Plan redevelops former funeral home into art gallery

A former funeral home on Milwaukee’s north side would be converted into an art gallery, with upper-floor apartments, under a new proposal.

Artist Fatima Laster is proposing that development at the closed Johnson-Goolsby Funeral Home, 3514 N. Port Washington Ave.

Laster would renovate the 9,700square-foot building into the 5 Points Artist Gallery and Studios.

It would include event space as well as work space for up to seven artists, according to a Department of City Development report.

Those improvements could include a first-floor kitchen to be used for catered events, the report said.

Also, the building’s two secondfloor apartments would be renovated.

Each apartment would have three bedrooms and one bathroom, along with a balcony, the report said. There also would be garages for each unit.

Laster, a painter, plans to live in one of the apartments, as well as manage the shared gallery space.

She has seven years of artistry and interior design experience at FKL Designs.

Laster also is employed by Jordan’s Construction Services and is a 2017 graduate of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program. ACRE helps minorities launch careers in commercial real estate.

Laster grew up in the neighborhood and wanted to return there to both live and work, she said Thursday.

The former funeral home “is a perfect fit” for an artists hub. There is strong demand for studio space among Milwaukee artists, Laster said.

The estimated renovation budget for 5 Points is approximately $300,000. That work would include a new roof, new leaded glass windows and other improvements.

The Common Council’s Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee is to review that purchase option request at its Wednesday meeting.