The Moderne Likely to Receive Public Financing
A rendering of the Moderne
The Moderne, the long awaited project on the corner of 3rd and Juneau, is moving ahead. The City, through RACM, is aiming to provide $10,000,000 in financial assistance to the project. A deal that is very likely to be approved. The building is to be largely an apartment building with first floor retail and a few condos at the top three floors. Originally intended to be 80 condos, the project is now 154 apartments and 33 condos spread over 30 floors.
To demonstrate how long the project has been in the works, it won zoning approval in 2007.
Developer Rick Barrett reported that he had a difficult time finding financing, stating that he had talked to hundreds of banks. It’s no secret why that might have been, with hundreds of units available on the condo market in Milwaukee (largely collected in a few buildings) and commercial real estate lending virtually non-existent as the economy falters.
The project will easily be one of the most dense buildings in Westown, with its good urban design and small footprint. As a comparison, The Palomar, which was proposed just across the street, was to occupy an entire city block. The Moderne will occupy a small plot of land next to Vecchio Bar and Grille. Hopefully it can serve as a catalytic project to spur more quality urban development in the Park East and Westown.
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- Nighttime rendering of The Moderne
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- Daytime rendering of The Moderne
Awesome! I have been waiting for some good news about this project. I think I am not alone in saying out of all the stalled projects in the city this is the one that needs to rise.
Its funny how the city turned down a similar request for the Palomar project.
Won’t they need to get additional financing for contruction from somewhere else as well?
@Mike The Palomar had a few similarities, sure, but this project is quite a bit different.
A few quick points, and I’m sure the upcoming meeting will flesh out more.
1. The Palomar was a hotel as well as condo development featuring extremely upscale developments. Hard to subsidize against the competition
2. The Moderne is overwhelming apartments. It’s easier to support bringing more residents downtown, especially ones that aren’t buying.
3. Equity in each project, not sure what the differences are/were exactly, but the Palomar still wanted almost twice as much money.
4. Quality of the project. The Moderne looks good and fills the lot in a very pedestrian friendly way that will be good for the buildings around it. The Palomar featured a large parking garage.
5. Local investor versus out-of-state investor.
Just curious, is developer Rick Barrett of any relation to Mayor Tom Barrett?
@Matt
That would be the story of the year if that were true, but I’ve never heard nor seen any indication that he is.
Over the past weekend at the GMAR downtown condo tour, the realtor selling the condo units in this building told me they were breaking ground November 16th. I told her I had been following the project and what a great addition to downtown this building would be, then I indicated my skepticism – that’s when she told me about the ground breaking. I have also heard of earlier ground breakings of this building, that have gone and past, let’s hope this one is a go.
@Matt Ummm no.
Great news. The renderings for this building are fantastic.
Love it. Beautiful and medern looking building. No wonder why its called Mederne. We need more of those in the city and especially downtown area.
It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful building. I really hope it is the catalyst people think it will be, because that neighborhood needs a lot of work. I doubt it will be, but I still hope it is.
I’m just not sure “luxury” can be sold in that part of town, yet. I think the park east neighborhood needs a stronger foundation in safety, cleanliness, beauty and amenities before people will want to live there. Saying, “Build it, and they will come,” doesn’t sit right with me in this situation.