Milwaukee’s Construction Boom Also Marks Cultural Boom

The skyline of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the edge of Lake Michigan, is undergoing a rapid change. The current surge of residential and commercial development is at a historic high, the largest amount of downtown development in Milwaukee since the 1960s.

Some of the largest construction projects currently underway include a multipurpose arena for the Milwaukee Bucks ($524 million), two office towers for financial institutions ($450 million and $137 million), and two apartment high-rises ($122 million and $100 million). The Westin Hotel ($50 million), and the conversion of the Warner Grand Theater into a performance hall for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra ($80 million) are also in the works, JS Online reported.

This historic boom is driven by one of the trends seen across the nation, of young millennials and older empty-nesters preferring downtown living. With these demographics driving the demand for increased residential development in the downtown area, it is not just Milwaukee's skyline that will undergo a transformation, Milwaukee Mag reported. Its cultural scene too will be transformed since Milwaukee will become a 24-hour city, according to Professor Mark Eppli of Marquette University, boasting plenty of places where tourists, business people and residents come to live, work and play.

Milwaukee is already gaining some recognition as a hidden gem, with the website Thrillist including it on a list of underappreciated American cities you should totally move to. The city offers a more affordable cost of living and a more relaxing, laid-back atmosphere than large, expensive cities like New York.

Thrillist described the city's charm as brews and views on laid-back Lake Michigan, and pointed out that the cost of living in Milwaukee is eight percent lower than the U.S. national average. But affordable rent and PBR beer are not Milwaukee's only charms.

Milwaukee city also has a thriving cultural and arts scene, including a world-class art museum, innumerable craft beer breweries, and its annual hosting of Summerfest, the world's largest music festival. Watch the video featuring Milwaukee - Wisconsin - United States of America: