Since it was completed in 1930, the 280-foot Art Deco tower at 606 W. Wisconsin Ave. has been a prominent feature of the Milwaukee skyline, a fact that remains true now, nearly a century later.
The place is packed with all kinds of history, including having been home to the legendary Lakota’s nightclub.
It also housed the studios of WQFM, where DJ Tim the Rock and Roll Animal famously perched on a narrow ledge outside the station window, overlooking 6th Street, for just over two weeks as a stunt to lure Britain’s The Who to Milwaukee for their first-ever gig.
(Sorry, the antenna at the top was never meant to be a blimp dock. #urbanlegend)
You can now perch yourself one floor below that ledge in a 20th floor condo that’s currently on the market, giving you views out over Milwaukee in every direction.
The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath apartment, covering a whopping 3,400 square feet in this gorgeous building, designed by Chicago’s Weary & Alford, is listed at ... you wanna guess?
Here’s what the listing from Jay Schmidt Group / Keller Williams Realty-Milwaukee North Shore says:
“This 20th floor condo stuns with panoramic views of the sports and entertainment district of downtown Milwaukee. Enter the condo with a unique water feature, followed by beautiful custom treatments and renovations throughout. Walk into an open concept living space with a large kitchen that includes SS Jenn-Air appliances, granite countertops and a large island and wet bar for entertaining.
“The large primary suite features a jacuzzi tub and the guest bedroom suite with a steam shower. The amenities continue throughout the unit and building including in-unit laundry, three private balconies and a 6th floor green space and dog run.”
The air-conditioned unit – which offers views in all directions – also has two garage parking spaces (and a $1,250 monthly HOA fee).
The former office building was converted to condominiums in 2006.
You can read an in-depth history of the building, which also includes lots of photos of the Deco detailing in the lobby and up on the roof – as well as my exploration for traces of Lakota’s – in this Urban Spelunking story.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
