Milwaukee developer breaks ground on ‘The Revv’ in West Allis

Three Leaf Partners and Catalyst Construction on Monday broke ground on a 247-unit multifamily complex in West Allis, a ground-up development slated for the former Clark’s Super Gas headquarters on National Avenue.

The developer revealed the project name will be “The Revv,” and will include a six-story complex with one-, two- and three-bedroom market rate apartments at 8530 W. National Ave. Pat Connaughton, a Three Leaf co-founder and Milwaukee Bucks player, said this will be one of the developer’s largest projects to date.

The finished building will have amenities such as heated underground parking, green space, a pool and a dog run, said John Ford, chief development officer at Three Leaf Partners.

The former Clark’s building was only 20% occupied before demolition, said Patrick Schloss, the executive director of economic development for West Allis. Construction will cost around $70 million, and the finished building will have an assessed value of $48 million, he added.

Construction crews in February poured concrete foundation and footings. Catalyst crews will build the new apartment building through the next 18 to 24 months, Connaughton said.

The project will include 750 exterior walls, 5,000 interior walls and up to 56,000 studs, Ford said. The project will need two tower cranes up to 185 feet, he added.

West Allis authorized a tax increment district to support the project. Development was also supported by a brownfield cleanup loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Dan Devine, the mayor of West Allis, said the city wants to grow its population and the project would help them with that goal.

“We’re pretty much landlocked, so it’s hard to build out. As we see more restaurants, shops, coffee shops, brewers, bakeries and unique businesses opening up, they need population density to have a customer base. This National Avenue corridor is one we put a lot of focus on. We have some great spots in place, but we have lots of opportunities,” for more buildings, Devine said.

Korb + Associates Architects provided project design services. The Revv’s environmental partners included Franklin-based Endpoint Solutions Corp. and West Allis-based Geotest Inc.

In April 2023, an affiliate of Three Leaf Partners bought the 3.2-acre parcel on National Avenue for $1.8 million, according to real estate records. The former Clark’s Super Gas was built in 1937 and was demolished last year, historical records showed.

Three Leaf has 17 projects in its portfolio, including hotels, industrial buildings and care facilities, Ford said. Those projects include The Fitz, which is nearing completion in Milwaukee.

“We’re super excited about this project and we’re super excited to work with the city of West Allis,” Connaughton said. “We’re also excited to work with our project partners who will bring this project to life and over the finish line in the next 18 to 24 months.”