National Save America’s Treasures Program Awards HACM $500,000 Grant for Soldiers Home

On September 20, 2019, The National Park Service, in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, awarded HACM a matching grant of $500,000 to support the renovation of “Old Main” (Building 2) National Soldiers Home Residences through the Save America’s Treasures program.

This project is supported through a grant from the Save America’s Treasure program, through the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The matching grant from the Save America’s Treasures program will provide critical resources to this important and exciting project.

The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) and developer The Alexander Company recently broke ground on the rehabilitation and restoration of the Milwaukee Soldiers Home, a National Historic Landmark District originally built in 1867 to house Civil War soldiers and help them transition back to civilian life. The revitalized Milwaukee Soldiers Home will continue the property’s original mission of helping and housing soldiers – when completed, the community will offer 101 units of housing alongside supportive services for veterans and their families who are, or are at risk of, experiencing homelessness.

The project is made possible through an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program with the /U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/ (VA). Through an EUL, six buildings in the District will be leased long-term to The Alexander Company, who will take on the cost of rehabilitation. The law authorizing EULs requires that the buildings be used to provide housing for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The VA selected The Alexander Company and the City of Milwaukee Housing Authority’s proposal after a competitive RFP process in 2016. HACM will operate the housing for homeless veterans following renovations by The Alexander Company

The development partners expect to complete construction in early 2021.

“Save America’s Treasures helps preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation’s rich heritage to future generations of Americans,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt.

The Save America’s Treasures program requires applicants to leverage project funds from other sources to “match” the grant money, which is awarded after a competitive review of project proposals.

For more information about the grants and the Save America’s Treasures program, please visit go.nps.gov/sat.

About the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM)
Founded in 1944, HACM provides high-quality affordable housing options to over 10,000 households in Milwaukee. HACM’s award-winning programs foster strong and inclusive communities that support self-sufficiency, good quality of life and the opportunity to thrive. Learn more at www.hacm.org.

About The Milwaukee Soldiers Home

A month before his assassination, President Lincoln signed legislation to create a national system of homes for disabled veterans. Established in 1867, the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home (Soldiers Home) is one of the three original Soldiers Homes in the country. The 90-plus acre district rests on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki Medical Center and was designed to be a place of refuge for Civil War soldiers and help ease their transition back to civilian life. One of only 43 National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Soldiers Home contains some of the oldest and most historic buildings in the VA system.

About The Alexander Company

For over 35 years The Alexander Company has specialized in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and urban infill development. Nationwide, The Alexander Company gives new life to historically significant buildings and revitalizes neighborhoods.

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.