Milwaukee Condo & Real Estate Scene: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UWM drops plan to put freshwater school at lakefront site

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UWM drops plan to put freshwater school at lakefront site

For months, it seemed certain that the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) was going to have a brand new School of Freshwater Sciences at the former Pieces of Eight restaurant site.

Almost immediately, the announcement of the site location drew criticism. Opponents argued that the site should remain available for public use and be turned into green space along the lakefront.

Apparently the opponents won this battle. In a surprise move, university officials announced that they are cancelling their plans to build the school on that site and will immediately resume their search for another location.

The university’s decision was made just one month after Michael Cudahy purchased the lease of the property for $1 million. Cudahy, a local philanthropist, was planning to donate the lease to UWM if the university won approval from city officials.

University officials cited several reasons for their decision including: (1) fight over the proper use of the site could adversely impact their ability to move forward with the new school, and (2) the restaurant site was not spacious enough to handle the needs of the school. Officials were concerned that the emotional battle over the use of the site would make it difficult for them to raise funds for the development. Officials also argued that a larger site is needed to accommodate classrooms as well as research labs.

Needless to say, the university’s decision upset Cudahy. The lesson to be learned is that when someone offers to give you $1 million in the form of a donation, you move forward with the proposed plans. According to Cudahy, “I just can't believe the university would cower under a few comments."

My Thoughts

Who knew that a parcel could cause so much controversy? There are certainly winners and losers in this battle.

Let’s start off with the losers - as there is a greater potential for a larger number of losers.

First, is the City of Milwaukee. University officials suggested that without building their school in such a prominent place as the site of the former Pieces of Eight restaurant, Milwaukee potentially loses its ability to be recognized as the center of water technology. Even Mayor Tom Barrett was hopeful that the school would have been built along Milwaukee’s lakefront. Now, Barrett’s biggest concern is that UWM chooses an alternative location that doesn’t have a city of Milwaukee address.

Second, is UWM. How likely is it that you will find another prominent, financially-able, individual who is willing to donate money you need to build your school? You now have a history of going against a donor’s wishes of making the school a reality.

Third, is the region. For months we have been hearing the buzz about how Southeastern Wisconsin could be the international center for freshwater technologies. With the current economic climate and historically-high rate of unemployment, the water technology industry would create jobs that will enable us to get through the recovery process faster.

I’m sure there are more losers, but it’s time to think of the winners in this deal.

For starters, the Cousins Center and the City of Port Washington appear to be on the university’s radar screen for the new school.

Milwaukee’s aldermen are quickly trying to find other alternative locations to keep the school in Milwaukee. One site that seems to make sense is in the Historic Third Ward. The city owns a parking lot that is being used by Maier Festival Park at the end of East Erie Street. This site has some appeal because of its accessibility to the harbor as well as offering sufficient space to meet the classroom and research needs of the university.

Let’s not forget that Cudahy still owns the lease to the former site of the Pieces of Eight restaurant. There’s still hope that this land will developed that will meet the needs of the city as well as its citizens.

Finally, Joe Bartolotta. His name and the Bartolotta Restaurant Group are being tossed around with the possibility of re-opening another restaurant on that site.

For those who have been following this story through my blog knows that I have always felt that using this site for a school did not make the most sense. One of my favorite dining experiences occurred at The Fish Market in San Diego. The food and service was very good. But, what really made the experience was looking out over the bay. The setting was beautiful. I have always wondered why Milwaukee could not have a successful restaurant that overlooked the lake, harbor, and downtown.

Tom Daykin, writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, provides more details regarding UWM’s decision and explains how both sides move forward. Click here to read more about the future of UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences and the former site of Pieces of Eight restaurant>>>

Blogger’s Note: Is it right to call UWM a loser for backing out of this deal? I still think it was a foolish decision. However, Cudahy isn’t looking very good these days. According to Daykin, Cudahy would have controlled the design and construction of UWM’s school if his proposal was accepted by UWM (article titled “Cudahy wanted to control design, construction of UWM lakefront project”, September 17, 2009). Clearly giving up such control is not in the university’s best interest.

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Labels: Economy, Real Estate