• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

newsMilwaukee NNSMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / New Legacy Lofts complex sparks high hopes in Lindsay Heights community

New Legacy Lofts complex sparks high hopes in Lindsay Heights community

November 17, 2017 by Leah Harris 5 Comments

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Developers and public officials break ground on the Legacy Lofts. (Photo by Leah Harris)

Arthur Cameron can see the construction on the new Legacy Lofts apartment complex from where he works at The Juice Kitchen, at 617 W. North Ave. Cameron said he’s intrigued by the project because the neighborhood needs more businesses. He hopes it will benefit people who already live in the community.

“I think it’s good as long as it’s not being gentrified and it’s not trying to push in a new wave of people,” Cameron said.

Legacy Lofts is a $13.9 million construction and redevelopment project of the three-story historic Blommer Ice Cream Factory and an adjacent empty lot at 1500 W. North Ave.

Last week, project managers, Milwaukee officials and community members gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony at the defunct factory, which has been vacant for 20 years.

Sally Peltz, founder and former president of Legacy Midwest Renewal Corp., thanked the neighborhood for making the project a reality. “If this (building) was in the Third Ward it would have been bought up. In our neighborhood this building could have easily been torn down but we have prevented that from happening.”

Join us for our 24-hour giving challenge with Give Marquette Day!

Community members listen to speakers at the Legacy Lofts groundbreaking ceremony. (Photo by Leah Harris)

The existing historic Blommer building will be rehabilitated and converted into 38 one- to four-bedroom apartments. Immediately to the west, 26 more units will be built in a new, three-story building. About 1,500 square feet of street-level commercial space is also being built and will house the LMRC offices.

Of the 64 apartments, 54 will be reserved for those making between $17,400 and $46,920.  Ten apartments will be available at market rate.

Vincent Ashford, a security officer with Walnut Way Conservation Corp., said he is looking forward to the opening of Legacy Lofts. Ashford works at The Innovations and Wellness Commons building on North 16th and North Avenue. He said that he expects to be contracted to work at the new apartment complex.

Ashford said the lofts could uplift the neighborhood. “It’ll boost the economy and it’ll beautify the neighborhood,” he said, “Hopefully it’ll encourage a working class and people who will take advantage of what the building has to offer.”

Ashford said he also hopes the building prompts the city to do more for the neighborhood. “We have a problem with our infrastructure in the inner city,” he said. “We need the roads fixed, we need police to know the environment and we need more businesses.”

Department of City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux said the project is important for the momentum on North Avenue, one of the longest streets in Milwaukee. “In between you can see all the highs and lows of the region. You see racial divides, lack of opportunity, and you also see people who have more money then they can count.”

The apartment complex, which took five years of planning, is being developed through a lead partnership between LMRC and Chicago-based Evergreen Real Estate Group.

District 15 Ald. Russell Stamper praised everyone involved for their hard work. “Yes it’s going to provide an abundance of opportunity and jobs and it’s going to be beautiful,” he said. “But when I see this building when I drive down 15th and North, it’s going to be a reflection of the teamwork and the hard work it took to be built.”

“The vision is simple. We want a clean, healthy, safe and vibrant community where everyone has the opportunity to become successful,” said Stamper. “It doesn’t matter how slowly we get there as long as we don’t stop.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct this statement: “Of the 64 apartments, 54 will be affordably priced between $17,400 and $46,920.” We apologize for the error. 

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Home, Housing, North

Avatar

About Leah Harris

Comments

  1. AvatarBethany Sanchez says

    November 20, 2017 at 2:49 pm

    There appears to be an error in this sentence: “Of the 64 apartments, 54 will be affordably priced between $17,400 and $46,920. Ten apartments will be available at market rate.” Are $17,400 and $46,920 the incomes of the people who will be able to rent the apartments?

    Reply
    • AvatarMilwaukee Neighborhood News Service says

      November 20, 2017 at 8:40 pm

      Thank you for your comment, Bethany. You are correct that it should say “54 will be reserved for those making between $17,400 and $46,920.” We have corrected the error.

      Reply
  2. AvatarDenise Wooten says

    November 20, 2017 at 8:15 pm

    Very excited about this new venture. I recall as a child traveling east from where ever, Brookfield most likely, and seeing that huge yellow and brown sign atop the Bloomer Bldg. spell out the name of the ice cream company (I believe) that was housed there. It would light up the night sky and I could always see it from 60th and North Avenue. This was a beacon alerting me of the exact number of blocks my uncle had to drive before we reached the family homestead on 17th Street. I remember the area from 3rd to 21st Street being a dynamic and culturally diverse Mecca, with Heineman’s Bakery, Rosenberg’s and The Milwaukee Discount anchoring the east end and Sears-Roebuck and First Wisconsin Bank fortressing the west. In between the eateries, entertainment spots and shopping bazaars were as varied as the people who canvassed or resided there. The potential to once again see West North Avenue return to its heyday is uplifting. Bravo to Walnut Way and Legacy for keeping the potential and memories alive. Sharon remember when we spoke of this in 2004? It’s really happening?

    Reply
  3. AvatarCarmeshia maholmes says

    February 8, 2018 at 1:19 pm

    Where can I put an application in for a 4 bedroom

    Reply
  4. AvatarJacquise Jacobs says

    August 2, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    jacquise.jacobs@ yahoo.com I’m looking for a 4 bedroom and I want to know were I can go and apply. Thank you

    Jacquise Jacobs

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Top Stories

Advertisement

How To …

How to avoid stimulus check scams

A new round of stimulus checks will likely also bring out a new round of scams. Here’s what to watch out for.

More "How To" articles

Advertisement

Recommended Reading

A Vaccine Reality Check

The Atlantic

UWM study on the state of Black Milwaukee describes the city as ‘the epitome of a 21st century racial regime’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Videos Show How Federal Officers Escalated Violence in Portland

The New York Times

These mayors want to fight Covid-19 and the recession with one big idea: A guaranteed income

Vox

The World John Lewis Helped Create

The Atlantic

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Videos
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect Radio

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Internship opportunities
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in