A Developer Who Does Affordable Housing
MANDI nominee Todd Hutchison has built dozens of residential developments on the near north and south sides.
‘Exceptional developer’
Lemke and Hutchison have been in business together since 2002, when they created Wisconsin Redevelopment, a two-person real estate firm that focuses on utilizing historic and affordable housing tax credits for development.
“Todd has been involved in some of the most difficult and complicated projects in this city that most developers won’t address,” Lemke said. “Todd’s heart is in the right place.”
Todd Hutchison has been involved in two dozen residential and commercial projects, consisting of more than $135 million of investment. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
Hutchison has both a strong sense of design and a sophisticated understanding of the complicated financial puzzle that are required for successful affordable-housing development, Lemke said.
“He is an exceptional developer…You don’t see someone with all of the skills that he has normally,” he said.
Hutchison grew up on a farm in New London outside of Appleton, where his family ran a campground. In high school, Hutchison found his calling in architecture.
“But, like kids do, I went into a totally different field,” he said.
Hutchison drifted into the social services field after high school, taking various jobs at domestic abuse shelters and working with delinquent youth while taking social work courses at various local colleges.
“I kind of bounced around a bit,” he said. “I finally got tired of it and burnt out.”
Hutchison found his way to Milwaukee and the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After graduation, he went to work for a small firm, where he sharpened his focus on urban development and his disdain for suburban sprawl.
“When I was growing up in New London, a very small town, Milwaukee was this huge, very scary place,” he said. “What I found was that Milwaukee is a whole bunch of little neighborhoods…I fell in love with it.”
This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
Mitchell Street Market Lofts
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