As the development project manager at The Alexander Company, which specializes in historic preservation and adaptive reuse, Jonathan Beck uses the Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program to preserve and transform buildings across the country.
The Fortress in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a prime example. Located in the city’s Brewers Hill neighborhood, the neoclassical structure houses one- and two-bedroom lofts along with commercial space occupied by Mueller Communications and construction company JP Cullen.
But before it became home to market-rate apartments, the Fortress was a sprawling factory where workers produced thousands of shoes aday. Here’s a look at its storied past—and transformed present.
1880
Frederick Mayer opens the F. Mayer Boot and Shoe Company a few blocks from the Milwaukee River.
1892
Architect Herman P. Schnetzky oversees the shoe manufacturer’s first expansion; the building is extended upward and eastward to create a five-story structure.
1899
Architect Eugene Liebert extends the building eastward in the second expansion, which is needed to meet soaring demand. At its peak, the company produced more than 9,000 pairs of shoes each day.
1900-1912
The building’s northern quadrant grows further in 1900, 1906 and 1912. The connected structures of the factory include its namesake tower, which resembles a medieval fortress.
1934
The F. Mayer Boot and Shoe Company shuts down, but the building remains in use for shoe manufacturing.
1938
Milwaukee’s leather industry declines, and the Fortress building is no longer used for shoemaking. A variety of groups occupy the space over the years, including artists, musicians, and a daycare and Montessori school.
2003
Beck first considers the Fortress’ development opportunities. “I was mesmerized by the Fortress and its urban fabric,” Beck said. He knew the surrounding neighborhood was ripe with opportunity, and the Fortress could attract renters. Given the financial constraints, however, the Fortress remained only an idea.
2013
The Wisconsin Legislature raises the state’s Historic Tax Credit rate to 20%—matching the federal HTC. “A lot of white elephant projects that were impossible to take on were now financially feasible,” Beck said.
2015
Discussions between The Alexander Company and the owner of the Fortress begin.
2016
Beck meets Tim Karp, Head of Historic Tax Credit at JPMorgan Chase. “Jonathan knew we were in the market and wanted to finance more HTC deals,” Karp said. “And The Alexander Company had a project in Milwaukee that sounded interesting.”
“When we’re tackling HTC projects, we’re trying to figure out the financial puzzle and the design puzzle,” Beck said.
2017
Financing—including an $8.3 million federal HTC investment from JPMorgan Chase—closes on the Fortress and construction begins. The Alexander Company serves as the developer and architect.
The Fortress features traditional and Cream City bricks— “one of the calling cards of the city,” said Peter Zanghi, President of the Milwaukee Preservation Alliance. And the reddish bricks at the front of the building weren’t originally red. They were painted with pig’s blood when the building was a tannery.
The Alexander Company also preserved more than 1,200 windows, plus the interior’s exposed brick walls and heavy-timber ceilings.
2019
The mixed-use property opens. Its first commercial tenant is JP Cullen, and the building includes 132 apartments and amenities such as a fenced-in dog run and a maker space. “Most historic projects we work on had a prior life, then underwent a period of neglect,” Karp said. “Seeing a building upgraded and given new life is really exciting.”
Karp isn’t the only one pleased with the transformation.
“We always hope that the restoration of any historic building acts as a catalyst, drawing in new investment that may not otherwise have been there,” Zanghi said. “The Brewers Hill neighborhood suffered from disinvestment. And now it's become one of the more desirable neighborhoods in the city. And this helps kickstart even more investment.”
2021
The Alexander Company adds its second commercial tenant, Mueller Communications, in 2021. The two businesses in the building have a close relationship with the project. JP Cullen helped restore the Fortress’ exterior, while Mueller Communications has worked to promote the preservation and conversion of the historic building.
“HTC projects are marathons—they’re not sprints,” Beck said. “From inception in 2015 to 2021, you’re looking at a six-year investment.”
“When people walk into this building and they’re able to see it reincarnated into a modern form—it’s incredible to see their reactions,” said James Madlom, CEO of Mueller Communications. “These walls have history and tell stories from the past. Now the space can tell new stories.”
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