Building Info

Current Avenir Rendering.
  • Address:
    1425 N. Jefferson St.
  • Taxkey:
    3601861000
  • Architect:
    Legat Architects
  • Status:
  • Assessed Value (Land):
    $354,100
  • Assessed Value (Improvements):
    $1,526,000
  • Assessed Value (Total):
    $1,880,100
  • Assesment Year:
    2020
  • Year Built:

The Avenir is a 104-unit, mixed-use apartment building on Milwaukee’s Lower East Side. The building was developed by Wangard Partners and later sold to Weidner Investment Services.

The building includes 7,045 square-feet of retail space, occupied as of May 2015 by Jimmy John’s (opened March 2015), Zoup! (opened May 2015, 2,230 sq-ft), Great Clips, eliteNutrition (opened in February 2015) and JK Nails (opened March 2015).

Parking for the retail tenants is included in a two-level structure in the middle of the block, accessible via E. Lyon St. or N. Jefferson St. Residents are able to park underneath the building.

The building represents the first phase of a two-phase project. The second phase is to include a 95-unit apartment building on the west side of the block.

The official ground breaking for the Avenir was held on November 8th, 2013, though construction had already started.

The project site is bounded by N. Jefferson St. on the east, N. Milwaukee St. on the west, E. Ogden Ave. on the south, and E. Lyon St. on the north.

The site sits on the footprint of the former Park East Freeway, which was demolished in the early 2000’s. The site was originally sold to RSC & Associates of Oak Park, IL. The project as proposed by RSC was known as Park East Square and at various points was proposed to include a large retail store and later two Hyatt hotels. Wangard purchased the block from RSC for $1.5 million.

Photos

Show All

Activity

IDDateTypeDescription
NOCC-19-016762019/10/03Permit
IDDateDescriptionType

Content referencing Avenir

Now Serving: Taste of Lindsay Heights Opens
Now Serving

Taste of Lindsay Heights Opens

Plus: The CurderBurger becomes a reality and Sauce & Spice closes at Sherman Phoenix.

Fusion Poke Plans Second Location In Town

Fusion Poke Plans Second Location In Town

Restaurant will open on northern edge of Downtown.

Delayed Avenir Project Planned for April

Delayed Avenir Project Planned for April

64-unit apartment development on Lower East Side was delayed a year by COVID-19.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Second Phase of Avenir Apartments Advancing
Eyes on Milwaukee

Second Phase of Avenir Apartments Advancing

Developer selects Stevens to lead construction, building permit applied for.

Plats and Parcels: Park East Apartments Cleared for Takeoff
Plats and Parcels

Park East Apartments Cleared for Takeoff

Plus: Why Molson Coors picked Milwaukee over Denver.

Plats and Parcels: New Apartments Near Streetcar Line
Plats and Parcels

New Apartments Near Streetcar Line

Plus: Where does the Strauss deal stand? State office building moving forward.

Plats and Parcels: City Financing Proposed for Michels’ Massive Development
Plats and Parcels

City Financing Proposed for Michels’ Massive Development

Proposal to bring hundreds of jobs to Harbor District to get financing help.

Friday Photos: Bader Rutter’s New Downtown Digs
Friday Photos

Bader Rutter’s New Downtown Digs

Will its new office building be joined by a 24-story tower?

Friday Photos: Bader Rutter’s Riverside Digs
Friday Photos

Bader Rutter’s Riverside Digs

New building, dubbed 1433 Water, will be anchored by marketing firm.

Friday Photos: Bader Rutter’s New Downtown Digs
Friday Photos

Bader Rutter’s New Downtown Digs

New office building quickly rising on site of former Laacke & Joys complex.

Friday Photos: The North End Grows Yet Again
Friday Photos

The North End Grows Yet Again

Phase four of project will have 155 apartments on six floors. But no name as yet.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Phase Four of North End Underway
Eyes on Milwaukee

Phase Four of North End Underway

Fourth phase of $175 million project adds 155 apartments to booming Lower East Side.

County narrowly approves Park East project’s final phase
Citation

County narrowly approves Park East project’s final phase

Plats And Parcels: 5 Wangard Projects to Watch For in 2016
Plats And Parcels

5 Wangard Projects to Watch For in 2016

A big year for the developer and proof the city's development momentum hasn't slowed.

Apartments, retail development proposed for Park East site
Citation

Apartments, retail development proposed for Park East site

Wangard Partners Acquires Class A Multifamily Property in Madison
Press Release

Wangard Partners Acquires Class A Multifamily Property in Madison

Wangard Partners and its investment group targeted the Madison market as a result of its strong economic and demographic trends.

Plenty of Horne: 89-Unit Complex Would Face Swing Park
Plenty of Horne

89-Unit Complex Would Face Swing Park

Approval sought for river-side complex with 4 townhouses and 85 apartments embracing Swing Park.

Wangard Partners’ Property Management Team Expands
Press Release

Wangard Partners’ Property Management Team Expands

“Expanding our property management services and team accomplishes our strategic goals and initiatives while providing a compassionate approach to the tenants and residents we serve.”

Friday Photos: North End Redefines Water Street
Friday Photos

North End Redefines Water Street

Third phase of transformational project fills the gap between Downtown and the Lower East Side.

Wangard Partners Hits Brady and Water Street Milestones
Press Release

Wangard Partners Hits Brady and Water Street Milestones

Demolition on the Brady and Water Street Development Completes with Astounding Salvage Metrics

Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Stirs Up Milwaukee  with May 7th Grand Opening
Press Release

Zoup! Fresh Soup Company Stirs Up Milwaukee with May 7th Grand Opening

Fast-casual restaurant opens first location in Wisconsin, offering hundreds of award-winning soups and other fresh fare

Plats and Parcels: Indianapolis Comes to Bay View?
Plats and Parcels

Indianapolis Comes to Bay View?

New $40 million, 307-apartment proposal for Bay View offered only a rendering of an Indianapolis project by the developer. When do we get the full package?

Friday Photos: North End III is Rising
Friday Photos

North End III is Rising

New complex with 168 apartments will add density to an area that's booming with development.

Wangard Partners’ Avenir Apartments Hits Milestone
Press Release

Wangard Partners’ Avenir Apartments Hits Milestone

Avenir Apartments Officially Opens Friday, February 6th!

Wangard Lands National Soup Shoppe’s 1st Franchise in Wisconsin
Press Release

Wangard Lands National Soup Shoppe’s 1st Franchise in Wisconsin

Zoup! Opens First Wisconsin-based Franchise at Avenir Apartments!

Friday Photos: Construction Underway at The North End
Friday Photos

Construction Underway at The North End

Mandel Group is building the third phase of their "neighborhood by design" -- to plug "the doughnut hole in Downtown."

Friday Photos: Avenir Nearly Ready for the Future
Friday Photos

Avenir Nearly Ready for the Future

The five-story, 104 unit apartment building is nearly ready for occupancy, the first residential development on county-owned Park East land.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Barrett Moving Forward With Streetcar
Eyes on Milwaukee

Barrett Moving Forward With Streetcar

If Common Council approves at December 16 meeting, construction would start in late 2015, and Milwaukee would follow in footsteps of many other cities.

Friday Photos: The Avenir Nears Completion
Friday Photos

The Avenir Nears Completion

Featuring 104 apartments and 7,000 square feet of retail space, it's the first mixed-use building constructed on the county's portion of Park East land.

EPA Announces $1 Million Grant to Clean Up Contaminated Sites in Milwaukee
Press Release

EPA Announces $1 Million Grant to Clean Up Contaminated Sites in Milwaukee

“This EPA brownfield grant is a solid investment in the future of Milwaukee that will help transform contaminated sites into redevelopment opportunities”

Friday Photos: “Sage” Apartment Building Nearly Finished
Friday Photos

“Sage” Apartment Building Nearly Finished

Jackson Street is becoming a nice urban street, now with new, environmentally friendly apartments.

Eyes on Milwaukee: Finally, a New Park East Plan
Eyes on Milwaukee

Finally, a New Park East Plan

Ten years later, the city and county are finally on the same page. Is development in the area ready to "explode"?

Friday Photos: Rise of the Avenir
Friday Photos

Rise of the Avenir

The 5-story, $21 million building will have 104 apartment units, 7,000 square-feet of retail space, and a Jimmy Johns.

Friday Photos: Avenir Makes Some Progress
Friday Photos

Avenir Makes Some Progress

The five-story, 104-unit mixed-use building will have 7,000 square feet of first floor retail.

Friday Photos: The Future Rises in the Park East
Friday Photos

The Future Rises in the Park East

The Avenir or "future" is a new five-floor, 104-unit apartment building rising before us.

Photo Gallery: Ground Breaking Day in the Park East
Photo Gallery

Ground Breaking Day in the Park East

A flock of public officials turned out to celebrate the Avenir, a $20.7 million, 104-unit mixed-use building that begins construction.

Wangard Breaks Ground on New Apartment Development in Park East Corridor
Press Release

Wangard Breaks Ground on New Apartment Development in Park East Corridor

Avenir apartments expected to open September 2014

Eyes on Milwaukee: Strip Club Coming to Downtown?
Eyes on Milwaukee

Strip Club Coming to Downtown?

City committee rules against exotic nightclub on Old World Third, then seems to open door to a location across from Bradley Center.

Streetsblog: How a Streetcar Spurs Development
Streetsblog

How a Streetcar Spurs Development

In cities like Kansas City, Cincinnati and Tucson, the creation of an urban streetcar has triggered development.

Eyes on Milwaukee: The Growing City
Eyes on Milwaukee

The Growing City

Updates on three new developments. Plus: a photographic tour of the Ward hall.

Supervisors Stall $60 Million Park East Proposal

Supervisors Stall $60 Million Park East Proposal

Citing lack of "information," county committee in essence reopens the process of selecting a developer for Park East Block 22.

Plenty of Horne: Brady Street BID Expands Boundaries?
Plenty of Horne

Brady Street BID Expands Boundaries?

And Milwaukee's corporations asleep on gay marriage issue?

Park East Square Loan Approved

Park East Square Loan Approved

Union opposition to Park East Square evaporates.

Million-dollar baby:  Wangard wants $1 million in clean-up funds – Janitors union calls day of action
Press Release

Million-dollar baby: Wangard wants $1 million in clean-up funds – Janitors union calls day of action

RACM meets at 1:30 PM on Thursday to decide whether or not to approve a $1 million brownfield remediation loan request from building owner/developer Stewart Wangard of Wangard Partners.

Wanna Buy Some Park East Land?

Wanna Buy Some Park East Land?

Sensing market interest, Milwaukee County is trying to sell a parcel of land -- for the third time.

They Ruined Our Lives

They Ruined Our Lives

Union members fight city loan to Wangard Partners, delaying proposed Park East development.

Janitors urge redevelopment authority to reject loan to rich, irresponsible developer
Press Release

Janitors urge redevelopment authority to reject loan to rich, irresponsible developer

Janitors today at the meeting of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) will urge that the authority reject a request for a million dollar loan from developer Stewart Wangard.

Wangard’s Park East Proposal Approved Despite Union Fight

Wangard’s Park East Proposal Approved Despite Union Fight

Once again it was union versus union.

Rumblings in the Park East

Rumblings in the Park East

Unions battle over and delay one project, another project gets a six month extension, and another is underway in the Park East.

RSC & Associates Plan to Break Ground on Park East Square in 2012

RSC & Associates Plan to Break Ground on Park East Square in 2012

In December 2007 RSC & Associates closed on the purchase of Block 26 in the Park East for $2,725,000. Since then RSC & Associates has attempted a variety of method to develop the site, but due to economic conditions were unable to begin construction.

Could 2010 be the Year of the Park East?

Could 2010 be the Year of the Park East?

After today's news, nationally 2010 might go down as the year of high-speed rail, but here in Milwaukee it just might be the year of the Park East.

The Park East Disaster? No

The Park East Disaster? No

Would Milwaukee be better off with the Park East Freeway spur intact? No. Has development been slow so far? Yes. Is that a problem? Only if you have a short-term perspective on the future of Milwaukee.

Just How Much TIF is Enough?

Just How Much TIF is Enough?

Municipalities large and small utilize Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) as a tool to encourage economic development within their borders.

Finally Activity at Park East Square

Finally Activity at Park East Square

On December 21st 2007 RSC & Associates signed an agreement to purchase a parcel of land, known as Block 26, in the Park East Freeway corridor from Milwaukee County. It was believed at the time of the sale that RSC & Associates would break ground on two new hotels within a 90 days. Understandably development projects take a time and as this project nears its third year, finally there is a small sign of progress at the site. RSC & Associates have begun erecting the construction fence. Although this project has had a troubled history with its lengthy delays, numerous changes, and squabbling in the press, potentially this project will be getting in the ground and the next development in the Park East will begin to rise this summer.

RSC & Associates development moves ahead without TIF

RSC & Associates development moves ahead without TIF

Over the last year a debate raged over the question of “to TIF or not to TIF?” RSC & Associates not only requested city financing but demanded publicly that their Park East Square project required $9.5 million of TIF assistance to be economically feasible. $6.8 million of this city subsidy would of been to build a parking structure believed to be required to support a retail tenant mix including McDonald’s, Subway, PotBelly’s, Noodles & Company and Qdoba. The City’s position was that TIF assistance was not required as this project wasn’t likely to act as a catalyst spurring other development within the city and that the City had already spent millions preparing the Park East land. Additionally a market study conducted by SB Friedman reinforced DCD’s position that within the Park East corridor subsidizing of business would likely lead to a shuffling of business around downtown and not new growth. Clearly RSC & Associates lost the debate with the City regarding TIF assistance and has finally moved forward with a new plan. The new plan and purchase agreement with the County for the 2.1-acre site requires the project to break ground in the next 90 days and will include two hotels, a retail component, 100 apartments and five town homes. It is unfortunate RSC & Associates didn’t stick with their original plan as it didn’t require TIF assistance and would be close to completion by now but it is positive to see the Park East moving forward with another development. Articles Sale of Park East site fulfills county Christmas wishes Milwaukee County closes on sale of Park East lands Milwaukee County closes on sale of Park East parcel Park East project gets tentative start time Momentum suddenly builds in the Park East RSC & Associates to fund own economic analysis City balks at cash for Park East project The Park East Runaround GJLN: City Committee Votes to Compel Project Feasibility Study Developing the Park East Land Chicago group to win bid for Park East parcel

Merry Christmas Milwaukeeans

Merry Christmas Milwaukeeans

Milwaukee County (and the City of Milwaukee) got what it wanted for Christmas with the official sale of the first plot of land in the Park East neighborhood. Did you?

Park East Square Moving Forward

Park East Square Moving Forward

Park East Square sign Originally uploaded by repowers The first phase of the development of Park East Square appears ready to begin. On Friday, Milwaukee County announced that they had completed the sale (read: RSC & Associates LLC exercised their option to purchase) of a 2.1 acre parcel of land at the western edge of the Pick ‘N’ Save parking lot and just north of Convent Hill for $2,725,000. To be exact, that’s the plot of land bordered by Lyon St, Jefferson St, Ogden St, and Milwaukee St. Nothing I can find indicates when construction will start, but since they purchased the land I would imagine it’s imminent. The development will include a 122-room Hyatt Place, 102-room Hyatt Summerfield Suites, along with 105 apartments and retail space. Back in March there was talk of the first phase of the development (this parcel) including 126 high-end apartments, a 148-room boutique hotel and 80,000 square feet of office, retail, restaurant and entertainment space if RSC & Associates LLC could get $9.2 million in a TIF from the city. Typical of developments of this scale in the Park East neighborhood, the TIF request was not granted. President Richard Curto said he would drop the hotel if that was the case, but clearly he thought better of that idea. He instead dropped a significant amount of retail space and went with more hotel rooms, which dropped costs significantly by eliminating the need for a massive parking structure. The final value of the development will be around $65 million, and as reported in September will include 6,900 square feet of retail space. Construction was originally supposed to begin in November, but financing hasn’t been easy to come by for anyone lately, and explains the delay. The plan in September called for construction on the hotels to begin first and take 14 months, followed by construction of the apartments (which includes 5 town houses), which will take another 15 months. I would imagine this is the same today, but with a pushed back start-date. According to the September Journal Sentinel article about the current development. The development will pay $21.5 million in property taxes over 10 years, RSC estimates, and would create 230 construction jobs and 64 to 74 hotel and retail jobs. The original plan, which the city favored …called for no public cash. That smaller project would pay $10.7 million in property taxes, and create 250 construction jobs and 50 to 75 retail jobs. The plan RSC wanted that included city financing …would generate $21.6 million in property taxes over 10 years, create 310 construction jobs and provide 150 to 200 retail and hotel jobs. The property taxes would pay back the city’s loan. RSC & Associates and the city both deserve applause for creating a development that will not only avoid the creation of an expensive TIF district, but will generate nearly the same amount of property tax revenue for the city. On top of that, the smaller retail space is more consistent […]

Park East Square: Let’s Dig A Hole
Park East Square

Let’s Dig A Hole

It looks like I’ll have new neighbors sooner rather than later, the construction of the Park East Square will start in November. The project will be free of city-financing assistance, the absence of which is credited as a reason for the reemergence of downtown according to former mayor John Norquist.

Building data on this page, including assessment information, was last updated on September 6, 2020

See something wrong? Want to report an issue? Contact us.