Amid hotel debate, 20+ lbs of emails show support for keeping Miller High Life Theatre

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Debate over the future of a Milwaukee theater and arena continues.

This week the owner of Pabst Theater Group showed us how much support they have.

It comes after a study commissioned by the Wisconsin Center District recommends tearing down the site to build a hotel.

Gary Witt knows how to make an impression. He and his team created a binder that contains more than 1100 emails of support. It weighs more than 20 pounds and was delivered to the Wisconsin Center District.

Witt told us, "To know these things we do every day, that we don't take for granted, that they don't take them for granted, either. They don't take these buildings for granted."

When the Pabst Theater Group asked for support for the Miller High Life Theatre, more than 1,000 emails poured in in less than 24 hours.

"All their notes were incredibly impactful to us, as an organization," Witt said.

“It is a cornerstone of our community's identity,” said one.

Another read, "We need to protect our history of beautiful and storied venues."

Bre Fabry wrote one of the notes. She told us, "Obviously, we have a ton of historic buildings that I would like to, personally, see protected. And then, culturally, I think Milwaukee has a really great theater scene, whether that's our local theaters or our local theater groups."

Fabry added, "I, personally, would like them to be able to bring in acts. I think it really adds to the liveliness of the city and it builds on the positivity we do have within the city."

The High Life Theatre and UW Panther Arena are at the center of the city’s next urban planning debate.

A study commissioned by the Wisconsin Center District suggests the site be turned into a large convention hotel. According to study, the across-the-street Baird Center would lose 18% of business by 2030 due to a lack of hotel rooms.

Wisconsin Center District President & CEO Marty Brooks told WTMJ radio this week, "There is no plan to demolish anything. The plan is look at this information and let's identify what's the right next step for Milwaukee."

But Witt claims Brooks wanted the site demolished all along, and says he commissioned the study to support it.

Brooks did not respond to our requests for an interview.

Last fall, Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman led an effort to grant Panther Arena a permanent downtown historic designation. It does not guarantee the buildings will be saved, but it makes it more difficult to tear them down.

Witt said, "We're having a lot of conversations about High Life as if we're having some kind of funeral for it. The truth is, it couldn't be more alive than ever. The kind of shows we have happening there are the kind of shows that could only happen there."

Witt says Brooks and the Wisconsin Center District have not responded after the binder was delivered.