This Just In...
Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.
Let's not lose perspective on Franklin developments
By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Apr 29 2007, 09:02 AM
There seem to be some worries about Franklin’s two big development projects, the Fountains of Franklin and the Shoppes at Wyndham Village
I am far less concerned about the Shoppes at Wyndham Village than I am about the total lack of progress at the Fountains of Franklin. FOF wanted to be up and running by November. We’re almost into May and FOF remains a veritable ghost town of activity. Of course the community wants it to succeed, but for heaven’s sake…….let’s go!
Regarding the Shoppes at Wyndham Village, some have expressed consternation about asphalt being poured. The same anxiety wasn’t expressed about asphalt being poured for a possible new high school’s parking lot.
Where are cars supposed to park at the Shoppes at Wyndham Village, on gravel?
One idea that’s been suggested is to allow parking on Drexel Avenue to alleviate the dreaded parking inside the Shoppes at Wyndham Village. How absurd! How are shoppers supposed to get to the shops? Walk a great distance? Pull a bike out of the trunk? Levitate?
Let’s get real. The overwhelming majority of patrons are going to DRIVE to the shops. They are going to want to get a parking space as close to their destination as possible. They will not be happy if they are forced to walk rather far to enter a store. You can kiss their business goodbye. In order to attract customers and keep them coming back, you must offer the most pleasant shopping experience possible. This concept apparently is lost on some who only care about how many asphalt parking spaces are being planned.
Franklin has two tremendous retail development opportunities on the horizon. It appears Fountains of Franklin is being bungled. Hopefully that project will get rolling and soon. Let’s not botch the Shoppes at Wyndham Village by insisting on fewer parking spaces and more bike paths.
