Author Topic: Grand Avenue- New Arena Site? (Read 17224 times)

MUfan12 · « **on:** July 28, 2014, 03:23:12 PM »

Makes a lot of sense, IMO. The loss of all the airbrushed t-shirt stands will be tough to take, though.

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2014/07/tear-down-grand-avenue-build-arena-there-gary-witt.html?ana=twt&page=all

GGGG · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2014, 03:30:06 PM »

One of the issues they would have to deal with is the TIF financing they just gave to Boston Store to keep their downtown site often.

The Lens · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2014, 03:30:35 PM »

Regardless of what happens, people are starting to mention the best solution for fixing the Grand Ave...demolition.

🏀 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2014, 03:32:22 PM »

These aren't cool anymore?

GooooMarquette · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2014, 03:32:57 PM »

I like the idea. Great location, and puts the mall out of everyone's misery. Shame, though - it was a pretty nice mall when they opened it up 30+ years ago.

chapman · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2014, 03:37:30 PM »

Would be pretty cool. Hell, the arena could probably still serve the couple dozen that make up the lunch crowd during the day. The one Office Max customer each week will be SOL though.

keefe · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2014, 06:05:26 PM »

Is "Grand Avenue" the street or is this a mall?

LloydMooresLegs · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2014, 06:20:49 PM »

Indoor mall on Wissconsin at the river

real chili 83 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2014, 06:28:32 PM »

When they put in that mall, I lost my favorite gyro joint.

Damn the mall.

Chicago_inferiority_complexes · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2014, 07:08:38 PM »

Would be great to tear down that mall. In fact, I like the idea of tearing down anything in MKE that is an eyesore.

keefe · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2014, 07:09:41 PM »

I looked at a map. When I was at Marquette that stretch of WI Ave was a series of adult book stores, wig shops, and parking lots.

tower912 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2014, 07:17:02 PM »

IMO, the Grand Avenue Mall was a great idea at the time. A truly outside the box experiment with the mall concept. It worked for a time. But then demographics and shopping patterns changed. Plus, paying for parking, when the same stores were in another mall 20 minutes away with free parking, was always going to be difficult to overcome.

4everwarriors · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2014, 07:28:40 PM »

Quote from: keefe on July 28, 2014, 07:09:41 PM

I looked at a map. When I was at Marquette that stretch of WI Ave was a series of adult book stores, wig shops, and parking lots.

Still is. Just put a roof over it.

ChicosBailBonds · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2014, 07:47:24 PM »

Quote from: tower912 on July 28, 2014, 07:17:02 PM

IMO, the Grand Avenue Mall was a great idea at the time. A truly outside the box experiment with the mall concept. It worked for a time. But then demographics and shopping patterns changed. Plus, paying for parking, when the same stores were in another mall 20 minutes away with free parking, was always going to be difficult to overcome.

Shame, when I was a student it was a nice place to go shopping, but that was 20 some years ago. Didn't realize it had fallen so far out of favor.

When you say demographics changed, are you suggesting that certain folks didn't want to shop downtown because certain folks were shopping downtown?

real chili 83 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 28, 2014, 08:18:29 PM »

Not a lot of fun when you have to run the gauntlet on the sidewalk out front.

4everwarriors · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2014, 08:23:16 PM »

They should blow the sumbitch up, hey?

chapman · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2014, 08:45:15 PM »

Quote from: real chili 83 on July 28, 2014, 08:18:29 PM

Not a lot of fun when you have to run the gauntlet on the sidewalk out front.

🏀 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2014, 09:08:13 PM »

Quote from: chapman on July 28, 2014, 08:45:15 PM

Nailed it.

Benny B · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2014, 09:45:53 PM »

Quote from: chapman on July 28, 2014, 08:45:15 PM

Californ-ya-ya. Super cool to the homeless.

muhoosier260 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2014, 10:13:11 PM »

If they could somehow fit a new arena somewhere between 5th and Plankinton on Wisc. avenue, I think it would be pretty cool. Two downsides (I'm sure there are others): Wisconsin avenue will get pretty congested, and it's only two lanes, also, there is not really any bar scene to speak of surrounding that area. Yes, water st. and 3rd are within stumbling distance, I just don't think there would be much of an atmosphere in the immediate vicinity. I'm sure the Hilton would love it though.

MU82 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2014, 10:16:51 PM »

My freshman year, I worked as an usher at the Grand Theatre. Is it still there?

I remember that The Wiz showed for about 6 months. If I had a gun handy, I would have blown my brains out.

At the end of the night, we were allowed to take some popcorn home. I used to get one of those big, long boxes the popcorn containers arrive in, take out all the containers, and then fill it with popcorn, drizzling the fake butter on the popcorn every foot or so.

I'd ride the bus back to McCormick carrying the box 'o corn. We had one guy on my floor, a complete stoner, who always knew my schedule. I'd step off the elevator and he would be there to greet me so he could get that popcorn!

keefe · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2014, 02:16:17 AM »

Quote from: MU82 on July 28, 2014, 10:16:51 PM

We had one guy on my floor, a complete stoner

hey, man! like I know that dude!

Every floor had "The Stoner." It was as if it was programmed for every floor to have at least one.

4everwarriors · « **Reply #22 on:** July 29, 2014, 05:06:02 AM »

Quote from: MU82 on July 28, 2014, 10:16:51 PM

My freshman year, I worked as an usher at the Grand Theatre. Is it still there?

I remember that The Wiz showed for about 6 months. If I had a gun handy, I would have blown my brains out.

At the end of the night, we were allowed to take some popcorn home. I used to get one of those big, long boxes the popcorn containers arrive in, take out all the containers, and then fill it with popcorn, drizzling the fake butter on the popcorn every foot or so.

I'd ride the bus back to McCormick carrying the box 'o corn. We had one guy on my floor, a complete stoner, who always knew my schedule. I'd step off the elevator and he would be there to greet me so he could get that popcorn!

Sure that wasn't the Princess?

StillAWarrior · « **Reply #23 on:** July 29, 2014, 09:00:13 AM »

Quote from: warrior07 on July 28, 2014, 07:08:38 PM

Would be great to tear down that mall. In fact, I like the idea of tearing down anything in MKE that is an eyesore.

I'd miss McCormick.

Canned Goods n Ammo · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2014, 11:14:13 AM »

Honestly, I think it's a terrible idea.

I know people love to hate Grand Ave, and it's pretty easy to do.

However, now that the mall has officially bottomed out, I think there are a lot of cool uses for that space (and some are already happening).

Business incubation, possible housing, entertainment, shopping, food, etc.

The traditional "urban mall" is dead, but I think there is still a big opportunity for that building if they can evolve it. Put condos up top, businesses down low, and mixed retail/bars/grocery in the middle. It's not unlike what they are doing at the Pabst Brewery (mixed housing/retail/business).

It's a long term vision, but I think it's a better investment than just knocking it down for another arena, which would basically gut the current arena neighborhood.

Grand Ave has potential, but it's going to be some time before they figure out how it's all going to work.

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Author Topic: Grand Avenue- New Arena Site? (Read 17224 times)

LloydMooresLegs