Old WWII Racine Factory New Site Of $18 Million Development

RACINE, WI –An old factory building on Racine's southwest side where World War II-era military camp furniture was once manufactured is getting new life as an apartment complex.

City officials are joining state officials in staging a ground breaking ceremony Monday to kick-off the construction phase of an $18 million development at the Gold Medal Furniture building, 1701 Packard Ave.

Racine officials partnered with the J. Jeffers & Company, and the Wisconsin Housing and
Economic Development Authority to announce the redevelopment of the Gold Medal Furniture
building in Racine’s Uptown Neighborhood. The project's two Cream City brick buildings were built in the late 1890s. They're connected by an iron sky walk located just north of the Southside Industrial Park.

This $18 million development, led by J. Jeffers and Lutheran Social Services, includes purchasing the property at 1701 Packard Avenue from a private landowner to build 77 units of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom high-quality apartments for the City of Racine.

The housing units are mixed-income and include market-rate as well as units for households with an average income of no more than 60 percent, 50 percent, and 30 percent of county
median income.