Six Stories of MIAD Students
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design releases plans for new residence hall that brings students back to the Third Ward.
The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) is working with General Capital Group to bring student housing back to the Historic Third Ward. Students currently reside at The Park at 1824 on the East Side. This has always been seen as a temporary solution as it requires shuttle buses to transport students between the East Side and school. Prior to this, MIAD’s student dorm had been in the nearby Eisner Building, but school officials say that facility’s shortcomings became a problem for parents.
MIAD intends to require all freshman and sophomores from hometowns more than 45 miles away (about 300 students) to live in the new facility. They will not be allowed to bring a car to campus.
The proposal meets current zoning rules, in regards to height and massing, and has already received approval from the Historic Third Ward Architectural Review Board. At this point it needs just one more approval, from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BOZA), to allow more than three unrelated persons to live within a dwelling unit, before the project can move forward. That request will before BOZA early in 2013.
To make way for the new facility, a one-story building will first be demolished. Construction is then expected to take a year, with the facility opening to students in 2014.
Nice density and nice design. The Third Ward gets better every year. It’s hard to find a better example of how a true neighborhood can form through dynamic infill development.
It will be interesting to see if the condo owners behind this building attempt to stop this, since it may block views, etc.
Very nice! will bring needed life to that area!
@getch I attend a neighborhood meeting on the project, and yes there were concerns over the view. But the current zoning as well as the area plan call for a building of this scale on this lot. In fact the zoning would allow a taller building. So really the only question is if BOZA will take issue with the more than three unrelated residents per unit, but I have a hard time seeing them turning that down as it is for an educational use.
I live in the building behind it mentioned above, and eagerly await this development. Ever since the students were moved out of the neighborhood a couple years ago, a certain amount of vitality has been missing from day-to-day life. The students help keep the neighborhood more “real” in certain respects.
Exciting news. Hopefully a nice boost to the Third Ward businesses when complete.