Milwaukee’s Building Frenzy: 11 Stunning Before-Afters of the City’s Changing Urban Landscape
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No mistake about it: Milwaukee is currently in the midst of a building boom…actually, make that “BOOM!”. What began with the construction of the Northwestern Mutual Life building in 2014, has exploded with a rash of commercial development, especially in and around downtown. This is in combination with a burst of demand for new Milwaukee apartments from Millennials as well as retiring Boomers.
But it’s not just downtown that’s seeing a resurgence; historic neighborhoods such as the Third Ward, Cannon Park, and Menomonee River Valley have undergone serious makeovers in the last decade, with new urban hotspots transforming the city into a lively live-work-play environment.
To show you just how much Milwaukee has changed in recent times, we hopped in our time machine (OK, it was Google Streetview) to take you “way back” to days of yore (well, 2007). Take a look below!
Simply drag the arrow bar back-and-forth to view the old and the new images.
1. Saint John’s On The Lake – Northpoint
Year built: 2011
Located just south of its older resident facility (built in 1979) the storied retirement community opened its doors to a brand new building in 2011. The 21-story tower added 87 units to the campus, which offers both independent and assisted living. The project was originally meant to break ground in 2008, but was stalled during the Great Recession.
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2. Park Lafayette Towers – Lower East Side
Year Built: 2010
In 2007, this spot was a big ol’ hole in the ground, slated to be a pair of high-end 20-story 180-unit condos. Then, T.G.R. happened, followed by a bankruptcy of Renaissant Lafayette, which delayed construction. The building project was seized by Amalgamated Bank and turned into apartment units. Now run by the Mandel Group, the completed towers have had little trouble staying at full occupancy.
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3. 1910 on Water – Lower East Side
Year Built: 2012
This half-mile stretch of Water Street just north of downtown is seeing intense redevelopment, thanks to its proximity to work and play. In 2007, this spot was occupied by 2 turn-of-the-last-century homes, which were leveled to create 68 apartment units, a parking structure, and a gym. More than 700 units are expected in the immediate area within the next couple of years.
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4. Aloft Milwaukee, The Moderne – Kilbourn Town
Year Built: 2008, 2012
This strip of land on the former Park East Freeway is now a high-end affair. First, the 160-room Aloft Milwaukee hotel sprouted up in 2008. Then in 2012, after receiving a loan guarantee from HUD, The Moderne opened across the street, offering 14 condos and 203 apartments. At 30 stories, it’s the tallest building west of the Milwaukee river.
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5. Potawatomi Casino & Hotel – Menomonee River Valley
Year Built: 2014
In 1991, Potawtomi Bingo became the first off-reservation casino in the U.S. Over the years, the casino has seen three expansions and a name change. It’s now Potawatomi Casino & Hotel, and its 18-story lodging facility was completed in 2014. Located at 1721 West Canal Street, it now hosts over 100 table games, 3,000 slots, and has a 500-seat theater.
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6.The BreakWater – Yankee Hill
Year Built: 2009
This towering 20-story 101-unit condominium at 1313 North Franklin Place had a leg up on other buildings constructed around the same time (see: Park Lafayette) as it was financed and constructed after the 2008 bubble burst. It’s functional layouts and relatively reasonable prices made it fill up quickly with new buyers.
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7. 833 East Michigan – East Town
Year Built: 2015
A one-story parking garage stood on this spot in 2007, but in 2015 the 833 East Michigan Street 18-story, Class A multi-tenant office tower opened its doors for new tenants. It features floor-to-ceiling windows, a fitness center, panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the city, and a sky bridge that connects it to the U.S. Bank Center, the city’s tallest building.
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8. Grohmann Tower – East Town
Year Built: 2014 – 2015
For years, this former parking lot was an unfinished eyesore. In 2008, it was supposed to be an extended-stay hotel, but was rocked by the financial meltdown. It wasn’t until 2013 that the Milwaukee School of Engineering bought it for student housing and rechristened it the Grohmann Tower, after a wealthy donor. It now has 162 units for students and faculty.
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9. Aspire Hall – Cannon Park
Year Built: 2014
Thanks to a boom in enrollment, Wisconsin Lutheran College were able to raze 4 buildings on Wisconsin Ave. that housed 48 students, and replace them with a modern residence hall at 8901 W. Wisconsin Ave. that has 53 units, each housing 4 students, as well as 5,000 feet of classroom space.
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10. Jesuit Residence and Ivy on Fourteenth – Avenues West
Year Built: 2015, 2014
Back 2007, Marquette University’s “Jes Res” as it was known, was in a state of crumbling disrepair; the red brick building first opened as a hotel in 1913. Flash forward to today and the new five-story Jesuit Residence, renamed Dr. E. J. O’Brien Jesuit Residence, has 25 units and 5 guest suites. Across the way stands a 6-story 80-unit student housing building dubbed Ivy on Fourteenth, also part of the university’s investment in the district.
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11. Two50Two – Historic Third Ward
Year built: 2014
One of the most startling transformations is the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design’s building of Two50Two, located directly across from its campus. The former one-story brick building, the site of a fitness center and driving range, is now a state-of-the-art facility housing almost half of MIAD’s 740 students and an art supply store.
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Which developments are redefining your Milwaukee neighborhood?
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Amalia Otet is an online content developer and creative writer for RENTCafé. She loves all things real estate and strives to live beautifully, one green step at a time.
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