Depending on which news sources you follow, Milwaukee is going through either a “renaissance” or a “reinvention.” Or maybe it’s a “reboot” or a “reimagining.” However you want to define it, it’s safe to say that Milwaukee is currently building a lot of new and wonderful things!
• A construction timeline for Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s new Associated Bank Theater Center, located at 108 E. Wells St., has been set. According to a recent press release, “following the conclusion of the 2023/24 Season, the theater plans to break ground in late May 2024.” The opening of the theater—officially named the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater—is set for Fall 2025.
When complete, the theater will feature “three state-of-the-art performance spaces, a large, unified lobby providing ample opportunities for community events, a dedicated Herzfeld Foundation Education & Engagement Center to serve the theater’s 20,000+ students, an expanded offsite production center employing hundreds of local artisans, and venues with modern audience amenities.” As of early August, the $75 million fundraising campaign for the new theater was 90% complete. [Urban Milwaukee]
• Plans to build a 25-story apartment tower at 1550 N. Prospect Avenue have been put on hold. “Developer Christopher Houden, Jr. cited rising interest rates and a new sales tax as reasons his firm, Willow Partners, will wait until at least 2024 to start construction,” says [Urban Milwaukee].
• Witkowiak Funeral Home, located at 529 W. Historic Mitchell St., wants to build an outdoor plaza at 515 W. Historic Mitchell St. Owner Jim Witkowiak “plans to move a two-story wood frame building, likely built in the 1880s, to 507 W. Historic Mitchell St. to make way for the plaza,” reports the [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel].
• One of the country’s largest arts organization, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, wants to turn a former tool-and-die shop at 325 W. Florida St. into an “artist studio, light office, cultural space.” [Urban Milwaukee]
• New beer garden and taproom for Havenwoods State Forest! [Milwaukee Business Journal]
• The developer of an 80-room Ikon Hotel and conference center planned for a former Sears store at 2100 W. North Ave. is hoping for a third extension to repay a $3.79 million city loan. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• Speaking of city cash, the developer of a massive eight-building, 576-unit affordable housing complex planned for 123 and 147 E. Becher St. would like some, please. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• The old Vitucci’s at 1832 E. North Ave. is being remodeled and transformed into Vier North. When it opens—possibly early this fall—it will boast the longest bar in Milwaukee (78 feet). [Urban Milwaukee]
• The city is looking for someone to do something with a mixed-use two-story building at 2617-2623 W. Atkinson Ave. According to Urban Milwaukee, the space has been home to a “long list of taverns, including Bungalow Inn, Tory’s and Glady’s Bar, Hamilton’s Tavern, Mel & Mimi’s Tavern, Stein Bar and Cafe, Mueller’s Tavern, Barry’s In, Charley’s Place (where the owner murdered a customer outside in 1982) and The Enterprise.” [Urban Milwaukee]
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