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| | | | This will be a virtual meeting conducted via GoToMeeting. Should you wish to join this meeting from your phone, tablet, or computer you may go to https://meet.goto.com/673757469. You can also dial in using your phone United States: +1 (571) 317-3112 and Access Code: 673-757-469. | | | |
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| | 1. | | Call to order.
Minutes note: Meeting called to order at 9:04 a.m. | | | |
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| | | | Also present:
Minutes note: Ald. Milele Coggs, 6th Ald. Dist.
Kari Smith, DCD Real Estate | | | |
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| | 3. | | Review and approval of the previous meeting minutes from September 22 and November 17, 2025.
Minutes note: Meeting minutes from September 22 and November 17, 2025 were approved without objection. | | | |
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| | 4. | | Bronzeville RFPs, listings, projects, programs, initiatives, events, grants, activities, plans, or other aspects for update, discussion, presentation, review, motion, recommendation, and/or approval.
Minutes note: a. EMEM Group update on various development projects
i. Bronzeville Center for the Arts (2312 N. MLK Dr.)
ii. Bronzeville Creative Arts & Tech Hub (628 W. North Ave.)
iii. MLK Library Apartments (2971 N. MLK Dr.)
iv. Gallery 507 (507 W. North Ave.)
v. Northwoods project (MLK Dr. and Meinecke Ave.)
Appearing:
Michael Emem, EMEM Group
Deshea Agee, EMEM Group
Michael Adetoro, FIT Investment Group
Ra Joy, Bronzeville Center for the Arts
Brodie Wiener, KCG Development
Mr. Emem and his team presented and gave an update on various development project of theirs within Bronzeville.
Their firm (EMEM Group) was founded in 2018, was a Milwaukee-based commercial real estate firm specializing in development management and consulting services, have developed over $142 million in real estate projects since inception, and launched a general contracting and construction management firm (MESH Construction) in September 2024 headed by Humberto Sanchez.
The MLK Library Apartments was completed. EMEM Group and General Capital Group were co-developers on the project. All 93 apartment units were fully occupied. It was a $38 million development featuring a community space, solar panels, and green roof.
The Bronzeville Apartments and Technology Hub was developed by FIT Investment Group (Michael Adetoro) with EMEM Group as the owner’s representative. Phase 1 was completed with 60 rental units both affordable and at market rate. Total project cost was $19.1 million. Phase 1 entailed a cost overrun. The rental apartments were being leased out, and opportunity to lease could be found at the website https://bronzevilleapartments.com. There was outreach done to the local community. Rental costs ranged from $500 to $2,000. Units ranged from 1 to 4 bedrooms. There were 3 live-work units with a full retail components and 3 bedrooms each. Phase 2 for 29,000 square feet of the technology hub would commence next, and financing was being worked on (to be closed by late Spring 2026).
Northwoods Apartments was acquired by KCG Development (Brodie Wiener) with EMEM Group as the owner’s representative on construction management. The existing apartment complex was located at 2520 MLK Dr. and consisted of 6 buildings with 72 (1-2 bedroom) units. Major renovation and investment was being put into the complex. Project costs was at $15.2 million and included $1.67 in City TID funds. Renovation included new fixtures and finishes, new ADA parking stalls and ramp, leasing office and laundry space improvements, new outdoor play area and gazebo, and significant installation of wet sprinkler system (which was lacking). Construction was under way. There was partnership with a consultant for rapid relocation of existing tenants during renovation to a hotel and moving of those residents back into their units at no increase in their rental costs.
Gallery 507 was the location of the BCA offices, has been in operation for over a year, has done some programming there, and had a full slate of programming for 2026. There would be an exhibition to uplift Bronzeville in the fall. The future Black Arts Museum would be located at the former DNR site at 2312 MLK Dr. Phase 1 was completed to remove blight at the site. Mr. Joy was the new executive director for BCA, has an artist background, and was a former Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor at the National Endowment for the Arts during the Biden administration. He was drawn to BCA to install a first class Black Arts Museum. EMEM Group has helped BCA to secure a $5 million state grant and aspects relating to design, construction, contracting, and interim uses during demolition of the museum site.
EMEM Group had located their headquarters and MESH offices located at the corner of MLK and North Ave. That strip of buildings was purchased a few years ago and houses Milwaukee Times, Bronzeville Collective, GOP Office, a commercial restaurant-ready space available for lease, and 2 apartments above the Subway corner restaurant. The apartment units were under construction and would be available for lease by early Spring 2026 with one at market rate and the other at 80% AMI.
Ald. Coggs thanked the committee for their review of all these various projects and thanked EMEM Group and his team for their commitment to install the wet sprinkler systems at Northwoods Apartments, thus making that complex safer. There had been fire issues at other older locations (lacking wet sprinkler systems) that predated State requirements for said systems. She would push legislation forward to provide city assistance to apartment property owners to install wet sprinkler systems into their properties.
Ald. Coggs said that of importance was for there to be public engagement with the community for buy-in into these projects.
Chair Vernon commended EMEM Group and their team for their commitment to revitalize Bronzeville and said that a concern of hers was the lack of space for the visual performing arts. There should be focus to provide space for that creative community.
Mr. Adetoro concurred. Phase 2 of the tech hub would install a 2-story black box theater with 200-300 flexible seating space. Black Arts MKE would be an anchor tenant to operate that space. Another anchor tenant would be the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and they would provide musical instrument lessons to the community. There would be the building of a diverse creative arts incubator for the creative community open to any sector such as digital media and film. There was feedback from the creative community and a need for a creative space. He was appreciative of the support and feedback given from Ald. Coggs, Historic King Drive BID, and DCD.
b. DCD Commercial Corridor
i. Grant updates
Member Moore, Sr. said that their office was accepting applications citywide with 2026 City budgeted funding. Also, there was still available grant funding from the Bronzeville TID for those seeking to apply.
c. DCD Real Estate
i. 2601-09 N. MLK Dr. RFP listing
ii. 2615-43 N. MLK Dr. RFP listing
Ms. Smith gave an update. There was an RFP issued in January 2026 for both addresses with the former being the former Career Youth Development mixed-use building and the latter being the Victory Over Violence park vacant parcel. RFP submittal due date was March 23 2026. They would hold an informational meeting in February. The RFP listing sheet was available on their website.
iii. 2673-79 N. MLK Dr. update
Ms. Smith gave an update. The historic Hummel / Uihlein Building continues to be in significant disrepair, especially in the interior. A damaged ornamental roof piece was recently taken down. Costs to rehabilitate the building would be significant. There has been a lack of interest for a buyer. There would be one last effort between her office, Ald. Coggs, and local BID to solicit the building by summer and prior to pursuing demolition, which would be a last resort. Philanthropic organizations would be engaged. Estimated repair costs were over $2 million and would entail a total rebuild of the interior.
Chair Vernon said that there should be an offline conversation and collaboration with multiple developers and creatives, including those with historic building experience, to develop an innovative strategy for this location.
Ald. Coggs concurred and said she would include other parties, as suggested, in their brainstorming meeting(s).
e. Other
There was no other discussion. | | | |
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| | 5. | | Public comments and/or announcements.
Minutes note: Bregetta Wilson, President and CEO of YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, said that many of their customers were interested in housing. She inquired about how to connect them to available housing and about tech hub space opportunities for their YWCA partners.
Ms. Wilson announced that Northwest Bank had moved into a space at their YWCA location.
Mr. Adetoro and Mr. Emem replied. Many projects were in high demand with existing long interest lists. There were still several units available for the tech hub residential rental portion and at Northwoods Apartments. Further inquiry should be made to their website and/or directly to the owner's representative, developer, and/or management team. There was additional opportunity for tech hub space.
Ald. Coggs announced the 14th annual Milwaukee Business Now Entrepreneur Summit for Saturday, January 31, 2026. The event would have 25-30 vendors, including banks and the City's Licenses Division, workshops, panel discussion, and keynote speaker.
Ald. Coggs announced that 2026 application period was open for the Sustaining Grant Program and Public Art Conservation Fund through the Milwaukee Arts Board. Further information could be found at the art board's website.
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| | 6. | | Next steps.
Minutes note: a. Agenda items for the next meeting
An update from Bregetta Wilson on YWCA Southeast Wisconsin. Remaining items to be determined.
b. Next meeting date and time (Monday, March 16, 2026 at 9 a.m.) | | | |
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| | 7. | | Adjournment.
Minutes note: Meeting adjourned at 10:02 a.m.
Chris Lee, Staff Assistant
Council Records Section
City Clerk's Office | | | |
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