Tresha's Thoughts

Preservation is a movement that is gaining popularity and becoming more prevalent in the American culture. As we continue to expand our building efforts and build bigger and better buildings, we have come across the need to protect the past from demolition. Communities and the government are beginning to take charge to ensure that parts of the past are available to future generations. With so many people on board with the idea, one would think that preserving old buildings and historic landscapes would be a simple act. However, conflict, big businesses, and miscommunication have a tendency to slow down the process.

Everyone has his or her own idea of what is worth preserving and why, but not everyone may agree with someone else’s idea. In the case of the buildings in downtown Milwaukee, some people see them as junk while others consider them a significant piece of Milwaukee history. The Marriot developers see the site as a way to make money, and to generate jobs for the Milwaukee area. This example shows how the community often has to battle developers when it comes to preserving historical buildings, and how sometimes a peaceful compromise can be obtained. Many people see it as something worth fighting for, and it has a rich cultural payoff when future generations are able to see and appreciate buildings from the past.

Before today’s class I was onboard with the idea of preserving the façade of the old buildings downtown because I am a fan of old buildings. However, now that I have seen them in person I have changed my stance. Despite their historical significance, the buildings they plan to keep are an eyesore, and someone will have to put a lot of time and money into making them look appealing again. Why not save this money and apply it to something more important or meaningful? Sometimes the best thing to do is to let go of the past in order to make way for the future.