The Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center in downtown Milwaukee may now be converted into multi-family housing, a departure from previous plans to
turn it into a hotel.
Building permit applications filed with the city state that the building, located at 790 N. Van Buren St., would be renovated for multi-family uses on all three floors. The application provides an estimated construction cost of $6 million for the project.
The 165,400-square-foot former Masonic Center was built in 1889, and is owned by an affiliate of Madison-based investor
Ascendant Holdings LLC. Ascendant purchased the building in 2017 for $3.5 million, according to city records. It is currently
listed for sale.
The project architect, according to the building permit application, is Milwaukee-based
Ramlow/Stein Inc.
Eric Nordeen, principal of Ascendant, declined to comment on the latest plans.
Ascendant previously pursued a hotel project there. Its plans involved repurposing the building's meeting space for a hotel lobby and event room, and adding floors for additional hotel rooms.
Ascendant recently sold another downtown Milwaukee building that it owned, the
Wells Building, to a New Jersey-based data center owner and developer for $7.25 million. The buyer, an affiliate of
fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty LLC, is using it as a
data center.
Check out the latest digital edition of STUFF Designed, Made and Built in Southeast Wisconsin:
