M&R Development Begins Construction on the Bluffs on Lake – 278-unit Apartment Community Is M&R’s Second Rental Project in St. Francis, Wis.
Development perched on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan will offer a full suite of resort-style amenities
The Bluffs on Lake. Rendering courtesy of M&R Development.
ST. FRANCIS, WIS./CHICAGO (Sept. 9, 2025) — M&R Development announced it has begun construction on a 278-unit luxury apartment building located on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan in St. Francis, Wis., just 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee. The Bluffs on Lake will offer apartments ranging from studio to three-bedroom designs. M&R is co-developing the Class A project with Campbell Capital Group, LLC, the same firm it teamed with to successfully develop 42 Hundred on the Lake, a 236-unit luxury rental building just south of The Bluffs on Lake that opened in 2021.
“Following the resounding success of 42 Hundred on the Lake, we are thrilled to be back in St. Francis for an encore,” said Anthony Rossi, Jr., executive vice president of M&R Development. “Our first St. Francis community ushered in a new era of luxury rental living in this area and leased up in record time. Four years later, we find renter demand has only increased for apartments that offer a desirable lakefront location, stylish residences and a full suite of amenities that allow them to live, work and play from home.”
To address the large number of residents who continue to work from home at least part-time, The Bluffs on Lake will have a robust business center with multiple seating areas, including private booths and conference rooms as well as communal meeting spaces. The development will also offer a meditation room and Zen Garden for times when residents need intentional spaces for reflection, focus and stress reduction.
“Ever since the pandemic, our residents have placed a higher emphasis on health and wellness, so we wanted to address that by building out these special spaces focused on one’s well-being,” said Rossi. “It’s the first time we’ve offered a meditation room and Zen Garden, so I’m excited to see the spaces come to life. But like at 42 Hundred on the Lake, I think it will be The Bluffs’ areas for play that will impress residents the most.”
A two-level fitness center will feature state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment, plus a fitness studio/yoga room with on-demand exercise programs. For biking enthusiasts, a bike storage room and repair area will be located near the parking garage. In addition, the community will offer complimentary bikes for residents to check out.
Outdoor amenities will be spread across multiple courtyards and offer a mix of active and passive uses. The main courtyard will include an infinity-edge pool with two shallow sun shelfs overlooking Lake Michigan, a tranquility garden, grilling stations, fire tables, hammocks, multiple lounge seating, herb and vegetable planters for residents, and a bocce ball court. A second courtyard will feature a game area with a ping pong table, cornhole boards and shuffleboard court; lounge areas and fire tables; grilling stations; and an outdoor fitness area. A large outdoor park dog park will feature water and waste stations.
The Bluffs will offer studio, convertible and one-bedroom apartments as well as two- and three-bedroom units. An underground parking garage will include 248 parking stalls, 12 of which will be electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. There will also be 183 surface parking stalls and 98 retail parking spaces.
The Bluffs on Lake will be located approximately 1 mile north of St. Francis High School and a five-minute drive to middle and elementary schools. Residents will be just a five-minute drive to Milwaukee’s popular Bay View neighborhood, which offers restaurants, coffee shops, a grocery store and shopping venues. Downtown Milwaukee is less than 10 minutes by car, putting residents within easy reach of major employers and popular Milwaukee attractions.
“This is our fourth project in five years to break ground in Wisconsin, and we particularly like this area south of Milwaukee for its accessibility to the airport as well as growing employment centers and easy access to I-94, plus, it’s just 35 minutes from the Illinois border,” said Rossi.
In addition to 42 Hundred on the Lake, M&R Development’s recent Wisconsin projects include 2929 on Mayfair in Wauwatosa, and Elevate Apartments in Madison.
The Bluffs on Lake was designed by Poole & Poole Architecture with Madison, Wis.-based Stevens Construction Corp. serving as general contractor and RMK Management Corp. overseeing leasing and property management.
About M&R Development:
Founded in 1996 by Tom Moran and Anthony Rossi Sr., Chicago-based M&R Development is a developer of Class A rental communities, ranging from garden-style and mid-rise buildings to urban high-rises. Over the past 25 years, the company has developed 20 properties with 5,039 apartment units in the greater Chicago area, as well as three Wisconsin properties located in Madison and the Milwaukee area.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
I’m not sure of the boundaries but it looks like they’ve been digging up the area that WE Energies capped for hazardous waste from the old power plant. Not sure that the City of St. Francis would care.