Milwaukee Sought Proposals for Historic Hummel Building

The city is hunting for developers to save the 1889 structure before potential demolition.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Commercial

Screen-print poster illustration of a vintage 19th-century brick building facade, evoking the city's historic preservation efforts. — Milwaukee city officials are seeking developers to renovate the historic Hummel Building, aiming to prevent demolition of the 1889 structure. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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City officials moved to find a new steward for the historic Hummel/Uihlein Building, which was listed for $10,000 in early 2022. The property faces a potential demolition deadline by early summer 2027 if a viable redevelopment plan is not identified.

Why it matters

Saving the historic structure requires over $2 million in interior repairs, a significant cost barrier the city hopes a philanthropic partner will help overcome. Without intervention, the landmark could be lost to demolition following years of uncertainty after the city acquired it via tax foreclosure.

The city has listed the 1889 Hummel/Uihlein Building for $10,000. Additionally, the city is seeking proposals for two King Drive properties with a combined price of $280,000 and a March 23, 2027 submission deadline.

The players

City of Milwaukee

The local municipal government responsible for property management, tax foreclosure processing, and urban preservation initiatives.

The details

The Hummel/Uihlein Building is currently being marketed to philanthropic organizations capable of funding the necessary interior renovations. Simultaneously, the city has opened a request for proposals for two sites on King Drive, which mandate the preservation of at least 10,000 square feet of public gathering space in any new design. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to avoid losing historic neighborhood assets to demolition.

1889: The Hummel/Uihlein Building was originally constructed.
January 2022: The city listed the property for sale.
January 26, 2026: City officials reviewed the building at a committee meeting.
March 23, 2027: Deadline for development proposals for the King Drive properties.
Early summer 2027: The date by which the building could face demolition.

The Home Front

This effort reflects the broader urban challenge of managing aging, tax-foreclosed inventory that requires significant capital for historic rehabilitation. The city's move to bundle or re-evaluate properties aligns with national efforts to prevent demolition by finding mission-driven partners for landmark sites.

Residents interested in local history or urban planning can track upcoming city committee meetings for updates on the preservation brainstorming sessions. If you are involved in local preservation efforts, consider contacting the Milwaukee city office to inquire about how to participate in these site-specific initiatives.

The takeaway

The future of the historic Hummel/Uihlein Building remains tied to identifying a partner who can balance the $2 million repair bill with a viable public-use plan. Check municipal records for upcoming council agendas if you wish to monitor whether a preservation plan is approved before the summer deadline.