Jason McDowell Article

This article by Jason McDowell discusses his opinion on the destruction of buildings to build parking lots in Milwaukee. He walks through different examples of specific locations around Milwaukee where this has taken place. He shares facts about the location but also incorporated his own voice and opinions. McDowell clearly cares about Milwaukee and preserving its history. Visual appeal of spaces in the city is important to him, and he remarks that parking lots have no visual interest or appeal. In the article he discussed the argument that parking lots are necessary for commuters. “I hear a lot of people complain that Milwaukee has a parking problem, but nearly every block has its own lot or multi-story garage. There are more than 100 parking facilities in the city that rarely, if ever, reach capacity. Truly, Milwaukee has a parking perception problem.” He also discusses the pros and cons of a surface lot VS a parking garage. “It’s arguable whether parking structures are more or less onerous than surface parking: They make better use of the space, but nevertheless encourage more people to drive and discourage use of public transit.” Though his opinion of these parking lots is clear, he does address counterarguments that others may have. He uses his voice as a writer to express his distaste for the destruction of historic buildings, but still looks at the whole picture and addresses facts.