Milwaukee needs more skyscrapers to be taken seriously as a big city (Wauwatosa: to rent, tenant)

[WilliamPacker]

I would think businesses would be more likely to look at statistical evidence than a cities skyscrapers if they were looking to open up shop and employ people.

[Wingfoot]

Originally Posted by sconnielove

Milwaukee is the state's biggest city and has like 5 tiny skyscrapers. Will the city ever build up the downtown office district to look like a big city?

Funny, it doesn't seem to hold back Paris or Berlin much.
Maybe the air is different in Europe.

[Tunky]

Originally Posted by WilliamPacker

I would think businesses would be more likely to look at statistical evidence than a cities skyscrapers if they were looking to open up shop and employ people.

most definitely.

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by sconnielove

Milwaukee is the state's biggest city and has like 5 tiny skyscrapers. Will the city ever build up the downtown office district to look like a big city?

Mikwaukee's skyline represents a city of its size. Only when the need arises will it build anymore. Being in Chicago's shadow is a huge factor anyways.

[krock1dk]

Originally Posted by jayp1188

Skyscrapers really don't have a whole lot to do with how seriously a city is taken. Look at Phoenix, it is a big city that has virtually no skyline, but it is clearly being taken seriously as a big city, proven by the massive growth it has been experiencing with businesses and people moving there at such a fast rate.

Sorry, my man, but Phoenix is on the way down. With its bad economy that is reliant on exclusively services, a construction industry that has imploded, and a housing market that has seen a major decline, Phoenix has no economic power to grow much any more. Even the media here is saying it as well. I live here and know what I'm talking about. Besides, Phoenix has the 2nd highest office vacancy rate in the country. People and business are NOT moving here like they used to. Dont follow the hype.

[krock1dk]

Milwaukee doesnt need anymore skyscrapers, because its not really a major US city like NY, Chicago, LA, San Fran, Boston, Phily and the like. Milwaukee is also not really influential, only throughout Wisconsin. Skyscrapers and a skyline do not make a city what it is anyways. So tell me again why Milwaukee needs more buildings............

[rickat1964]

Originally Posted by Wingfoot

Funny, it doesn't seem to hold back Paris or Berlin much.
Maybe the air is different in Europe.

Believe it or not, they do have downtown skylines much like American cities. All cities have a central business districts and of course they have skyscrapers.

[rickat1964]

European cities are not living in the 17th century anymore, but I think some people on this message board might be.

[Empidonax]

Originally Posted by rickat1964

Believe it or not, they do have downtown skylines much like American cities. All cities have a central business districts and of course they have skyscrapers.

I don't know about Berlin, but Paris really doesn't have downtown (= center city) skyscrapers (the Eiffel Tower doesn't count). The skyscrapers in Paris itself are few and scattered around the city. A few suburbs, such as Neuilly, have some of Europe's tallest skyscrapers. This zone, called "La Defense," has several skyscrapers ranging between 500 and 620 feet high. But these places are akin to "Edge Cities" and are not part of Paris proper. (A little like Brookfield's I-94 business corridor in relation to Milwaukee).

The situation is similar with many other European cities, particularly those considered Mediterranean. Many of these cities (such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Rome) have a distinct financial district with some tall buildings (compared to other buildings in the city), but not all of these buildings would be considered skyscrapers in the U.S. In Madrid, there are several tall buildings (in the 700-850 foot range) clustered north of the central city, then the number of tall buildings drops dramatically from there. In Barcelona, the tallest buildings are shorter than Milwaukee's US Bank building. In Rome, the tallest buildings are even shorter.

Some European cities do stand out for their tall buildings--London and Moscow, first and foremost, but also a few others such as Frankfort, suburban Paris (Neuilly, as mentioned), the five or so skyscrapers in Madrid's financial district, Warsaw, and a few other places. Most major, prosperous cities in Europe (such as Brussels and Zurich) have some tall buildings, but few or any that would qualify as skyscrapers in the U.S.

[rickat1964]

I don't think Milwaukee should pattern themselves like European cities because it won't get them anywhere. The US is a capaitalist society, Europe is not. Europe is very socialist and I would hate Milwaukee be something it is not. I like the skyscrapers, that's the US's trademark and there's nothing to be ashamed about. I like the direction Milwaukee is going.