Real Estate

Real Estate

What We Do

Riverworks’ real estate projects are an economic development tool meant to be profitable, sustainable, impactful and catalytic.

Revenue earned from these developments is reinvested back into the organization to assist in carrying out its social mission.

Riverworks’ projects uphold the values of the organization mission and maximize the impact it has on the community in positive ways.

The Three Core Values of Our Real Estate Development Projects Are:

Create Jobs

We create job opportunities for people facing barriers to the workforce in an effort to break the cycle of poverty.

We remove or improve blighted properties that have a negative impact on the physical surroundings of the Riverworks area. We provide business supportive services that are currently absent from the area.

Reuse of Blighted/Vacant Property

We are actively contributing out time, money and resources to improve the community social issues and economic conditions through our staff development, innovative programs and services that help strengthen the community we serve.

Reinvest Back

Our Properties

THE CONNECTOR BUILDING

LOCATION

The Connector is a 2,802 SF property located at the intersection of Keefe Avenue and Richards Street and serves as the lynchpin for all other Beerline Trail revitalization projects. Such as Julia’s Corner, a pocket park across the street and the larger development Kuumba Art Park on the Beerline Trail which will be a hub for arts and cultural programs.

HISTORY

In 2022, Riverworks Development Corporation took ownership of a formerly abandoned, eyesore mechanics shop and renovated into a multipurpose building in 2023, called the Connector Building. The project cost approximately $1 million, added a new local business, gathering space for the community, and revitalized this important corner leading into the Kuumba Art Park.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE

The Connector Building is the home to Kuumba Juice & Coffee, features a great green infrastructure patio, as well as community gathering space for educational, spiritual, physical programming for residents, a wellness center and a way station for trail visitors. The community space highlights the history and impacts of the Beerline rail industry on this area.

RIVERWORKS CITY CENTER

LOCATION

The Riverworks City Center is located at 526 E Concordia Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Positioned on the corner of Holton Street, the Riverworks City Center is right on the border of the Riverwest and Harambee Neighborhoods. The Beerline Trail runs directly behind the property, connecting the corner of Booth Street and Concordia Avenue with Holton Street.

HISTORY

Formerly the location of a Lena's/Kohl's grocery store building, the Riverworks City Center was established by a 2.5 million dollar redevelopment project. The project began in March 2016, and came to completion in May 2018.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE

The Riverworks City Center includes the following:
Riverworks Development Corporation offices and staff
Retail: Family Dollar, Fresh Start Laundromat, and Available Retail Space
Service: Riverworks Financial Clinic
Recreational & Community: BLT Plaza and Performance Stage.

THE RIVERWORKS LOFTS

LOCATION

The Riverworks Lofts are located at 3372 N Holton Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is located on the bus line and has easy access to walking and bicycle paths on the Milwaukee River.

HISTORY

Once an old pasta factory built in 1915, Riverworks Development Corporation transformed this industrial building into a loft-style apartment community. The $6.8 million development project was completed in 2012.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE

The Riverworks Lofts has 36 one and two bedroom loft-style apartment homes. The apartments come furnished with appliances, including washers and dryers in some units. There is a business center, chapel/meditation room, community room, fitness center, coin-operated laundry facilities, and heated underground parking available to the tenants of the Lofts.

More Info About the Lofts

Photo credit: horizonapartmenthomes.com

RIVERWORKS COMMONS

LOCATION

The Riverworks Commons Shopping Center is located at 3901 - 3925 N Richards Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Located along East Capitol Drive, the businesses of the Riverworks Commons are apart of the Riverworks Business Improvement District.

HISTORY

From an abandoned vacant lot, Riverworks Development Corporation built the shopping center in 2003 and completed the project in 2004. The project cost approximately $2.3 million and created 35 new jobs.

WHAT HAPPENS HERE

The Riverworks Commons Shopping Center offers 21,000 square feet of retail space. It is currently home to Goodwill Industries, Subway, Get It Now, Total Wireless, and Capitol Beauty.

TIMELINE

Real Estate
History Throughout the Decades

This is the space to introduce the Features section. Use this space to highlight your unique aspects and to present specific credentials, benefits or special features you offer.

1991 – Formed a Partnership with WISPARK LLC to acquire and sell former AMC properties from Chrysler

1992 – Created a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District around AMC properties w/City of Milwaukee

1992 – Acquired AMC/ Chrysler Properties (38 Acres)

1993 – Leased 18,000 S from Square D for first office housing MATC Microsoft Learning Lab for area employees and Teaching Factory

1993 – Sold former AMC building to COMPO Corporation consisting of 145,000 SF on 9 acres on Holton & Nash Streets

1993 – Sold 10 acres to Continental Properties for a Builders Square on the SE Corner of Capitol & Richards – Now where Walmart is located

1995 – Sold 5 acres to Milwaukee Protective Covers (In-Place Machines) for a new 45,000 SF manufacturing plant

1996 – Sold 5 acre site on SE Corner of Richards & Vienna to CenterPoint Properties for 115,000 SF metal stampings manufacturer – Now where Johnson Brothers Beverage is located

1997 – Created a job training program for metal stamping workers with International Metal Stampings Foundation

1998 – Sold 2 acres along RR Tracks to landscaping business
2000 – Sold .5 acres to ALDI along Capitol Drive

2001 – Acquired 1 acre from Redevelopment Authority on Melvina & Palmer

2002 – Sold 1 acre on SE Corner of Richards & Capitol to Wal-Mart to replace the vacant Builders Square

2003 – Developed Riverworks Commons Shopping Center on last 2 acres from AMC properties

2004 – Sold 2 acres to Goodwill Industries on Melvina and Palmer

2004 – Completed the Riverworks Commons Shopping Center at 3909 N Richards Street
2012 – Completed the Riverworks Lofts at 3372 N Holton Street

2014 – Purchased old Lenas site 3304-3334 N Holton Street and 518-526 E Concordia Avenue

2016 – Ground breakign for Riverworks City Center Project

2018 – Construction Completed for Riverworks City Center and Riverworks Offices
2021 – Purchased 274 E. Keefe

2022 – Signed 10-year lease agreement with the City of Milwaukee to develop, program and maintain the Beerline Trail from Bremen Ave to the city limits

2022 – Broke ground at 274 E. Keefe for Connector Building Project

2023 – Grand opening of the Connector Building

2024 – Grand opening of Connector Building tenant Kuumba Juice and Coffee

Real Estate

Real Estate

What We Do

The Three Core Values of Our Real Estate Development Projects Are:

Create Jobs

Reuse of Blighted/Vacant Property

Reinvest Back

Our Properties

TIMELINE

Real Estate History Throughout the Decades

Real Estate
History Throughout the Decades