Vacant building to become environmental offices

A vacant building on Milwaukee’s north side is being remodeled into offices for environmental groups.

Known as Adams Garden Park, the project is at 1836 W. Fond du Lac Ave. and is being led by neighborhood activists and developers Sharon and Larry Adams.

The renovated two-story, 3,800square-foot building will house tenants that include the Milwaukee Environmental Consortium, Milwaukee Water Commons and Wisconsin Conservation Voters. Adams Garden Park also will lease space to Walnut Way Conservation Corp.’s Blue Skies Landscaping Program.

The development will include gardens and outdoor programming space created on what are now vacant lots next to the building and its parking lot.

Adams Garden Park is to be completed this fall. The development will cost $1 million, with nearly $900,000 already raised, said Jessie Tobin, project spokeswoman.

Sharon and Larry Adams are the retired co-founders of Walnut Way, a nonprofit group that has provided wellness programs in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood.

Walnut Way’s projects include the nearby Innovations and Wellness Commons, 1615-1617 W. North Ave.

That renovated building leases space to a commercial kitchen operated by the nonprofit Milwaukee Center for Independence, the Juice Kitchen and offices for Fondy Food Center, which operates the Fondy Farmers Market.

“We develop commercial real estate as sacred places for the common good. We are investing in blighted commercial spaces as pathways for learning, safe and beautiful spaces, and long-term economic viability,” Sharon Adams said in a statement.

The Adams Garden Park development team includes Mark Helminiak, of Mayer-Helminiak Architects LLC; Juli Kaufmann, of Fix Development LLC; Craftsman Restoration Guild and Jordan Construction Services.

Fix Development also helped create Innovations and Wellness Commons and The Tandem restaurant, 1848 W. Fond du Lac Ave.