Matt Rinka

Affordable Housing Redevelopment for 37th Street School Gets City Funding

Plus: City assessments top 2008 values for the first time.

New Hotel Planned for Downtown

"Adams Hotel" planned for property once occupied by Whiskey Bar.

A 50-Story Lakefront Tower?

Colliers dreams up 50-story tower to show what's possible for Clybourn St. site.

Wangard Plans “Eagleknit” in Walker’s Point

Plus: Action-packed week of real estate includes new apartments, downtown HQ and more pizza.

Joseph Plans 6-Story Walker’s Point Building

City vacating turn lane to expand development site at 1st and Pittsburgh.

New Arts Cafe in Walker’s Point

Plus: Eulogy for Joe Bartolotta. And Laughing Taco closes at Crossroads Collective.

City’s Most Impressive Sports Bar Ever?

Bucks give a sneak peak of "The MECCA." Whoa, is it elevated.

Lurie’s Bay View Proposal Not Dead

Withdrawing zoning application doesn't mean project is canceled.

A Rising Star in Architecture

I missed the boat on architect Matt Rinka. High time for a reconsideration.

Lurie’s Bay View Project Advancing

Developer submits rezoning request for 200-unit apartment complex alderman opposes.

Wangard Partners, Inc. Announces New Condo Development for Milwaukee’s East Side

3-phased project planned for riverfront area where Brady Street meets Water Street

Bay View Proposal Gets Smaller, Shorter

After meeting with neighbors, developer reduces project's size by 10 percent, but Zielinski will vote against plan.

Huge Michels Deal Gets No Direct Subsidy

Company and 250 jobs moving to city, in new 8-floor complex. City helps finance riverwalk.

Michels Deal Gets Bigger, Subsidy Smaller

$100 million Harbor District project gets even bigger, but lower subsidy has a down side for workers.

Rinka Chung Architecture is now RINKA

The shortened name reflects the firm’s evolution into a multi-disciplinary architecture and design collective with broadened firm leadership.

Many Oppose Kinnickinnic Ave. Buildings

Two-hour meeting allows Bay View neighbors to vent about proposed 220-unit complex.

City Advances $8.1 Million TIF for Michels

Stunning $100 million project along KK River could bring 800 jobs to Harbor District.

Terra Cotta on the East Side

New building brings back a material not used for decades in Milwaukee.

Why the Historic Pumping Station Was Demolished

Could Michels have saved the building and incorporated it into its $100 million plan?

MPM Unveils Future Museum Concepts

The Museum has publicly stated that it hopes to break ground in 2022.

The Contour on Prospect Ave.

Lower East Side apartment project is changing Prospect Avenue.

Huge New Project for Third Ward

Including 60 apartments, balconies, retail, 76 parking spaces and We Energies substation.

The Climbing Contour

Lower East Side apartment building is redefining N. Prospect Ave.

Bucks Live Block Eliminates Performance Space

Revisions also aim to improve urban feel of area.

The Contour

Urban infill for former surface parking lot.

Live Block Work Starts in Deer District

Work begins on entertainment complex next to new arena.

King Crabs and Tiki Love

New Vietnamese-Cajun seafood on Brady and new tiki bar in Walker's Point.

Finks Tavern Adds Patio

Backyard patio is not high style, but "high-sensory, high design."

6-Floor East Side “Contour” Plan Approved

Architecture Review Board okays revised plan for 88-unit apartment.

City Plan Members Love Couture

Commissioners laud the project, but possible second tower raises concerns.

Bucks Live Block is a Slam Dunk

Final design gets first approval today, poised for quick council approval.

Bucks Release Renderings of Entertainment Block

Community gathering space adjacent to new Wisconsin Entertainment & Sports Center to serve as a year-round hub for activity in downtown Milwaukee

The Contour is Coming to Prospect

Construction will start in next 60 days on East Side apartment building.

Bucks Name Design Team for Entertainment Block of New Arena Development

Milwaukee Bucks hire Gensler and Rinka Chung to design entertainment block as part of new arena development.

City Accepts $14 Million Federal Streetcar Grant

City wins TIGER grant after "a brutal competition" where demand for transit dollars greatly exceeded the sums appropriated.

Prospect Avenue Apartments Win Board OK

One-way traffic on N. Prospect Ave. slammed by developer

Construction work for The Couture could begin in 2016

Committee Approves Milwaukee Streetcar

Mayor offers historic address to council committee on streetcar and it gains their approval. Only one person speaks in opposition.

RACM Approves Tax Funding for Streetcar

The TIF funding approved will also pay for infrastructure for The Couture high-rise, whose architect promised it will "push the boundaries of urban design."

New Apartment Building Coming to the Third Ward

Two developers partner up for a new building that is going to have a very odd shape.

Does Lakefront Still Lack a Vision?

Panelists at Discovery World conference debate plans and opportunities for Milwaukee's lakefront. A report with photos.

How the Moderne Lost Some of its Swagger

Value engineering made it stouter, but it’s still minor miracle a building this good was created.

The Moderne’s New Restaurant

Carson's Prime Steaks and Famous BBQ will open at the luxury high-rise The Moderne. Early photos of the build-out.

Pabst Office Building Goes Moderne

Striking new design for downtown's first new office building in 10 years

Envisioning the Seen, March 11

Historic Milwaukee, Inc. (HMI) and the Pabst Theater Foundation have partnered to create an entirely unique conversation series titled Envisioning the Seen. On Monday March 11, twelve dynamic, inspiring Milwaukeeans will gather on stage at the historic Pabst Theater to share their visions for the future of our built environment.

Mayor Barrett’s 2013 State of the City Address

Monday, February 25, 2013, Pritzlaff Building

“It is Pizza Man”

Landmark restaurant is one step closer to re-opening, with a design that borrows from Cafe Benelux.

The Couture Press Conference

Developers and politicians unite behind the podium to unveil 44-story project.

Storefront Design Updates

Two small projects, one in East Town and the other on the East Side, are currently taking an existing poor design situation and attempting to activate the street through new designs.

Downer Avenue Development Project Heats Up Again

This past Monday night a public meeting was held to discuss possible streetscape improvements to Downer Avenue.

Downer Avenue Redevelopment Heard at Committee

Resolution 071339 consolidated property at 2040 W. Wisconsin Ave. and 2027 W. Wells St. into one parcel to allow for the expansion of 2040 Lofts. The expansion of 2040 Lofts shows that there is a continuing demand for student housing in downtown Milwaukee and that developers are stepping in to fill this need. Substitute resolution 071408 approved a Riverwalk Development Agreement for construction along the Brewers Point Apartments. Allison Rozek from the Department of City Development pointed out that this particular portion of the Riverwalk has become known as the “the missing link” as its development has become stalled for years. With recent litigation behind the city and this new agreement in place it appears “the missing link” may be built in the near future. The resolution known Downer Avenue Redevelopment Phase II approved a change in zoning from General Planned Development to Detailed Planned Development which further specifies the project. The hotel and condominium buildings received little to no opposition during this hearing and despite the controversy over this project only three members of the public appeared to testify. Their concerns focused around the addition and renovation of the Mulkhern building. Specifically, where the trash would be picked up and that there would no longer have parking available for them on the second floor. Architect Matt Rinka made a comment about the poor condition of Mulkhern building, explaining that his engineers told him that “if this was not historic they would have recommended tearing it down”. With this building’s apparent poor condition its clear this building is need of redevelopment and that with a new structure around the corner those concerns should for the most part be alleviated.

City Plan Commission Approves Downer Avenue Plan

The first item on the agenda, Resolution 070963, was the heavily debated Downer Avenue Redevelopment Phase II project. The resolution would recommend a change of zoning from General Planned Development to Detailed Planned Development and include a 7-story hotel, an 11-story residential tower, 5 town homes, and a 4-story addition to the Mulkhern building. Architect Scott Kindness indicated that the Chancery building currently retains only about 50% of its original facade and that they “plan on taking down the entire building to allow this to happen” but that they will “rebuild the 1936 version of the Chancery building”. Clearly he was referring to rebuilding the facade along the first two floors as they will add additional floors with a setback allowing the street level massing to appear similar to its original design. He also indicated the project will most likely break ground in the Spring of 2009 as both pre-sales for the condominiums and finding the operator for the hotel will take time and are dependent on approvals. Architect Matt Rinka explained that the redevelopment of the Mulkhern building would include the 4-story addition, demolishing the drive through and ramp, creation of an urban garden, and will convert the existing upper floor to medical uses. Despite multiple iterations, and numerous meetings opposition to this change in zoning was brought by local community members who have fought this project from its beginning. Alderman Michael D’Amato pointed out that that “the use is consistent with the General Planned Development, the height is consistent with the General Planned Development, and the massing is consistent with the General Planned Development” further he indicated the plan is simply receiving opposition from the same neighborhood members who opposed this project from the beginning indicating that taking further input was just a delaying tactic and at this point served no purpose. He appealed to the commission that “the anchors on Downer Avenue are dying” and that “I hope you will finally allow progress on Downer Avenue.” The Commission took his advice and recommended it for approval with the conditions that the developer works to shorten the balcony and continues to work with staff on improvements. Another item of particular interest, Resolution 071292, pitted groups of citizens with positive intentions against each other. Specifically groups representing low income housing for the homeless and mentally ill ran into opposition from green and bicyclist enthusiasts due to the site location. The property in question was a city owned lot near the Kinnickinnic River that various groups had been planning to use for bike trails and green space. Alderman Tony Zielinski appeared upset over the proposed use of land and went on to say “we are setting a dangerous precedent by developing our green space”. The commission listened to his advice and held the resolution asking the Department of City Development to work with the developer to look for another site or improve the facility’s design to work better with the trail.