An exhaustive new report on Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s historic industrial buildings aims to continue a wave of historic preservation and economic development in the city. The report, commissioned by the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office, examines hundreds of buildings to identify previously unidentified buildings that are eligible for historic preservation tax credits.
The tax credits have provided a crucial part of project financing that is enabling a number of historic Milwaukee buildings to be redeveloped into apartments, offices or other commercial uses and has contributed over $526 million to the Milwaukee economy. The report seeks to incentivize redevelopment of historic buildings by readily identifying potential opportunity for developers and helping lay the groundwork for getting them federally-certified.
The privately funded study was executed by architectural and engineering firm Mead & Hunt of Middleton. The report provides a comprehensive overview of Milwaukee’s industrial heritage and identifies at least 39 previously unlisted properties (some consist of many buildings) and two historic districts that meet federal criteria for redevelopment with state and federal historic tax credits.
An example of what the inventory uncovered is the Miller Brewery Complex. The brewing giant’s Milwaukee brewery includes a building that dates back to 1855. The report documents all of the potentially eligible buildings in the brewery complex.
The report also identifies two potential new historic districts for the city.