Riverwest | ||||
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Location |
Located west of Milwaukee's Eastside, bordered by Capitol on the North, the Milwaukee River on the east, Holton on the west, and Commerce Street on the North. Click HERE for a map of the Riverwest Neighborhood. |
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| History | Riverwest was originally a getaway for the Milwaukee elite. Back in the days of smelly, sweltering summer days, residents of Milwaukee would travel a mile north to the 'country'. The river was clean and cool, ideal for swimming. Following this, some wealthy Milwaukee residents built large mansions to spend summers by the river. While some of these original grand structures still exist, many more were razed in the name of progress.
One of the most interesting areas of Riverwest lies north of Locust, west of the river, south of capital, and east of Humboldt Blvd. This area was settled by Charles Whitnall, one of the first architect/planners of Milwaukee. Whitnall was a strong believer in park-like living and proximity to nature. Today this area still reflects Whitnall's beliefs and contains strips of natural landscape and a rural feel. Many feel it is one of the best areas to live in Milwaukee, if you are lucky enough to find a house for sale. |
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House Prices |
Home prices in Riverwest have been increasing at an astonishing rate over the last several years. Five years ago, it was not uncommon to find quality duplexes for under $100,000. Today, these same duplexes will cost $175,000 to $200,000. Multi-family housing is probably the best deal in Riverwest, where a quality four family will cost around $265,000. This area has always been highly desirable among renters, which keeps rents high in well-maintained buildings.
Single family homes are generally priced between $100,000 and $175,000, but recently several have been creeping above $200,000.While property values have increased, so has the quality of the housing stock. In Riverwest, you can find beautifully restored Victorian houses and cottages, Arts and Crafts-style bungalows, and mixed-use commercial spaces that have been tastefully redone from top to bottom. |
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| Ammenities | One of the greatest advantages of Riverwest is its proximity to downtown and the east side. A car commute to downtown will take less than five minutes. Even better, it is a quick bike ride to the stores of the Eastside and the restaurants of downtown.
This is not to say that Riverwest does not have businesses of its own. There are many restaurants, bars, stores, and services located right in Riverwest. In coming years, we will likely see these amenities increasing as more and more businesses find Riverwest a desirable place to do business. Look for Center Street and Holton becoming hot commercial strips of the future. |
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