From Vacant Lot to Luxury Living: The Making of Evoni Apartments

Located at 615 E. Corcoran Avenue in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, the newly completed Evoni Apartments redefine urban living with 261 modern luxury residences and top-tier amenities, including a rooftop lounge, indoor sauna, dog park, and full gym.

This $84 million development is more than just a new addition to the skyline—it’s a remarkable transformation of a 2.38-acre site that once served as a railroad and dumping ground. Bringing this vision to life required overcoming significant construction challenges, implementing innovative solutions, and navigating the complexities of building in a historic neighborhood and on an urban site. Here’s how our team tackled the project, from breaking ground to grand opening.

Addressing Environmental and Structural Challenges

Transforming this site into a foundation-ready property required extensive coordination and problem-solving. With no existing power grid on site, our team worked closely with WE Energies, the Historic Third Ward Association, the City of Milwaukee, and project partners to extend power from a grid located two to three blocks away. Temporary power and generators were utilized to maintain progress during construction. Additionally, the site's proximity to the river and its history as a railroad yard resulted in unstable soil conditions. Our team analyzed previous site plans—many of which contained outdated information—to identify the best locations for driving piles, ensuring a stable foundation for the five-story structure.

Managing Logistics in a Tight Urban Space

Building on a vacant lot near Henry Maier Festival Park—home to Summerfest—came with both opportunities and challenges. Managing construction in such a high-traffic area required careful coordination to minimize disruptions during festival season. Our team worked closely with Summerfest personnel to navigate crowd flow and traffic, pausing construction during festival hours and scheduling deliveries during off-peak times. Additional security measures, including temporary fencing, were implemented to prevent unauthorized site access. To further reduce impact, we adjusted our roadwork schedule to avoid interference with the festival’s power grid. Through strategic planning and collaboration, we kept the project on track while ensuring the festival remained uninterrupted.

Navigating Post-COVID Challenges and Procurement Delays

The lasting effects of COVID continue to impact the construction industry, presenting challenges that require adaptability and innovation. To overcome a six-week permit delay, our team added night and weekend shifts to maintain the project schedule.

Material procurement delays also posed obstacles, particularly for the balconies. To address this, our team implemented an innovative fall protection plan, securing patio doors with a specialty screw and bit that standard equipment could not remove until the balconies arrived. Additionally, when rail guard procurement for the rooftop lounge was delayed, we installed temporary guardrails to maintain safety and progress.

Through proactive problem-solving and strategic adjustments, we kept the project on track while upholding the highest standards of safety and quality.

Recently completed, Evoni Apartments has officially opened its doors, welcoming residents to the newest living space in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. We are proud to have been the building partner for this project, bringing Kaeding Development Group and Inland Venture Partners’ vision to life. The successful completion of Evoni Apartments showcases our team’s expertise in managing large-scale multifamily housing while overcoming complex challenges—including environmental and structural considerations, tight urban logistics, and post-COVID procurement delays. Through collaboration, flexibility, and innovation, we delivered this project on time and met our client’s expectations, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in urban development.

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