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SPEAR THE
Whalen WHALE
Courthouse Annex Demolition Long Overdue
by Jim McGuigan
July 15, 2005
Milwaukee County's courthouse annex is home to several offices but it primarily serves as a parking structure. Over the years, the county has plowed money into asbestos remediation and repairs but the structure has long outlived its usefulness. It's time for the county to take a serious look at demolishing the annex.
To make matters worse for the building, it is adorned with the kitschy Whalen Whale wall. If ever there was an artist who conjures up images akin to poker playing dogs, unicorn paintings and cat clocks, it is Whalen. Yes, I'll make a confession - I'm not a Whalen fan. Fine art can't be done in a day, but Whalen has managed to mangle buildings across the country in his effort to market his "art." Whether he's painting dolphins or whales, it's not quality stuff.
Whalen believes the county has a responsibility to maintain the annex since his "art" adorns it. If that's the case, every Kleenex I've ever sneezed in must be preserved for posterity.
Looking back on my years as a supe, I'm so glad I stopped the Whale wall from going on the Museum.
But getting rid of Whalen's "art" is just a bonus. The annex has been falling apart for years. Chunks of concrete occasionally drop onto the freeway below, making it a hazard for drivers. I don't mean to overstate the problem or insinuate that it is raining rocks, but it does pose a problem.
With the reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange, the time is right to drop the annex. Hopefully, county officials will recognize that now is the least expensive time for demolition and will actually make the investment needed instead of tinkering and haggling with other governmental entities.
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