5 Things You Like/Dislike About MKE Metro? (Milwaukee, Madison: rent, violent crime)

[EnjoyEP]

Hi!

I would be interested in hearing as many opinions as possible here on specific items that folks like or dislike about Milwaukee Metro (including all suburban areas if applicable to you). I was thinking of five (5) items or so that either you like about living/visiting the greater area, that you dislike about the greater area, or both.

I lived in Milwaukee for 27 years, then 3 years ago moved away. Currently my family and I are considering moving back. Even if we do not move back, we visit periodically for family and friends throughout the year.

***The one thing I guess I would rather not dwell on much in this thread would be about "crime" or "crime problems", as truly, I realize that any city/suburban area over 250,000+ in population has some crime...I have traveled extensively around the nation and now live in Albuquerque (somewhat smaller in population than MKE Metro but comparable) and honestly, crime is no better or worse in MKE than most other comparably sized Metro areas.***

Otherwise, would love to hear your feedback!

My pluses:

1) Family and friends live there
2) The lakefront (and coresponding areas such as Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, all the way up through the East Side)
3) Tons of professional and collegiate sports (and other leisurely entertainment options) for a city that isn't overly huge
4) Revitalized (and very nice and surprisingly hip) downtown
5) - t: Really enjoy alot of the suburbs of Milwaukee like Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, etc.
5) - t: Enjoy the proximity to a huge city - Chicago - if needed for "big city" ammenities
5) - t: For the most part, much effort is put into the upkeep and the like of homes, properties, museums, schools, etc.
5) - t: Mitchell International Airport...a perfect-sized airport
5) - t: The many good schools in several areas (certainly not MPS ones)

My minuses:
1) The weather (with the exception of summer, early fall, and maybe two weeks of winter, I hate the weather in Milwaukee, especially the spring)
1a) I hate items that go along with the weather such as mosquitoes when it is warm out, long periods of cloudiness in the winter, mega allergies when it is warm, the salt everywhere in the winter (including on clothes, shoes, and vehicles...obviously).
2) Property taxes, taxes in general, and cost of housing
3) The try-to-be-like Chicago materialism, and also the overly intense/aggresive/unfriendly attitude gaining popularity
4) The attitude of many in the area putting down anything/anyplace that isn't WI, but rarely go anywhere that isn't WI
5) The terminology "Up North"

[Empidonax]

Pluses:

1. Milwaukee has most mega-city amenities, yet is easy to drive in.
2. Has interesting and diverse ethnic populations/neighborhoods, including diversity of ethnic culture, grocers, etc.
3. Adjacent to Lake Michigan.
4. Has a funky combination of the Old World (factories, corner bars, fish fries, warehouse zones, quaint architecture, etc.) and New World (Fortune 500 companies, trendy restaurants, film festivals, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, etc.).
5. Has a grand, Gilded Age history.

Minuses:
1. The economy is fine, but as with other Great Lakes cities, it is not keeping up with national and global trends in tech and other knowledge jobs.
2. Crime seems to be getting worse in the city, even in the relatively safe east side.
3. Neither of the two major universities (UWM and Marquette) has a truly national reputation and impact (in academics, at least). This hinders the city's development in many areas.
4. The city's reputation outside of Milwaukee lags behind the reality. Mke is a very underrated and underappreciated city.
5. There is no Chinatown, as in Chicago, therefore not enough dim sum.
6. (Or 5b, if you wish): In order to drive most places east and south of Chicago, you have to go through metro Chicago traffic. Horrible. The only other real options are to take the ferries across to Michigan (expensive), or drive northbound around the lake (time-consuming and expensive).

[GreggB]

+ 1) Beautiful East side On The Lake
+ 2) Lots of "Character" neighborhoods
+ 3) Summer Fest and all the Ethnic Festivals
+ 4) Traffic manageable
+ 5) Proximity to Recreational opportunities

- 1) Increasing Crime
- 2) Weather not the Greatest
- 3) Taxes (all of Wi high)
- 4) Police have bad reputation
- 5) Highly "Segregated" city

EP--You might really leave ABQ??? Must be a hard decision for you for sure.

[Mathead]

pluses
1. People are friendly
2. Little traffic
3. Affordable
4. Party atmosphere among people
5. Lots of little neighborhoods

minuses
1. Crime including violent crime
2. Bad weather
3. Taxes, although I rent so I avoid much of it.
4. Public schools are a war zone
5. Cops have a bad rep

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by jeanj28

No good jobs other than manufacture,and who the still wanna work in the manufacture industry after graduating from college.

No, there are plenty of non-manufacturing jobs in the Milwaukee area. Major companies such as Northwestern Mutual Life, M&I Bank, Midwest Airlines, Manpower Inc., US Bank, etc., have headquarters in the area - eg: corporate (non-manufacturing) jobs.

There are roughly 15 major colleges, community colleges, universities, or technical colleges (including UWM, MATC, Marquette, WCTC), with tons of staff and faculty needs consistently.

Journal Communications, the Marcus Corporation, and Johnson Controls are other huge organizations with many corporate jobs in the area. Others: GE Healthcare Techologies, Kohl's Corporate HQs, Harley Davidson's corporate jobs, Rockwell Automation, Aurora Healthcare, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, and Quad Graphics.

Originally Posted by jeanj28

The street are nasty,and need to get fix.

I believe that is what the massive Marquette Interchange project is looking to address, and once sections are completed, they are amazingly nice.

Furthermore, I would argue that the streets in Milwaukee are no better or worse than other similarly sized regional cities such as Minneapolis, Chicago, or St. Louis. Sure, the freezing and thawing of winter will always produce potholes, etc., but I see bad streets continually being addressed in Milwaukee.

Originally Posted by jeanj28

Other than that the only attraction wisconsin has is that people drink a lot of beers. And they take pride of doing that so sad.

Well...umm...the beer is good, but here are just a fewwwww other attractions the Milwaukee metropolitan area offers:

**The beautiful lakefront, Lake Michigan, and the scenic beaches...great areas for runners, bikers, etc.
**The 1st-place Milwaukee Brewers and the world-class facility that is Miller Park (w/ corresponding dome for bad weather)
**The incredibly many summertime cultural festivals
**The sports: the Bucks / Green Bay (should be "slash" Milwaukee) Packers and collegiate sports - great so many sporting options for a city of its size
**Top-notch park systems and recreation spaces
**Summerfest...truly a signature festival that is unique
**Everything is rather accessible and convenient in comparison to much bigger metros like Chicago, Boston, even St. Louis
**It is very close to Chicago and Madison, WI allowing for usage of not just Milwaukee's ammenities, but also Chicago's and Madison's
**Especially in the city itself gorgeous old buildings are everywhere
**Many entertainment options for a city of its size.
**Many dining / restaurant dinings (of many ethnicities) for a city of its size and even compared to bigger cities
**Metro Milwaukee definitely still feels like a small town that has a big city appeal
**Great live theatre / arts (the PAC, etc.)
**Many great local colleges, universities, community colleges, etc. all over the city and suburbs - both public and private
**Many world-class golf courses (private) and a great public golf course set of systems
**The Milwaukee County Zoo is a gem
**Ever-improving retail such as Mayfair Mall and Bayshore Town Center, (with even more options closeby in Chicago)
**Beautiful, unique, aged theaters, like the Pabst and the Oriental.
**Midwest Express is a great local airline
**Many varied ethnic eateries brings cuisines from all around
**Frozen custard (you'll never crave ice cream again)
**Friday night fish fries
**Mitchell Park Domes - just another unique thing in a cold, norther climate for garden lovers
**Wisconsin State Fair (like Summerfest, Milwaukee metro loves to party when the weather is good)...including the cream puffs
**Brats and cheese (yes, the negative stereotypes aren't really all that negative)
**Mitchell International Airport is pretty much a perfect-sized airport
**Milwaukee metro, while taxes are absurd and housing prices for my tastes too high, is still affordable compared to many cities (such as neighborhing metro Chicago)
**The city has aged, historic, beautiful churches, especially Downtown and south side
**Fireworks all the time in the summer (again, this metro area may have lousy weather for long periods, but when it does get nice, they don't take it for granted)
**Three rivers to enjoy along with Lake Michigan in Milwaukee alone
**The Milwaukee Symphony and other great arts / theater options for a city of its size
**There are four distinct seasons (if only that darn winter one wasn't so long and spring / fall were longer)...however falls are beautiful, summers are great, and the first month or two of winter isn't so bad either
**Harley-Davidson (although not my cup of tea, great visibility for the city)
**The coolish, pleasant summer weather
**Impressive historic homes
**Lake Drive
**Allen-Bradley Clock Tower - largest 4-sided clock in the world
**The Artesian Well on Pryor Street in Bay View
**The metro area - even the most urban parts - are close to the country and serenity
**The expressways are efficient (I-94, I-43, I-45)
**Petit National Ice Center
**Tailgate parties at Miller Park Stadium (or two hours north in Green Bay at Lambeau Field)
**Bob Uecker - a legend that Milwaukee is lucky to have on Brewers' broadcasts
**Al's Run/Walk and the Lakefront Marathon
**George Webb's
**Boerner Botanical Gardens
**Beautiful bridges
**Eagle's Ballroom
**Edelweiss river tour boat (which was re-started again this year)
**Farmer's markets in the summertime
**Iroquois boat rides on Lake Michigan
**Kinnnickinnic Avenue
**Milwaukee's unique Convention Center Downtown
**The Port of Milwaukee
**River Flicks -- free movies on the river
**Water Street (just please, take a cab home)
**Usinger's
**The flame atop the Wisconsin Gas building
**Milwaukee Art Museum
**The Milwaukee skyline - one of the underrated gems of skylines in the U.S.
**Goldmann's Department Store
**Milwaukee East Side and North Shore suburbs (just beautiful and unique)
**Waukesha County's Lake Country suburbs...close to Milwaukee, yet beautiful lakes, dark night skies, great little towns (I always thought Oconomowoc would be one of the great suburbs to live in)

[Fishtacos]

5 things I like:

1) Lakefront.
2) Easy to get around by car, no traffic, and short drives.
3) Milwaukee's lower East Side and Third Ward areas
4) Summer festivals
5) Marquette basketball games.

5 things I dislike

1) Lack of diversity, and also racial segregation
2) Still a gray, industrial, unattractive looking city in many parts.
3) Weather is bad, especially January through May.
4) It's too small for me.
5) Milwaukee is not as friendly as you may think.

[j_rode]

Originally Posted by quijote

Pluses:

1. Milwaukee has most mega-city amenities, yet is easy to drive in.
2. Has interesting and diverse ethnic populations/neighborhoods, including diversity of ethnic culture, grocers, etc.
3. Adjacent to Lake Michigan.
4. Has a funky combination of the Old World (factories, corner bars, fish fries, warehouse zones, quaint architecture, etc.) and New World (Fortune 500 companies, trendy restaurants, film festivals, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, etc.).
5. Has a grand, Gilded Age history.

Minuses:
1. The economy is fine, but as with other Great Lakes cities, it is not keeping up with national and global trends in tech and other knowledge jobs.
2. Crime seems to be getting worse in the city, even in the relatively safe east side.
3. Neither of the two major universities (UWM and Marquette) has a truly national reputation and impact (in academics, at least). This hinders the city's development in many areas.
4. The city's reputation outside of Milwaukee lags behind the reality. Mke is a very underrated and underappreciated city.
5. There is no Chinatown, as in Chicago, therefore not enough dim sum.
6. (Or 5b, if you wish): In order to drive most places east and south of Chicago, you have to go through metro Chicago traffic. Horrible. The only other real options are to take the ferries across to Michigan (expensive), or drive northbound around the lake (time-consuming and expensive).

UWM's Peck School of the Arts is actually one of the best film schools in the country.

[DaBears]

thank enjoyep...brought back some good memories with some on your list ...but with the sports teams on a lesser scale: the Wave and the Admirals (sorry big hockey fan here)

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by DaBears

thank enjoyep...brought back some good memories with some on your list ...but with the sports teams on a lesser scale: the Wave and the Admirals (sorry big hockey fan here)

Hey, shouldn't have left those out...thanks for adding them DaBears! I actually always heartily enjoy a good Admirals game...the prices and seats are so much more manageable than the NHL. Thanks again!!

[dkmisol]

(Both aren't in any particular order)
Five Things I Like:

1. The East Side/North Shore area
2. The Park System (which does very well for being so strapped for cash)
3. Rudy's Mexican Grill
4. It's close to Madison
5. It's close to Chicago

Five Things I Dislike:

1. Common Sentiment (Racist/Socialist/Xenophobic) - by no means true of everybody.
2. The Weather
3. The Crime (although limited to the really bad areas)
4. The Taxes
5. Lack of economy (a whole other thread)