What Should Milwaukee do to Grow? (to live in, pool, suburban)

[Milwaukee City]

How about start having a business climate that attracts headquarters instead of kicking them out the door. There is a reason why Houston has the 2nd most fortune 500 companies and Texas has the best business climate for the last 25 years in a row. Let's mimic what Texas does. Lower business taxes and fees. How about going out and recruiting business and trying to lure them into the Milwaukee 7. How about start opening up zoning restrictions and other land for development. Start tearing down old buildings and selling the land and start getting on landlords that have poor looking properties.


http://www.choosemilwaukee.com/

Houston:

[Jesse276]

I would say a huge part of the problem is that the Milwaukee metropolitan area is so divided with little hope for quick reconciliation. The Milwaukee metro needs to be pushing itself forward in a regional way, not just the city of Milwaukee or Delafield or Racine Co. or Germantown alone.

This will not happen until the perception of the city of Milwaukee governance changes, I say perception because it has improved drastically over the years. However, the county is a completely useless layer of administrative government, they don't actually do anything but try to justify their existance.

If Milwaukee county can be dissolved with the remaining functions spun-off to regional or local responsibility, we have a chance to pull together as metro and drive growth. I could go on but...

[waltlantz]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

How about start having a business climate that attracts headquarters instead of kicking them out the door. There is a reason why Houston has the 2nd most fortune 500 companies and Texas has the best business climate for the last 25 years in a row. Let's mimic what Texas does. Lower business taxes and fees. How about going out and recruiting business and trying to lure them into the Milwaukee 7. How about start opening up zoning restrictions and other land for development. Start tearing down old buildings and selling the land and start getting on landlords that have poor looking properties.


Choosemilwaukee.com - Milwaukee 7 - Wisconsin

Houston:

Don't be too hasty with the redoing of zoning laws, that could cause haphazard growth in city area, Houston isn't exactly organized like older cities are. Hell some would say it isn't well organized at all thanks to it's lax zoning laws.

Taxes though I can see where you're coming at, Philly has the same problem.

[Milwaukee City]

We need politician's all on the same page, instead of looking out for themselves they should start looking out for progress for the city.

[Twoaday]

@Milwaukee City

Tearing down older buildings is a not a good way to build a city. What you get is parking lots, not new development. You can see evidence of "urban renewal" in Milwaukee (and many cities) in large parking lots that still exist today. Charlotte, NC has managed to almost complete erase any of its history... very sad.

Further 2/3 of corporations operation in Wisconsin pay ZERO income taxes (there's a report on the web that can be looked up). The one issue is property taxes, or more specifically finding a better balance i.e. maybe a city sales tax with associate property tax cut. OR and I'm still researching this but a land value tax instead of property tax. In theory this would encourage development, and discourage surface parking lots.

As far as Houston having the #2 Fortune 500 companies I think you'd be surprised but if you look at the number's of Fortune 500 companies per capita Milwaukee does very well (we have 6-8 in the metro). Further, I'd wager many of Houston's companies are connected to energy. And Houston is 454 square miles... Can we add in Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha and compares some numbers.. Walk around downtown Houston, or Dallas ick... I'd take Milwaukee over it anyday

Now as far as zoning, the changes should include more upzoning (high density), more height, as small as possible setback requirements. Possibly things like density bonuses for a % of affordable and/or green units...

Just a couple thoughts..

[Milwaukee City]

Further 2/3 of corporations operation in Wisconsin pay ZERO income taxes (there's a report on the web that can be looked up).

I think we found the liberal in the group.

[Ron Burgundy]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

I think we found the liberal in the group.

Twoaday writes about a thousand well-thought out words and that's all you choose to respond with? Come on...

[Twoaday]

@Milwaukee City No I'm an Urbansit (often left, sometimes right). Again 2/3 of corporations in Wisconsin pay $0 in income taxes [report]. Seems to me I pay more than $0 every year... Sounds terrible. And as Ron said no comment on all the rest?

[pirate_lafitte]

I think one way Milwaukee could grow is if it tapped into the talent existing in Milwaukee. Keeping people in Milwaukee is a part of the process.

[Twoaday]

@pirate_lafitte Good point. I believe UWM should be encouraged to increase enrollment and grow in size. CEO for Cities (a couple years back) had a report that indicated that 60% of students wants to live in an environment similar to they went to school i.e. (urban, rural, suburban) and a simliar number wants to stay in the same region. So you can increase your talent pool by increasing talent.