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All About Historic Concordia
West of 27th Street
to 35th Street, and bordered on the north by Highland Avenue and on the south by
Wisconsin Avenue, Concordia is one of Milwaukee's oldest and grandest
neighborhoods. The Concordia neighborhood received its name from Concordia
College, now the site of the Indian Community School. In the early 1900s,
Milwaukee's
movers and shakers lived here, at some of the city's most prestigious addresses.
The neighborhood is
distinguished by breathtaking mansions and large older homes. The vibrancy of
Milwaukee's downtown, exciting Miller Park, the beautiful lakefront and
Summerfest grounds are all less than five minutes away by car. Concordia is
located in the heart of the city, making all destinations just moments away.
Where We've Been
Many of
Concordia's great mansions were lost to the wrecking ball in the 50s, 60s and
70s. That's why preservation is one of the main missions of Historic Concordia
Neighbors, Inc. Large homes were converted to rooming houses, and other houses
were rented out by neglectful, absentee landlords more interested in making a
buck than keeping their properties in good repair.
Happily, some
neighborhood residents in the mid 80s decided to stop the decline, forming
Historic Concordia Neighbors, Inc. (HCNI). The organization moved to set borders
for a historically designated area and, with the help of the City of Milwaukee's
Office of Historic Preservation, began working with owners to repair, restore
and increase the value of properties. The Concordia Neighborhood is now listed
in the
National Register of Historic Places. It's been an uphill battle, and now the
tide is turning.
Read the original
Historic Designation Study Report
Where We're Going
Concordia is
undergoing a revival. There's a new spirit in the air, and great optimism from
residents. Families have moved back to the neighborhood to purchase and lovingly
restore homes and mansions to their former glory. People from the suburbs are
beginning to discover what longtime residents have known for years: commutes to
work are minutes, not hours; housing dollars go further here; and the old-world
craftsmanship found in midsize homes and large mansions alike can't be purchased
for any price today.
But HCNI is more
than just loving old houses. People look out for one another here. The community
is growing stronger as bonds between neighbors have strengthened. Historic
Concordia runs home tours to educate the public, and stays active to make sure
that landlords and homeowners are taking care of property. And we're moving
toward making our neighborhood a better place through community service
projects.
We're staying right
here, but our neighborhood is really going places. Come in. Look around. Talk to
a neighbor and learn a little about us.
You might decide to
stay
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