It's an interesting building -- architecturally and historically speaking -- with an even more interesting future.
You may recognize the three story white and green brick building on the corner of Humboldt and North Ave from when it had a red neon sign in the window reading "PLEASE BE CIVIL."
That sign is gone these days, and the building has been vacant for a few years now, acquired by the city as a tax foreclosure.
As a former Riverwest resident who passed that intersection daily, it always struck me as unusual for such a cool building on a prime intersection to be so...empty.
But it wasn't always. For decades it was a string of lively tarverns and music clubs serving thirsty, punk rock-loving Riverwesters.
Zak's and The Spruce Goose were just two of the well-known establishments to occupy the space, and its roots run all the way back to 1890 when it was built as a Schilz tied house.
So what's in store?
Commercial development (possibly retail or food/beverage) and two full-floor condos. A timeline hasn't yet been officially announced.
OnMilwaukee's Bobby Tanzilo says people sometimes groan when they hear condos are planned for an old building, but is residential development really a bad thing?
We talk it through on this week's episode of Urban Spelunking. Listen below.
