UWM selects Mandel residence hall plan

The UWM Real Estate Foundation selected Mandel Group of Milwaukee and its former Hometown gas station site just east of the Milwaukee River at East North Avenue for a new student residence hall.

Mandel Group was one of three finalists previously disclosed by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Foundation officials said in a statement Wednesday that the Mandel site “best meets the needs of students and will provide sufficient space for a creative design solution incorporating many green and sustainable building features.”

The initial design proposed by Mandel Group was modified several times in order to achieve compliance with goals set by the Milwaukee River Work Group, the foundation said.

The foundation now is seeking city approval for a zoning-and-use change at the site and seeking bonding authority from the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, said Ald. Nik Kovac, who represents Milwaukee’s east side.

“As a community, we sent a strong message to the developers and to the university that we care about our neighborhoods, our river, our jobs base, and our tax base,” Kovac said. “We made it clear that nothing is going to happen without our knowledge, input, and cooperation.”

The other two finalists for the UWM project included a Boulder Venture proposal on North Prospect Avenue between Ivanhoe and Kenilworth place and Phelan Development LLC and Towne Investments combining on a site on the southeast corner of North Farwell Avenue and East Royall Place.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Business Journal of Milwaukee