Building Info

Welford Sanders Lofts. Photo by Zach Komassa.
  • Address:
    2801-2821 N. 4th St.
  • Taxkeys:
    3131916111, 3131916110
  • Status:
  • Assessed Value (Land):
    $0
  • Assessed Value (Improvements):
    $0
  • Assessed Value (Total):
    $0
  • Assesment Year:
  • Year Built:

A two-building complex containing apartments and office space. Originally built as a manufacturing facility for the Nunn Bush Shoe Company. The bigger building contains 184,843 sq-ft of space, the smaller one includes 8,336 sq-ft of space. Both were built in 1915.

The complex was named after Welford Sanders Lofts as part of a redevelopment that converted it from warehouse space to 59 apartments and 30,000 sq-ft of office space. Sanders passed away in 2015. He was the head of the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corp. The redevelopment was completed in 2018.

The complex includes 47 apartments rented at below-market rates and 12 at market-rate. In addition, 53,000 square-feet of space was removed from the building to create a courtyard space, and 60 parking spaces were built on the lower level.

The office space is rented to a number of firms that were already in the building prior to the redevelopment, including Project Return, Step Industries Inc, Milwaukee JobsWork and the Alma Center.

The building has changed hands a number of times in recent years, with Milwaukee Area Technical College buying the building in 1985 and operating it as a small business incubator (Milwaukee Enterprise Center North). MATC sold the property in 2011. That group attempted to redevelop the buildings into apartments, but that fell through. They sold it in 2013 to Mercy Foundation Group Inc. of Florida. Florida sold the building on December 31st, 2014 to Sunset Investors, which donated the building to Wisconsin Redevelopment LLC and the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corp.

The project marks the fifth phase of the King Drive Commons project.

Photos

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Activity

IDDateTypeDescription
SIGN-GEN-19-001162019/04/05Permit
Sign Permit
COM-ALT-18-009352018/11/06Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit
NOCC-18-019172018/10/24Permit
HVAC-GEN-18-028712018/09/06Permit
HVAC General Permit
COM-ALT-18-005902018/07/20Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit.
PBFS-18-008212018/07/12Permit
Plumbing-Fire Protection Permit.
COM-ALT-18-004352018/06/05Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit.
PWEU-18-020612018/05/22Permit
ROW Excavation Utility.
PLB-18-021642018/05/11Permit
Building Plumbing Permit.
COM-ALT-18-003582018/05/03Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit.
ELEC_LV-18-000472018/03/09Permit
Low Voltage Permit.
ECP-18-000892018/02/26Permit
Erosion Control Permit.
COM-ALT-18-001482018/02/26Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit.
ELEC-18-004352018/01/22Permit
Electrical Permit.
ELEC-18-002532018/01/15Permit
Electrical Permit.
HVAC-GEN-18-000422018/01/07Permit
HVAC General Permit.
ELEV-18-000022018/01/05Permit
Elevator Permit.
COM-ALT-17-010402017/12/10Permit
Commercial Alteration Permit.
ELEC_LV-17-004652017/11/20Permit
Low Voltage Permit.
PWEC-17-030962017/11/11Permit
ROW Excavation City Contract.
PLB-17-046292017/10/25Permit
Building Plumbing Permit.
ELEC-FA-17-003682017/07/14Permit
Fire Alarm Permit.
ELEV-17-000932017/06/23Permit
Elevator Permit.
PWEU-17-011662017/06/09Permit
ROW Excavation Utility.
ELEC_LV-17-001192017/06/06Permit
Low Voltage Permit.
PWPA-17-001072017/05/15Permit
Pole and Anchor Permit.
PWEU-17-008802017/05/05Permit
ROW Excavation Utility.
PWRS-17-000852017/05/04Permit
ROW Restoration Permit.
PWEN-17-001532017/05/04Permit
ROW Excavation Non-Utility.
PLB_WS-17-000792017/05/03Permit
Water Service.
PWEN-17-001512017/05/03Permit
ROW Excavation Non-Utility.
PWRS-17-000832017/05/03Permit
ROW Restoration Permit.
PLB-17-015462017/04/14Permit
Building Plumbing Permit.
PLB-17-014352017/04/08Permit
Building Plumbing Permit.
PLB-17-013972017/04/06Permit
Gas Piping.
ELEC-FA-17-000672017/03/14Permit
Fire Alarm Permit.
HVAC-GEN-17-007492017/03/10Permit
HVAC General Permit.
ECP-16-000802016/11/08Permit
Erosion Control Permit.
IDDateDescriptionType

Content referencing Welford Sanders Lofts

Eyes on Milwaukee: 2019 Mayor’s Design Awards Recipients
Eyes on Milwaukee

2019 Mayor’s Design Awards Recipients

Here are winners of annual awards for the best in Milwaukee design.

2019 MANDI Nominee: We Build Communities, Not Just Buildings
2019 MANDI Nominee

We Build Communities, Not Just Buildings

Welford Sanders enterprise center seeks to build a thriving community in King Dr. area.

107 New Apartments For N. 5th Street

107 New Apartments For N. 5th Street

Ribbon cutting touts conversion of two old buildings into apartments in Harambee area.

The Harambee Revival Continues
Press Release

The Harambee Revival Continues

Historic renovations of the underutilized Nunn Bush Shoe Factory and vacant former Fifth Street School are a dream come true for seniors, veterans, jobs seekers… and the late Welford Sanders. Presenters and guests include City of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the family of Welford Sanders, community members and project partners.

Sanders Project and Legacy Celebrated

Sanders Project and Legacy Celebrated

Welford Sanders Lofts on near North Side bears the name of economic development icon.

The Story of Welford Sanders Lofts

The Story of Welford Sanders Lofts

How the $21 million building on MLK Dr. that honors him was created.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Inside the Welford Sanders Lofts
Eyes on Milwaukee

Inside the Welford Sanders Lofts

Former shoe factory becoming apartments and offices, will help revive MLK Drive.

King Drive project would fulfill Welford Sanders’ legacy
Citation

King Drive project would fulfill Welford Sanders’ legacy

Apartments planned for north side, Walker’s Point project receive initial approvals
Proposals call for redeveloping buildings on Milwaukee’s north side
Citation

Proposals call for redeveloping buildings on Milwaukee’s north side

Real estate donations create tax benefits for sellers
Citation

Real estate donations create tax benefits for sellers

Building data on this page, including assessment information, was last updated on January 26, 2019

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