BDP, I have been to Milwaukee several times and will be back there for a family reunion in August.
I made a long post about my visit last summer, because the city completely knocked my socks off. I had been before, but not for several years and I've only recently developed a critical eye for urban development. Milwaukee is a great city because it's downtown and surrounding areas stayed relatively in tact during the suburban flight of the 60's and 70's, primarily due to a good deal of quality housing and two good-sized universities (Marquette & UW-Milwaukee) in the central city.
So, when the new urbanism movement started in earnest, they didn't have to rebuild, just renovate and update. In fact, I spent a good deal of time in what was formerly a poor Polish neighborhood where my parents grew up, and it's completely alive with artists and college students. And my dad's old house was perfectly preserved and cared for.
I'm really looking forward to my August trip and plan to walk the better part of a full day just to see more of the neighborhoods and developments. Like Chicago, they often have taverns and restaurants embedded in residential streets and it's fun to go in those places and chat with locals. Very European in that regard.
If you ever get a chance to go there, you should do it. I think it's the most underrated city in the U.S.
My original Milwaukee Thread
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