From a reader in town:
Your observations about entering Whitewater from the east or west on highway 12 focus on some true, although unpleasant, facts that suggest inadequate planning may have been a factor. Equally disturbing is the short glimpse of the UWW without a hint of the huge and sprawling Campus north of Highway 12 that could be an image enhancing factor for the City. However, the downtown problem (Main, Center and Whitewater) remains as a major issue.
It is somewhat naïve to think that improving the appearance of downtown store fronts will hasten the return of retail or commercial enterprises when it is continuously demonstrated elsewhere that it won’t. However, that is scarcely a reason to abandon proceeding with restoration projects that, as a matter of civic pride, will make the area somewhat more attractive.
Experience establishes that an enterprise most likely to succeed in a decaying downtown environment is a “niche” business provided, of course, that the costs of purchase or tenancy are reasonable. A conclusion that may be readily drawn is that downtown property, with restoration included, may not be as valuable as many are disposed to think it is! This is primarily a problem of economics, that opens a broad range of possibilities, and perhaps it is a factor that should, for obvious reasons, be brought to the attention of the community.
Adams: Well said, and much appreciated — something to think about when thinking about both the university and downtown.