The city of Milwaukee plans to acquire the Esperanza Unida building, a prominent structure on the south side, and will issue a request for proposals seeking a developer to acquire and redevelop the building.
The RFP could be issued soon, as early as by the end of the week, said Jeff Fleming, spokesman for the Department of City Development.
The city is in the process of acquiring the building through a foreclosure action for Esperanza Unida’s failure to pay property taxes.
The four-story, 76,350-square-foot building, constructed in 1900, is located at 611 W. National Ave. at the southwest corner of South 6th Street and West National Avenue in the heart of the city’s Latin Quarter. The building is also known for a large mural that faces the freeway.
“It’s a significant building in that neighborhood,” Fleming said.
The building is mostly used as office space. It has an assessed value of $1.95 million, according to city records.
Esperanza Unida is a non-profit organization focused on workforce and economic development, which has worked to help workers develop skills and help entrepreneurs become self-sufficient.
