It didn't really have a catchy name (zeroes? oughts? ohs?), but the first decade of the 21st century ushered in some interesting developments for Milwaukee like the Calatrava addition to the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee Public Market, Miller Park and the Harley-Davidson Museum.
The first month of a new decade is a perfect time to contemplate some of the things we'd like to see happen during the "teen" years. We came up with a list of 100 (in no particular order). Some are general. Some are specific. Some are serious. Some are lighthearted. Some are downright snarky. But, it was fun to focus on the kind of Milwaukee we want to see take shape in the next decade.
Do you agree with our "2020 vision?" Do you have your own ideas? Use the Talkback feature to let us know.
- A newly-constructed building rivals the beautiful Calatrava and City Hall for prime position on city postcards
- Milwaukee unveils a new brewery museum
- High-speed trains link Milwaukee to Chicago, Madison and Minneapolis
- Park East corridor becomes bustling retail, residential center
- Milwaukee becomes a global hub for fresh water
- Free Wi-Fi broadcasts everywhere
- A new arena replaces the Bradley Center and fosters development Downtown
- A revived Maritime Days returns to the Lakefront
- Radiohead headlines the Marcus Amphitheater during Summerfest
- Modern transit options abound in Downtown Milwaukee
- More dog parks appear
- Milwaukee hosts a Final Four at Miller Park
- A bronze Laverne and Shirley statue on the Riverwalk (Lenny and Squiggy optional)
- The Brewers defeat the Cubs in the National League Championship Series
- IKEA opens a store in greater Milwaukee
- Marquette wins the 2017 NCAA Championship (on the 40th anniversary of the '77 squad)
- Usinger's unveils a scrumptious, calorie-free bratwurst
- A long-term contract extension keeps Prince Fielder in Milwaukee
- Zoo Interchange is revamped under budget, with minimal hassles
- OnMilwaukee.com hosts a presidential debate in 2012, '16 or '20 in Milwaukee
- The Violent Femmes reunite and release an outstanding new CD
- Milwaukee experiences a sharp drop in teen pregnancy rates
- Reform at Milwaukee Public Schools raises test scores and increases the graduation rate
- Nordstrom becomes an anchor store at Bayshore Town Center
- A return of Summerfest's Encore bookends the new unnamed modern rock festival
- The Packers win the Super Bowl
- A locally-produced movie debuts at Milwaukee Film, takes Sundance by storm and wins an Oscar
- Another Milwaukeean makes it to the finals of "American Idol"
- A cleaner Milwaukee River becomes a point of pride here
- The State Fair grounds get a major facelift
- A return by PGA Tour to Brown Deer Park with an annual stop during a desirable weekend
- Development along North Avenue brightens Bronzeville
- A grocery store comes to the eight-acre vacant lot at 1st and Greenfield
- The Shops at Grand Avenue get another anchor store ... one that brings in customers
- A local band lands a song in a movie or a TV show, propelling the group to national stardom
- The Brewers win the World Series (beating the Yankees, of course)
- A national beer festival in Milwaukee showcases great local craft brews
- UWM and Marquette restore football programs
- The Avalon Theater finally reopens
- MACC Fund goes out of business because childhood cancer is cured
- WTMJ's Jonathan Green retires
- The Admirals win Calder Cup
- A biofuel plant opens on Jones Island
- The return of a Memorial Day staple -- the Walker's Point block party
- A ban on single-use plastic bags in all grocery stores passes
- A full revitalization restores Downer Avenue's prestige
- Citizen King reunites
- WTMJ-TV ditches the schlock and returns to its roots in responsible journalism
- A Thai restaurant opens in Bay View
- Target locates a store Downtown
- A golf course opens in the Menomonee Valley
- Trader Joe's opens another location
- "The Bowling Game" returns to local TV
- Development at Tower Automotive site
- The Brewery (former Pabst City) complex is finished
- A revived Grand Theater reopens on Wisconsin Avenue
- More carriers alight at Mitchell International
- Summerfest expands year 'round use of the grounds
- Emerald Ash borer stays away from Milwaukee
- Another casio opens (preferably Downtown)
- Bar time and take-out liquor times get extended
- Two words: Medicinal marijuana
- Wisconsin allows same-sex marriage
- Violent Femmes reach the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- More rooftops converted to farms
- More Zip cars allow Milwaukeeans to cut carbon emissions
- More bike lanes achieve the same result
- A solution is found to save or destroy the Hoan Bridge
- Packers finally beat Favre (if he plays again)
- A great plan is unveiled for the Prospect Mall site
- Mr. Perkins Family Restaurant continues to serve Milwaukee diners
- The Great Circus Parade returns as an annual event
- City and County merge and collaborate, cutting costs
- Continued preservation of the park systems
- Milwaukee TV stations back off the blizzard mania
- The city starts plowing alleys
- Perfect cellphone coverage in the city -- no dropouts anywhere
- More local voices appear on local radio
- Bowling sees a national resurgence
- UWM becomes major research university
- Baseball installs salary cap so Brewers can keep their stars
- Bud Selig retires; new commissioner keeps office in Milwaukee
- More taxi cabs (that you can hail)
- Bob Uecker finishes decade as Brewers announcer
- A freeway connection links I-43 and I-45 north
- An MLS team lands in Milwaukee ... with a new outdoor stadium
- Herb Kohl finds a local buyer for the Bucks
- Harley-Davidson builds a hybrid
- More concerts staged at Miller Park
- U2 headlines Harley's 110th anniversary celebration
- More indoor exercise/play options for kids east of Highway 100
- Lake Michigan stays free of Asian carp
- More convention business arrives
- Racial barriers are broken down
- Water taxis set sail on the river
- Pizza Man is reborn
- Milwaukee's performing arts and fashion scenes enjoy continued success
- Wells Street converts to two-way traffic
- More innovative lighting like at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
- Carry-ins return to Jazz in the Park