The Historic Concordia neighborhood, one of Milwaukee's oldest and grandest neighborhoods, was originally named after Concordia College which once stood on State Street.

Located west of 27th Street to 35th Street, and bordered on the north by Highland Avenue and on the south by Wisconsin Avenue, the Concordia neighborhood was home to Milwaukee's most successful and affluent families in the early 1900s, but during the '50s and '60s, many of Concordia's mansions were torn down and the demographics changed.

But by the mid-'80s, neighbors were ready to reclaim the area and restore the breathtaking mansions and large older homes that still stand today. It was also during the '80s renaissance that the Historic Concordia Neighbors, Inc. (HCNI) formed, and the group is still an active network today.

Nancy Anderson has lived in Historic Concordia for 10 years. Prior to moving to the just-West-of-downtown neighborhood she and her husband, Mark, an IT manager for a consulting firm, lived on the East Side. The couple wanted to buy a home large enough for a bed and breakfast, and ended up purchasing an affordable mansion on Kilbourn Avenue.

The Andersons operated the B&B for many years, but decided to discontinue the business and downsize to a smaller home. The couple, who have four children between the ages of one month and eight years, contemplated buying in other parts of the city, but decided to stay in the Concordia neighborhood. This time, they purchased a Victorian-style house on 34th Street.

"We looked at other neighborhoods, but what's really special about this neighborhood is not just the houses -- which are gorgeous -- but our neighbors," says Anderson, who credits neighbors with helping with everything from moving to house projects to baby-sitting. "It's like living in a small town."

Andrew Parker is one of Anderson's neighbors and has lived in Historic Concordia for 13 years with his wife, Marie. They originally moved to the neighborhood after receiving a good deal on a house through a rehab program called the West Side Conservation Corp. The now-defunct, not-for-profit group restored 20-25 houses in the neighborhood in the mid-to-late '80s and sold them, mostly to white families in order to diversify the area, for $50,000.

Anderson claims the neighborhood is racially balanced today, and that her family hasn't experienced racial tension. "We've actually heard of fewer bad experiences here than we did on the East Side," she says. "And honestly, I wouldn't live here if I didn't think it was safe for my kids."

The Parkers have two school-age children and together, the family runs a B&B (not the same one that the Anderson's used to own.)

The couple thought their dream of owning a B&B would lead them to the East Coast or to the South, but instead, they found themselves in love with a house only a few blocks from where they were already living. "It never occurred to us that our dream house would be in our own backyard," says Parker. "The house had everything we wanted and ten years later, here we are."

With neighborhoods like Riverwest and Bay View becoming increasingly more expensive, many 20- and 30-somethings have pioneered their way into new fringe neighborhoods, like Sherman Park, Rufus King and Historic Concordia in search of older homes with fireplaces, leaded glass, hardwood floors and other vintage adornments that aren't as easily found in other neighborhoods.

Most of the houses in the Concordia neighborhood are bungalows and Victorians built between 1850 and 1915. There are also a number of mansions, including the historic home of Dr. Robert Fairies on 31st and State. Fairies, the first Wisconsin dentist, was also an avid astronomer and built a five-story observation tower on top of his home. The stargazing structure still stands today.

"We come from all walks of life and couldn't ask for a better place to live," says Anderson.

Interested in finding out more about the Historic Concordia neighborhood? HCNI will host a Valentine's Ball on Sat., Feb. 15 at Tripoli Shrine Temple, 3000 W. Wisconsin Ave. The cost is $75 per couple and includes six drink tickets, appetizers and desserts. It is a black tie-optional affair.