Building Info

Prospect Mall Apartments Rendering

The Overlook on Prospect is a mixed-use apartment building with first-floor commercial space. The building was formerly used as a car dealership and later as the Prospect Mall. The adaptive reuse (completed in 2015) added four new floors housing 52 apartments, as well as 52 indoor parking spots and about 10,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor.

The project is being led by Robert Joseph of Joseph Property Development. Joseph is the grandson of George Bockl, who originally converted the building from an auto dealership into a mall. Joseph acquired the property from BoulderVenture, Inc. for $1 million. Construction started in January of 2013.

In April 2015, a sign went up announcing that Yoga Six, a national yoga studio chain, was “coming soon” to the southern retail stall. The northern commercial space has been occupied by a Potbelly’s sandwich shop since 2014. Two spaces are available as of April 2015.

Building History

Before it was converted to the Prospect Mall in 1976, the building housed a car dealership under a number of names (Lake Park Motors, Inc., Bob Black Oldsmobile, Inc., East Side Chevrolet Company, “Bud” Donahue Chevrolet, Schlesigner Chevrolet). The building itself was constructed in 1912. The site previously held the Farwell Ave Barns for the Milwaukee Electrical Railway and Light Company.

The building and parking lot (across Prospect Ave) were acquired in 2004 by BoulderVenture, Inc (Prospect I, LLC) for $2,350,000. The mall was sold in 1977 by developer George Bockl (who built the mall) to First City Resources Corporation (Prospect Mall Partners).

Marcus Corp. operated a three-screen cinema (Prospect Mall Cinema) in the building until June 18th, 2006.

Past Proposals

During the time BoulderVenture, Inc. owned the property (starting in 2004), a number of proposals were floated for the mall. In 2008, the firm attempted submitted a bid to the UWM Real Estate Foundation that was one of three finalists for a new UWM residence hall. The residence hall would have been located on the former mall parking lot.

In 2009, Mercy Housing Lakefront submitted a proposal to win affordable housing tax credits to convert the building to apartments. That project did not receive funding. A similar project was proposed in 2010 by CommonBond Communities, which also did not receive WHEDA affordable housing tax credits.

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Content referencing The Overlook on Prospect (Prospect Mall Apartments)

Eyes on Milwaukee: The Contour is Coming to Prospect
Eyes on Milwaukee

The Contour is Coming to Prospect

Construction will start in next 60 days on East Side apartment building.

Plats and Parcels: Mayor’s Design Awards
Plats and Parcels

Mayor’s Design Awards

The 2015 Mayor's Design Awards recognized projects big and small from across the city.

Plenty of Horne: The New Gateway to Bay View?
Plenty of Horne

The New Gateway to Bay View?

Development proposed at neighborhood meeting would include 5 stories, 3,000 square feet of first floor retail and 72 apartments on 4 floors above this.

Hard Hat Tour: North Avenue Boomtown
Hard Hat Tour

North Avenue Boomtown

Three different projects will together remake E. North Avenue. Our photos capture the progress.

Murphy’s Law: Does Downer Avenue Need a Tax Subsidy?
Murphy’s Law

Does Downer Avenue Need a Tax Subsidy?

Developer Joel Lee claims the buzzing retail strip needs help from the city.

Friday Photos: Prospect Mall is Partially Open
Friday Photos

Prospect Mall is Partially Open

Look, a sandwich shop disguised as a construction site!

Friday Photos: Prospect Mall Apartments Going Up
Friday Photos

Prospect Mall Apartments Going Up

Construction is midway on a five-floor complex that will have 52 apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail space.

City Business: Bay View Books and Music
City Business

Bay View Books and Music

In the digital age, this shop still collects the real thing: old books that collectors treasure.

Friday Photos: Prospect Mall’s Progress
Friday Photos

Prospect Mall’s Progress

The facade is getting stripped and openings for big windows have been created.

Friday Photos: Gutting the Prospect Mall
Friday Photos

Gutting the Prospect Mall

New plan adds 4 floors, 52 apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail. But first the old place must be gutted.

East Library Gains Zoning Approval, Rest of District Held

East Library Gains Zoning Approval, Rest of District Held

Residents are still a little restive about it, but the East Side's buildings are likely to get a little higher, to judge by the results of today's City Plan Commission meeting.

UWM Prospect Mall Parking Lot Dorm Renderings

UWM Prospect Mall Parking Lot Dorm Renderings

Boulder Ventures provided us with a rendering of their proposed dorm for the Prospect Mall parking lot on the east side of Prospect Avenue.

Where Is The New UWM Dorm Going?

Where Is The New UWM Dorm Going?

To be honest, we don't know exactly. But we do know that they've proposed 8 sites, and we'll break down each one to determine which one we think might be the best.

UWM Dorm is a Hot Topic Among 3rd District Neighbors

UWM Dorm is a Hot Topic Among 3rd District Neighbors

On July 29th a meeting of 3rd district residents was held to discuss the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's ("UWM") recent Request for Proposal ("RFP") to build a new student dorm with 500 to 700 beds.

Building data on this page, including assessment information, was last updated on January 1, 1970

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