More housing planned for Pabst
2 buildings to be made apartments
A developer who has converted historic Milwaukee buildings into housing plans to begin work on a similar project at the former Pabst brewery in July.
Josh Jeffers said he will redevelop two adjoined buildings, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., into 43 apartments.
A group led by Jeffers in February bought the threestory buildings, which face N. 11th St. and I-43, from Cardinal Stritch University.
Cardinal Stritch this month is moving its College of Education and Leadership from the larger of the two buildings to the university’s main campus in Fox Point.
The smaller building has been vacant since Pabst Brewing Co. closed its operations in 1996, but since has been partially renovated. Pabst used both buildings for its research laboratories.
Jeffers bought the two buildings for $2.6 million and will spend $5.4 million on the conversion costs.
The apartments, known as BrewLab Lofts, are to be completed by March 31, Jeffers said. The financing includes historic preservation tax credits.
The one- and two-bedroom apartments, including studio units, will have monthly rents from around $1,200 to $1,900.
They will target younger renters, Jeffers said, similar to the residents at his recently developed Mackie Flats, at
the historic Mackie Building, 225 E. Michigan St.
Jeffers in December completed a conversion of that building’s top three floors to 25 apartments, with 20 of those units now occupied. The Mackie Building includes offices and features the ornate Grain Exchange Room, which hosts events.
His other projects include converting the former Garfield Avenue Elementary School, 2215 N. 4th St., into 30 apartments. Those apartments are scheduled to open in April 2018.
BrewLab Lofts is among a series of new projects at the redeveloped former Pabst complex, now known as The Brewery.
The other developments include the conversion of the former Pabst brewery malt house and grain warehouse into a seven-story, 118-unit apartment building, known as The Brewery Lofts, 1009 W. Juneau Ave., and the construction of a six-story, 150room Hyatt Place hotel at 821 W. Winnebago St.
Also, work is scheduled to begin this month on constructing two fivestory apartment buildings, totaling 274 units, at 926 W. Juneau Ave. and 1003 W. Winnebago St., and converting part of the former Pabst distribution center, 1131 N. 8th St., into Milwaukee Brewing Co.’s second brewery.
Meanwhile, Pabst Brewing Co. last month opened a small brewery and taproom at 1037 W. Juneau Ave., within the former Pabst training center and Forst Keller tavern. A grand opening celebration, including a street party, is scheduled for Saturday.