Out of the different cities and places I have visited, Milwaukee still stands out as a mediocre, relaxed, community driven getaway. This is seen in our Third Ward Community especially. Not too long ago was the Third Ward filled with trash, bums and vacant warehouses. Today, as a part of the historic district, the Third Ward offers a beautiful place for tourists, vacationers, friends and family to soak up some local community in the city.
My boss, friend, and real estate mogul, Robert Joseph explained to me just what the historic district regulates and decides. As a property owner in the Third Ward, Robert explained that he was not allowed to remove any of the old painted advertisements [i.e. "ghost signs"] on the sides of any of his properties. He also had to pay for local cleanup including trash removal, pet friendly sidewalks and landscaping. These were just a few things I knew of before reading the extensive catalog of requirements on Third Ward property owners.
After learning more, I further agree with many of the design guidelines in the catalog. Regulating things like storefronts, walkways and balconies in a manner that promotes community interaction uses preservation as a resource for economic stimulus. I can only hope that preservation becomes the new calculus of a sustainable economy: creating jobs without wasting resources. Personally, I think the Third Ward is promoting a proactive approach to preservation and urban renewal and has proven to change an area that once was decrepit and economically underwater for years into an area that is now considered elite and prestigious.
www.historicthirdward.org
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