Tandem Developers has set March 2 as the official unveling of The Edge condos, the most recent housing development planned for the Beerline neighborhood. The two-building, 1.87-acre site rounds out the western-most end of the neighborhood at 1890 N. Commerce St.
Though previously delayed due to a debate surrounding the density of the development exceeding the neighborhood's unit/area code set in 1999, the city approved Tandem's compromised plan that decreased the number of units from 150 to 133 after an October 2005 meeting between the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) and Commerce Street residents.
Though based in Chicago, Tandem has been building in Milwaukee for the past seven years, most recently single-family homes, lofts and townhouses in Brewers Hill.
"We see a lot of unique opportunity in Milwaukee," says Jonathan Dennis, Tandem's vice president of development and acquisitions. Although known primarily in Milwaukee for revamping old industrial buildings into contemporary loft spaces, as was the case with the Brewers Hill project, Dennis says that their Beerline endeavor is very much a departure from their traditional work.
"There's something about starting fresh that allows you more freedom with design and creativity," he says.
The Edge condos are a joint venture with Brewery Works, Inc., headed by Gary Grunau and Scott Sampson, who developed the nearby Schlitz Park.
"What's unique about this development is that we've placed a high priority on open spaces," says Dennis. According to the plan, nearly half the site will be designated as open space, including a new riverwalk, a courtyard and a riverfront park. Dennis adds that at least eight units in each building will have private yards and that the entire project is bordered by Kilbourn Park.
Architecturally, Dennis says the development is unlike anything Milwaukee has seen before. The five-and-a-half-story building will contain 16 different residence types, with prices starting under $200,000. The one-to-two-bedroom plus den units range in size from 800 to 1,500 sq. ft. The open floor plans include tall ceilings, bamboo flooring, granite countertops, gourmet kitchens, stainless steel appliances and contemporary European finishes.
The Milwaukee River neighborhood known as the Beerline -- the northwest shore paralleling North Commerce Street, starting at Humboldt Avenue and continuing west to Holton Street -- has seen its share of change since the early 1800s. What was then not a street but a canal for shipping goods was narrowed in the 1950s to make room for the Beerline "B" rail, which served the booming business of Schiltz, Pabst and Blatz breweries. With the Beerline "B" rail extinguished, the latest significant change came with the start of the new millennium -- residential development, marking the shift of focus on urban living.
"We wanted to design an environment that adds to the vitality of the neighborhood and resonates with young professionals and the young at heart, who are seeking a modern urban lifestyle."
Tandem Developers has set their grand opening celebration for Thursday, March 2 on the site at 1890 Commerce Street. The units will be available to the market at that time. Their Web site is edgecondos.com.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
