The Harmony Initiative, a collaboration of the Milwaukee Ballet Company, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts and the Medical College of Wisconsin, no longer plans to build a facility at the site of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts parking structure at Water and State streets. Now the initiative plans to establish operations in the former Laacke & Joys buildings at 1421-33 N. Water St. in downtown Milwaukee.
The Harmony Foundation has an option to purchase the former Laacke & Joys property, which includes a 64,826-square-foot, 139-year-old building and a 6,231-square-foot, 81-year-old building, from the Peck Family LLC and Riverwater Partners LLC. The agreement allows the foundation to evaluate the feasibility of creating a facility for the Ballet Company, Peck School and Medical College sports medicine facility in the building.
“The Peck Family is delighted to be part of this important effort by these three community institutions,” the family said in a statement.
The Peck Family purchased the property last year for $2.575 million and Laacke & Joys announced plans to close the store and end its manufacturing operations there.
