The Brookfield Scene

The school year begins next week.  I'm sure children and parents are looking forward to it.

As the school bells start ringing...drivers need to slow down in school zones (15 mph), watch for school buses and be extra vigilent at intersections.  At recess, the voices of children will resound through neighborhoods nearby.

There are ever-so-many children who are dropped off and picked up from school.  There is a severe traffic backup at Wisconsin Hills because it is located on a one lane street. Through traffic cannot get past.  What would happen if an emergency vehicle needed to get through?  (This must happen at other schools too.)

Children have headed back to school for decades. Similar back-to-school shopping occurred.  The difference is that more parents are chaffeuring their children. 

As many of us know, Brookfield is special. 

This is confirmed by the City of Brookfield’s website, www.cityofbrookfield.com.  The 2000 census shows that city residents are older, more educated, and have higher median incomes than those nationwide.  Plus our homes are of a higher median value.

Other facts:  Brookfield has the third highest equalized property value ($5.9 billion) in Wisconsin for its 39,800 residents.  Milwaukee and Madison have higher property values and much larger populations (592,765 and 221, 735, respectively).

Many people complain about the traffic on the city’s roadways.  Well, could it be due to the city’s daytime population of 75,000?  Or to over 2000 businesses, 6 million square feet of corporate office space and 5 million square feet of industrial space in the city?

We’ve all noticed more and more commercial development.  Over a ten year period (1996-2005) Brookfield added 4.1 million square feet of non-residential development on 164 properties.   Thankfully, the city claims there are only 34 sites (with 258 acres) or about 2.5 million square feet yet to develop (based on “average development patterns”).

Brookfield is considered an “Edge City” to Milwaukee.  Joel Galleau’s book, Living on the Edge:  Life on the New Frontier, describes the concept. “Edge cities are perceived as ‘one place’ that ‘has it all’ – from jobs to shopping to entertainment.”  Other requirements include: 

• At least 5 million square feet of leasable office space;
• 600,000 square feet (or more) of leasable retail space;
• More jobs than bedrooms.

Lately I've found myself traveling beyond Brookfield's borders into New Berlin.

I've found myself driving on Greenfield Ave. two or three times a week.  Greenfield Ave. is  a good east / west alternative to Bluemound Rd.  There is little traffic and few stop lights.  The 45 mph speed limit can easily be maintained.  There are relatively few businesses (except at the intersections), and many homes with large lawns.  I enjoy the suburban look.  (Yes, I do know that the westbound lane is Brookfield!)

Occasionally I'll take Cleveland Ave. east and west. The roadway seems to have a more country feel.  But once again, there's little traffic and fairly smooth traveling. 

Now, if only there were free-flowing north and south roads across Brookfield into adjoining communities.