Third Ward Guidelines

The third ward is a highly designed area with a tonne of rules as to how the streets are to work and be organized. The Third Ward calls for spaces to always be “lively” and “active”. These are indeed good principles that seem to be characteristic, in my experience, seem to be very European in nature. Smaller more enclosed spaces, outdoor dining, walking and large windows allow all pedestrians and patrons to co-mingle together in many different ways. I also found the guidelines for parking very important, guarding the pedestrians from vehicular traffic is definitely an idea I can get behind, because of the then recognized ability to keep traffic and people separate, for both safety and aesthetic purposes.

Design guidelines are useful, and sometimes necessary to create a space that is more easily used, more easily visually processed and more easily activated, but sometimes the charm of an area can be in the dissimilarities of any given area. There are reasons as to designing a space, but one negative I find is the visually boring characteristics of such new development areas. Strategically I find that a well-designed space may be a better use of space, but often an over designed area begins to seem flat. The blending of places like the third ward with its tree-height guidelines, desire for all buildings to meet at the edge of the plot line, etc, seem a bit overworked and somewhat pretentious. I understand the developers were creating and experience, a “look” to keep with the “charm” of the area, but character and aesthetics are a personal goal. I find myself more visually drawn to areas with less demanding guidelines so that buildings can really stand out, Like the Brady Street area of Milwaukee where I live.