UWM Downtown

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?

This morning, at the last Milwaukee Common Council meeting of the 2004-08 cycle, the Council unanimously approved a resolution promoting the expansion of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (“UWM”) within the City of Milwaukee, specifically in the downtown area.

Resolution number 071708 was co-sponsored by Ald. D’Amato, Ald. Zielinski and Ald. Bauman. The entire resolution can be found here: http://legistar.milwaukee.gov/detailreport/?key=27178
UWM Downtown applauds this effort and believes that downtown Milwaukee offers the best location for a UWM expansion in the entire Milwaukee region.

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.