By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Jan 13, 2014 at 6:24 PM

Last summer, I reported on the "purple house," a controversial residential home located on 43rd Street and Howard Avenue that was both loved and hated for its bright purple exterior.

The back story is fascinating and can be read here.

After the eccentric owner, Florian Meler, passed away, the family was unable to keep the house and it was sold as a foreclosed property to David Stainbrook of G & S Construction & Remodeling.

Stainbook and his crew razed the house and the lot remained empty for a couple years but Stainbrook is currently in the process of building a multi-unit living structure.

Meler’s son, Justin, and his wife, Vicki, hoped Stainbrook would agree to build a garden or a purple gazebo to tribute Meler and his storied purple house. 

At first, it seemed that their requests were going unheard. But just today, they met with Stainbrook who said he had seen the OnMilwaukee.com story and wanted to work with them to keep the spirit of the purple house alive in the new construction.

"He wants to include our vision. He was talking about adding purple flood lights to give the color to the house without it actually being purple. We would also still be able to do a garden with my father-in-law's favorite flowers to honor him. Dave was so gracious and seemed very happy and inviting to work together on this," Vicki says.

Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee.com for updates on this quirky and wonderful developing story.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.