New developments in Westown highlight increased investment in the Midwest metro Milwaukee, like other formerly industrial midwestern cities, has seen a resurgence lately, amid its redeveloped warehouse districts and overlooked office buildings. Development has emanated from its riverfront, a former shipping lane for beer breweries that?s now firmly entrenched as an entertainment destination.
Developer Tony Lindsay saw these trends play out in his hometown of Chicago and believes that a similar story, and an upswing in urban investment, is playing out in Milwaukee?s Westown neighborhood, which is just west of downtown on the other side of the Milwaukee River.
Lindsey?s firm, North Wells Capital, plans to redevelop a former Bon-Ton department store it acquired in 2017. The $33 million adaptive reuse project, to be called Hub 640, will add new ground-floor retail and office space to a neighborhood that?s now flush with new plans and projects.
Rendering courtesy of North Wells Capital
A rendering of the Hub 640 building in Milwaukee?s Westown neighborhood.

?There are lots of similarities between what?s happening in Westown now and River North in Chicago 35 years ago,? says Lindsay. ?It?s next to downtown, lots of commuters pass through on their way to work; it?s just ripe for reinvestment.?
Westown?s current wave of projects?including a new transit hub, restoration of a classic theater, and a patchwork of retail and residential projects?add m...