European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1959, Darmstadt, Hesse To moves for modernization Battle rages Over downtown area that has t changed much since grandpa s Day by Harry Chandler a staff writer then autos buses and streetcars at intersection of 3d and Wisconsin. This photograph was taken in 1927. Friday july 24, 1959 a store front scene is pretty much unchanged. The stars and stripes Shab Biness and decay have Bee painfully and increasingly apparent in Milwaukee s downtown District for Many years. But not until recently has the prob Lem become a matter of Public controversy. A television interview a verbal tug of War Between two of Wisconsin s leading banking institutions and critical news paper appraisal of the afflictions have served to dramatize the situation. News commentator h. V. Kaltenborn recently returning to his native City after a Long absence had just completed a glow ing nostalgic tribute to the old Home town on a local television program when the interviewer asked and How does downtown Milwaukee look to you or. Kaltenborn downtown Milwaukee echoed Kalten born. Of that s pretty much of a most of the buildings in the heart of the City were built before 1900. No office building has been constructed downtown since 1937 and Only a half dozen other major structures have been put up wit private capital since world War ii. A former resident returning after 20,even 40 years would find the downtown Skyline largely unchanged except for the huge Milwaukee Arena adjoining the municipal auditorium the new Central Myca building at the Western Edge of the downtown District and an addition to the City Hall now nearing completion. The Schroeder hotel built 32 years ago re Mains the City s Only Large hostelry. Downtown business has suffered substantially because of the development of Large shopping districts in the residential areas with acres of parking space and convenient nightly shopping has his own idea about How to give downtown a shot in the Arm an reverse the trend. One set of City planners even suggested that Wisconsin ave., the City s main business thoroughfare be converted into a pedestrian Way with a second Story shoppers Plaza Over much of the Frank Zeidler was t enthused with the idea. He believes better Public transportation is the Basic need. I Don t look for much rebuilding along As we rely on automobiles to bring people downtown Zeidler says. It physically impossible to accommodate All of those who want to come and Park their cars without paying a fee. If you can t revive mass transit you can t the Marine National Exchange ban proposed to spend 15 million dollars to construct a five Story Bank a 28storyoffice building and a six level parking Pavilion covering two blocks in All. How Ever the Bank conditioned its proposal on the granting of a tax assessment freezers permitted under a 1943 Wisconsin Law. The rival first Wisconsin National Bank quickly came out in opposition to the Marine Plaza plan As it concerned a assessment freeze. It countered with its own Long Range plan for redevelopment of the entire Block in which its own main office stands it has Branch office throughout the City. Eliot g. Fitch president of the Marine defends his proposal for an assessment is vitally necessary he says to encourage private capital to create a new. Downtown. We believe one project Suchias ours will show that it can be done that downtown can be recreated with private steering committee of prominent citizens was formed to study Urban re Newal problems and the greater Milwaukee committee has pledged its Milwaukee journal had several re porters take a Long hard look at the downtown area and write a gloves off report on what they journal concluded its series with the comment that downtown Milwaukee was Good enough for grandpa All right the question now boils Down to this la it Good enough for us v Page 11
