Westlawn Renaissance IV – Beech and Chestnut

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Affording housing has become a nationwide issue, as more and more families struggle to find a living space that fits their budget.

However, some communities are tackling the issue head-on. One of those cities is Milwaukee, where the Westlawn Renaissance IV development opened in March 2022.

JP Cullen was the general contractor on the project.

The development on North 64th Street, in the heart of Westlawn Gardens, consists of two buildings, Beech and Chestnut. Each is three stories and contains 30 units.

Beech and Chestnut stand next to each other with design references to the surrounding neighborhood and to the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center across the street. A small pedestrian plaza sits between the buildings and adds openness and a safe, walkable entry point to the western half of Westlawn Gardens.

The buildings were developed by the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee and funded through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and other financing.

“Westlawn Renaissance IV preserves and modernizes affordable housing on Milwaukee’s northwest side for current and future generations, while also supporting continued improvements to the surrounding neighborhood,” said Willie Hines Jr., secretary-executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee.

“The project brings the redevelopment of Westlawn, once Wisconsin’s largest public housing development, closer to completion while reintegrating the neighborhood into the rest of the city. The project also provides critical affordable housing and services to former foster youth, one of the populations most at risk for homelessness. Beech and Chestnut provide exceptional contributions to both the built environment and the lives of those who live there.”