The first plans for The Couture apartment tower were first release back in 2014. And after a federal financing approval, the construction may finally begin on Milwaukee's lakefront.
Barrett Lo Visionary Development has been waiting to hear from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a major piece of funding towards their $122 million financing package.
Company leader Rick Barrett told our partners at the Milwaukee Business Journal on Friday that this announcement is a "major milestone for The Couture that enables us to move forward with the final stage of financing."
The 44-story Couture will sit at East Michigan Street and Lincoln Memorial Drive The base of the building will have space for a grocery store, potential medical clinic, be among other restaurants and stores as well as operate as a transit station for The Hop, which opened to the public on Friday.
Milwaukee delayed the start of passenger service on the lakefront line of the downtown streetcar for 12 months to accommodate the Couture’s changing schedule.
The construction of Couture has taken longer than expected. Barrett first purchased the Downtown Transit Center in 2012 and the center was not torn down until 2017. Now that HUD has provided this large piece of financing, the project may finally begin.
