September 26th, 2021

It's clear that the writer Jason McDowell has a passion for Milwaukee, especially its historical architecture. The article was focused on sites around the city that have unfortunately been reduced to surface parking lots.

There was a number of these examples, all ending in the same fate. McDowell explains the range of effects this has on the community, and the landscape of the city. I thought most concisely, he describes,

“Truly, Milwaukee has a parking perception problem. There are plenty of places to park, but people want FREE parking, especially when it’s right outside their door. But parking costs the city more than just revenue in taxes; surface lots form the black holes of a city’s soul.”

The idea of parking lots being holes within the soul of a city was a statement I originally found a little dramatic, but on second thought is not far from the truth, parking lots are ‘non-places’ areas that are stripped of any sense of identity or community. Very rarely is there any emotional or historical significance to a surface parking lot. The same can not be said for the structures that were replaced. 

Despite the contents of the article being a fairly depressing subject, the author keeps the reader engaged and interested throughout the piece. The information on each site is short and digestible, while also explaining the effects that the new parking has.

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