Continuing our Sister Cities series, we return to Milwaukee, where a new proposal has been unveiled for the world’s tallest mass-timber tower. Located at 1001 N Water Street on the western edge of downtown, the project will replace a multi-story parking garage with a three-tower high-rise development. Efforts are being led by local developer The Neutral Project.

Milwaukee Mayor Chevy Johnson has been vocal about his goal to grow the city’s population to one million, nearly double its current population of 563,305. As part of this effort, the city has been working on new development plans to attract jobs, talent, and residents.

Thus in 2023 an RFP was issued for the redevelopment of the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s parking garage. The Neutral Project’s $700 million proposal was selected as the winner, designed by Vancouver-based Michael Green Architecture. The main tower of the project will rise 55 stories and reach 613 feet, becoming the tallest building in the state.

The project will be built in phases. The main tower will consist of three mass-timber structures of varying heights and will contain up to 750 residential units. The multi-story podium they share will house a large supermarket, retail space, and a 1,100-vehicle parking garage. Overall, the project will provide approximately 40,000 square feet of retail space across all phases.

A secondary office tower, attached to the main structure’s podium, will offer around 190,000 square feet of leasable office space and ground-floor retail. This tower will face a central pocket park and plaza that will connect all of the project’s buildings. Across from this park, a separate hotel tower will feature 300 hotel rooms and short-term rentals.

While plans are still evolving, the designer has expressed a commitment to using as much wood as possible with minimal carbon emissions. If completed, the tower will surpass Milwaukee’s own Ascent Tower as the world’s tallest timber structure. However, Crain’s Chicago recently published an opinion piece advocating for a shift back to steel construction rather than timber.

The development will now proceed to seek full approval from the city’s Common Council. This process includes securing a one-year exclusive right to negotiation, to allow the developer time to finalize plans, secure tenants, and obtain financing. At present, a complete timeline for the project remains unknown.

Find out more at Chicago YIMBY