MKE Lofts is a mixed-use building in downtown Milwaukee. It was formerly known as the Posner Building and was for years almost entirely vacant, with the only tenant being Mo’s Irish Pub.
The building was converted to an apartment building in 2015 by HKS Holdings. The $23.5 million project was financed by a $13.75 million loan from WHEDA. As a requirement of that loan, 20 percent of the units are set aside for individuals making less than or equal to 80% of Milwaukee County’s median income.
Underground parking is available in the building, as well as parking stalls at an adjacent city-owned garage.
Prior building owner Johnny Vassallo worked on redeveloping the building for many years. In late 2012, Vassallo announced a project similar to the one proposed by HKS that he was seeking financing and development assistance for.
In 2008, Vassallo proposed converting the building into a hotel, likely a Holiday Inn, in partnership with another developer. Those plans fell through in May of that year.
The building was known as the Caswell Building until 1982. The name was changed to Posner Building at that point, and then MKE Lofts in 2015.
Originally designed by Van Ryn & DeGelleke.
Photos
![Kevin Fischer [r].](https://urbanmilwaukee.com/wp-content/gallery/kilbourn-town/thumbs/thumbs_img_2911.jpg "Kevin Fischer [r].")
Content referencing MKE Lofts
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Public Works Committee Approves Parking Study
Johnny Vassallo‘s efforts to convert the Posner Building at 152 W. Wisconsin Ave. into a boutique hotel have come to an end. The new plans for the building involve the Milwaukee Hotel Associates LLC purchasing the property from Johnny Vassallo and developing it into a 160 unit Holiday Inn. Resolution 071222 passed by committee will, if adopted by the full council, allow Milwaukee Hotel Associates LLC to lease 50 parking spots in the city garage located at 724 N. 2nd St to support the Holiday Inn. Resolution 070976 passed by committee will, if adopted by the full council, direct the Department of City Development to conduct a parking study in conjunction with the upcoming downtown plan. This resolution impacts development because the perceived lack of parking and the demand by developers for large amounts of “free” parking has often driven TIF requests, such as Manpower’s $25 million garage. What this resolution intends to accomplish will be to have a planned strategic approach to parking integrated into future planning efforts to facilitate future development.
Jan 3rd, 2008 by Dave ReidBuilding data on this page, including assessment information, was last updated on January 1, 1970
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