Hide House
2006Year Acquired |
4,000 SFCommercial Space |
SoldStatus |
Urban Arts and Entertainment Incubator
The Hide House is a former tannery complex on approximately 3.4 acres in the heart of Milwaukee’s progressive Bay View neighborhood. General Capital acquired the complex from the Bathrick family in 2006, and ongoing redevelopment effort builds on the strong artist community fostered by Gib Bathrick. The long-term plan includes a dynamic mix of artist studio rentals, retail and office space, affordable live/work condominiums, and an affordable live/work rental component. Together these elements will create an environment where Milwaukee’s creative class — the artists, musicians, photographers and technology entrepreneurs – can affordably live and work in a safe and stable neighborhood.
The Hide House Art Space is the project’s largest component, providing an incubator for over 50 creative tenants including full- and part-time artists, a full service framing gallery, health club, Mercy Hill Church, several creative agencies, photographers, band rehearsal spaces and retail businesses. The first residential phase, 60 units of affordable live/work space on the project’s north end, opened in 2010 and is 100% leased.
KEY THEMES
- Adaptive reuse transformed a historic tannery into one of Milwaukee's premier mixed-use creative campuses
- Collaborative live/work environment supports artists, entrepreneurs, makers, retailers, and creative businesses within a vibrant community
- Historic preservation retained the property's industrial character while creating flexible spaces for commercial, cultural, and community uses
- The Hide House Art Space serves as a creative incubator fostering artistic collaboration, entrepreneurship, and local economic development
- Community gathering spaces and public events reinforce the Hide House as a destination within Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood
RESULTS
- Successfully redeveloped a 3.4-acre former tannery into a thriving mixed-use creative campus
- Created an incubator supporting more than 50 artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and creative businesses
- Delivered a diverse mix of artist studios, live/work spaces, retail, office, and gallery facilities within a single destination
- Established the 4,000 SF Loft at Hide House as a venue for weddings, exhibitions, and community events attracting thousands of visitors annually
- Preserved a historic Milwaukee landmark while strengthening the city's arts, culture, and creative economy
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