One of the many things that makes urban neighborhoods special is their dynamic nature. Unlike a suburban cul-de-sac, an urban neighborhood is never finished. A healthy urban neighborhood sees a steady influx of infill development or building rehabilitation as the success of the neighborhood builds upon itself. Milwaukee’s East Side residents and business owners are likely to see the results of such infill development over the course of the next year as a number of new buildings open. The projects run a fairly wide spectrum of different development types, including a dorm, hospital, independent-living facility, and high-end apartments.

Yesterday it was announced that prominent East Side development Park Lafayette is being foreclosed on by Anglamated Bank of New York, the primary lender on the project. Not surprising to those who have seen the massive towers, Anglamated Bank is claiming they are owed nearly $100 million by Renaissant Lafayette LLC, an affiliate of Renaissant Development Group. Renaissant Development Group is led by prominent Chicago developer Warren Barr. Park Lafayette was Barr’s first entry into the Milwaukee market. While the foreclosure is certainly bad news for Barr and the bank, it’s not necessarily all bad news for Milwaukee.

A column in Milwaukee Magazine criticizing the design of Renner Architect’s soon-to-be completed BreakWater Condominiums spurred a response from Renner’s firm that was in very poor form. The column in Milwaukee Magazine centered around the design of the BreakWater building itself, although Renner’s rebuttal was more interested in other things.

Park Lafayette is the first project for developer Warren Barr, of Renaissant Development Group LLC, in Milwaukee and it is worth stopping in the sales center to see the level of quality he delivers. Not only can your tour the two bedroom model but you can also check the view from every unit in the [...]