Places and Spaces
The following projects have found unique opportunities to contribute to the character of their neighborhoods and have made our streets and public spaces more attractive and inviting by engaging the public, enhancing public infrastructure, and creating meaningful community spaces for all to enjoy.
Green and Healthy Schools - Cohort 5
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Various Addresses
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 Since 2018, Milwaukee Public Schools has worked with Reflo, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District, and SARUP’s own Community Design Solutions to transform 5 Milwaukee schoolyards annually into greener, healthier spaces for students and the surrounding community. In 2023, projects at Gaenslen School, Milwaukee German Immersion School, Kluge School, Mitchell School, and Riley School replaced seas of asphalt with outdoor classrooms, improved recreational facilities and green infrastructure.
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1872 N Commerce St
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Lakefront Brewery Riverwalk Improvements
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With a growing demand for outdoor space to socialize and enjoy summer in Wisconsin, Lakefront Brewery worked with The Kubala Washatko Architects to redesign their section of the Milwaukee Riverwalk and reclaim public space under the adjacent viaduct.
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Muskego Way Bollards
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S 24th St & W Mitchell St
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 After neighbors in the Muskego Way neighborhood expressed a need for traffic barricades to stop vehicles from illegally driving across a neighborhood greenspace, La Familia de Arte answered the call with a row of artistic bollards along the north side of West Mitchell Street adjacent to a senior center, health center, and playground.
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S 6th St & W Howard Ave
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Garden Block Revitalization Project
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As the chair of the Garden District Neighborhood Association, former Alderman Terry Witkowski, coordinated an all-volunteer effort to revitalize the garden block. The multi-phase project included replanting the gardens, construction of a large gazebo, and the addition of multiple sculptures and artistic site features.
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Vibrant Corridors
These projects are revitalizing the City’s commercial corridors by constructing or restoring their properties in a pedestrian friendly way that activates the public realm, adds new housing or employment opportunities, and adds to the vibrancy and diversity of our commercial districts.
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Who's On Layton
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512 W Layton Ave
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 With help from a City of Milwaukee Commercial Revitalization Grant, the owners worked with Rinka to transform the vacant building, add a large four-season patio on the front façade, and landscape the previously impervious site. Throughout the space, patrons can admire a collection of Wisconsin sport-inspired artworks by artist Jimmy Cha Cha.
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2159 S Kinnickinnic Ave
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Ground 59
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Designed by Dan Beyer Architects, Ground 59 is a newly constructed complex of three restaurants and multiple outdoor spaces on Kinnickinnic Avenue. This includes the recently opened “Todd I Believe I Can Fry” and “Room Service” – which leveraged City of Milwaukee Commercial Revitalization Grants to help build out their spaces. The development includes a large common outdoor space between the three restaurants and a new pedestrian connection through the block to Robinson Avenue.
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Mitchell Street Arts
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710 W Historic Mitchell St
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Opened in 2023, Mitchell Street Arts filled a long vacant storefront on the ground floor of the historic Kunzelman Esser Building. With help from a City of Milwaukee Commercial Revitalization Grant, director Rew Gordan has transformed the space into a community arts center complete with an art gallery, café, performing arts space, and makerspaces.
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4227 W Vliet St
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Denizen MKE
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This building on West Vliet Street across from Washington Park had been vacant and blighted for over 20 years. With support from a City Commercial Revitalization Grant, owners Amber Bricco and Rachael Flood renovated the long vacant building into a new wedding and event venue.
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Buffalo Boss
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540 N 27th St
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Building on the success of its location in the Sherman Pheonix, Buffalo Boss began looking for a standalone site where it could expand its business and become an anchor in the community. Owner Taj Pearsall worked with City Real Estate staff to purchase and renovate a City-owned commercial building on North 27th Street that had been vacant for over a decade
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274 E Keefe
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The Connector Building
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Along the Beerline trail – and at the trail head of the future B-Line Park – the redevelopment of this formerly vacant and City-owned property as a community gathering space has long been a priority of the Riverworks Development Corporation. Designed by Steven Perry Smith Architects, the Connector Building seeks to connect residents and community members from Harambee, Riverwest, Riverworks, and beyond. The building includes space for community events and is anchored by Kuumba Juice and Coffee.
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Neighborhood Renaissance
The following projects are literally Growing Milwaukee by providing a wide range of new opportunities for City living that strengthen neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for residents.
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Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity - Affordable Homeownership Initiative
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Harambee and Midtown Neighborhoods
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In response to the growing need for affordable housing in the City, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity has redoubled its efforts to expand homeownership for low- and moderate-income families in Milwaukee. In 2023, Habitat constructed 30 new homes in the Harambee and Midtown Neighborhoods. Homes were designed by Habitat and Quorum Architects.
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Various Addresses
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Walnut Circle & Josey Heights
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In an effort to repair scars in the neighborhood fabric caused by past planning decisions, the City of Milwaukee created the Josey Heights and Walnut Circle subdivisions in 2007 with a vision for high-quality owner-occupied homes that would serve as a catalyst for the area. More recently the City partnered with Emem Group to design and market new homes for the subdivisions and provide new incentives for potential buyers.
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McKinley School Lofts
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This former public-school building was originally constructed in 1885. After a fire in 2013, the building sat vacant for many years and was eventually returned to City ownership. Gorman & Company, along with Quorum Architects was able to restore and renovate the historic school building into 39 affordable homes with preference given to veterans.
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6405 & 6014 W Sheridan Ave
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Maple & Hickory at Westlawn Gardens
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For more than a decade, the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee has worked to transform Wisconsin’s largest public housing development into a national model of sustainability. Maple and Hickory, designed by Eppstein Uhen Architects, are the latest additions to the ongoing renaissance occurring at Westlawn. The two buildings combined add 62 affordable homes, along with a variety of indoor and outdoor amenity spaces to support residents.
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NOVA
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1237 N Van Buren St
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Developed by New Land Enterprises and designed by Korb & Associates Architects, NOVA is growing Downtown Milwaukee with 251 new homes and top-of-the-line amenities. The street level features a row of two-story townhome style units and a new retail space designed for a future café.
Urbanism Redefined
The following projects have made extraordinary contributions to the City’s built environment by constructing or restoring places that repair, restore or enhance the urban fabric; expand opportunities for education or employment and facilitate social connections; while raising the bar for major development and contemporary architecture in the City.
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UW-Milwaukee Student Union
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2200 E Kenwood Blvd
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Designed by HGA, the newly renovated student union brings in more natural light, opens up sight lines throughout the building, adds vibrant and engaging social spaces, and creates comfortable areas for students to work and collaborate.
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1530 W Wisconsin Ave
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Marquette University O'Brien Hall
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Anchoring the west gateway into campus, O’Brein Hall is the new home of Marquette University’s College of Business Administration. Designed by BNIM in partnership with Workshop Architects, the building is a stunning addition to Wisconsin Avenue, engaging the streetscape and rebuilding the urban fabric while displaying excellence in all aspects of building design.
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Wgema Campus Plan & Historic Renovations
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Potawatomi Ventures has worked to restore the many historic buildings on site and redevelop the campus with new uses that exemplify the Potawatomi values of environmental sustainability, wellness, and support for all Native American people in Wisconsin. The campus plan and redevelopment were supported by Quorum Architects and Greenfire Management Services.
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551 N 5th St
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Milwaukee Tool
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Nicknamed the Red Beacon, Milwaukee Tool’s new office in the Westown neighborhood is an incredible transformation of a previously unremarkable 1970s office building. Designed by Steven Perry Smith Architects, the renovations opened up the facades, more than doubling the number of exterior windows. The interior features a soaring five-story atrium that was carved out of the steel structure, and attractive details throughout reinforce the company’s brand.
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The Trade
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420 W Juneau
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Built on land that was previously home to an elevated expressway, the Trade Hotel is Milwaukee’s newest example of architectural excellence and a great addition to the vibrant Deer District. Designed by GBA and developed by NGC Hospitality, the Trade demonstrates how urban design can tell the stories of our city’s past, it’s present, and our future.
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