, many of the remains coming from the tuberculosis hospital that was once there. It is very likely that additional remains are buried on the UWM site. In addition, the site is in the pathway of butterfly migration.
3. Infrastructure and Access. The UWM Site at the County Grounds will need substantial infrastructure put in place before any building construction can begin, which will be costly and will delay construction. Basic infrastructure, such as roads, sewer, water and electric will need to be installed for the entire campus. Since the site is currently pervious , storm water runoff management will require a significant amount of land and additional expense. Finally, the Zoo Interchange is expected to be under reconstruction from 2012-16. That project extends past North Avenue. As a result, access to the UWM site will be impaired during construction and possibly even once the complex is completed. (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/sefreeways/zooindex.htm)

In contrast, Downtown Milwaukee has many vacant lots that are ready to be built on as quickly as UWM wants. There will be little to no neighbor opposition and the infrastructure is already in place. In addition to various transit options downtown, the Marquette Interchange will be completed by the beginning of 2009. All of this means that UWM will be able to get in the ground earlier, thus providing our region with needed jobs and investment sooner. Instead of spending scarce university, state and philanthropic dollars on infrastructure in Wauwatosa, those same funds could be put towards classroom buildings, computer labs, research labs, chair endowments and curriculum.

The choice is clear: Putting UWM downtown will provide the greatest benefit to the Milwaukee region because it is cost-effective and it can break ground quickly.

Many recent articles and editorials have spoken to the importance of higher education and research to Milwaukee’s economy and ultimately, its future. The benefits cannot be argued. It is encouraging to see Marquette University announce several new buildings on campus and UWM unveil plans to ramp up its research capabilities. University expansion is vital to the future of Milwaukee.

However, the discussions of UWM building an engineering and research campus in Wauwatosa are troubling. While the goals behind the plan are laudable–a well-educated workforce and spin-off companies–the location is a poor choice. It is clear that UWM has little room for expansion at its current East Side campus, but there are plenty of other possible locations to grow. The best choice is somewhere in the downtown area, whether that be MacArthur Square, The Brewery, the Park East, the area north of the Park East, the several vacant lots near I-794 or even Fifth Ward. Where the East Side sees students as a problem, these areas would welcome the level of activity that students provide.

Here is a brief list of the benefits of a downtown location for UWM’s engineering and research campus:

• Economic Driver. Downtown needs a catalytic economic driver. Research universities have been proven to provide economic stimulus to an area.
• Spin-off Opportunities. Downtown has plenty of locations with affordable rents for spin-off companies to grow and prosper.
• Creative Class. Downtown is already a great place for the creative class. We need to keep our young, entrepreneurial professionals, in stimulating environments where they can share ideas.
• Student Convenience. A downtown location is accessible by transit, convenient for Milwaukee residents in need of a higher-education and close enough to the East Side campus for students to go back and forth between classes.
• Engineering Powerhouse. MSOE and Marquette are already great engineering schools. With the addition of UWM, combined with MATC, downtown would have a large cluster of talented engineering students and graduates that companies would want to be near.
• Future Expansion. There already is discussion of a UWM School of Public Health in the downtown area. The men’s basketball teams plays at the U.S. Cellular Arena downtown. The continuing education program has a presence at Grand Avenue. As UWM continues to expand, more programs could be relocated to the downtown.
• Green. Building an urban campus is inherently Green. Few stormwater runoff issues. Discourages sprawl. Reduces energy and transportation demands. This would be a giant step forward in growing Milwaukee’s green economy as many campuses around the country continue to expand in greenfields.
• East Side. More students could live downtown, reducing the strain on the East Side. If students had to drive to ‘Tosa, parking problems on East Side would worsen.
• ‘Tosa Issues. Many groups have fought the development of the County Grounds. Other groups have fought university expansion in ‘Tosa, such as Wisconsin Lutheran. Downtown would welcome development and students with open arms.

Unfortunately, when you pick up the paper, it sounds as if UW-Tosa is a done deal. The location of public university expansion is a major long-term decision that will affect Milwaukee for generations. It appears that Milwaukee County is more interested in getting the proceeds from a land sale at the County Grounds than they are with putting UWM where it belongs to strengthen Milwaukee’s future. Please take the time to discuss UWM Downtown with your co-workers, friends and neighbors. As UWM moves forward with their campus master plan, downtown must be considered over Wauwatosa for expansion.