Three historic buildings on Milwaukee VA campus to be renovated for service of Veterans

In 2021, as part of an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), The Alexander Company and a team of local organizations celebrated a major victory as veterans were welcomed home to Old Main and five other historic buildings on campus. Building on that success, the focus now shifts to the Ward Memorial Theater (Building 41), Soldiers Home Chapel (Building 12), and the Governor’s Residence (Building 39).

Under the current proposal, these three buildings will be restored to their original purpose – the service of veterans. Through another strategic partnership with the VA, this initiative extends the continuum of care for veterans residing on the Soldiers Home grounds and in the greater Milwaukee area, demonstrating a continued commitment to those who have served. Upon completion the three buildings will provide over 35,000 square feet of community space and supportive services for veterans.

“Our partnership with The Alexander Company is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore three of Milwaukee’s treasured historic buildings back to their original grandeur. The Zablocki team is extremely appreciative of the community’s dedication in supporting our nation’s Veterans through efforts such as support for this enhanced use lease initiative,” said James McLain, Executive Director of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center. “It is a great honor to care for America’s heroes on these hallowed grounds, the renovation of the Chapel, Ward Theater, and Governor’s Mansion only strengthens our dedication to excellence.”

Like the first phase, this project is also made possible through the EUL program with the VA. Through the EUL the three buildings will be leased out long-term to The Alexander Company, who will take on the cost of rehabilitation. The law authorizing EULs requires that the buildings be used to serve veterans. The public hearing held February 13th at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center was one of the first steps in the redevelopment process, and the development plan will be finalized in the coming months.

The Alexander Company is a Wisconsin-based real estate services firm with a multi-faceted approach, overseeing the financing, design, construction, and property management of developments in house. For over 40 years the firm has earned national recognition specializing in historic preservation and adaptive reuse and led the team that rehabilitated Old Main and five other historic buildings on campus and continues to operate and manage those buildings today. That work served as a replicable example of what is possible through innovative partnerships and earned historic preservation achievement awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, among others.

“As we move into this next chapter at the Milwaukee Soldiers Home, we at The Alexander Company are honored to continue our role in serving those who have given so much,” said Joe Alexander, President of The Alexander Company.
“Working together with the VA we’re able to expand the supportive and dignified environment for veterans on site, while also preserving local, veteran history.”

The redevelopment partnership includes the Center for Veterans Issues (CVI), who will operate the buildings upon completion as well as have supportive services offices within the Governor’s Residence. CVI provides supportive services to homeless and at-risk veterans throughout the state and is the largest community-based organization serving veterans in Wisconsin.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with the Milwaukee VA Medical Center and The Alexander Company to bring additional resources that will help serve Veterans when they come to the VA,” said Ed Garza, President of CVI. “This opportunity will help bring more awareness to the various programs that the VA supports and bring relief to our heroes in need of assistance.”

The Ward Memorial Theater will host community theater and musical groups and offer a destination venue for conferences and lectures for VA Medical Center staff. The Soldiers Home Chapel will become a nondenominational worship space, and conference space for training and mental health sessions. The Governor’s Residence will hold offices for supportive services providers as well as a technological training center to provide computer literacy training. In addition to CVI, other veteran services providers include The Wisconsin Veterans Network, Journey to the Light Ministries, and Feast of Crispian.

Planned financing for the anticipated $25 million project includes State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, PACT ACT Funding, National Park Service Save America’s Treasures Grant, New Markets Tax Credits, and philanthropic funding. Work is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2025, with all buildings completed in the third quarter of 2026.

ASSETS FOR MEDIA USE
Interior and exterior photos of the Ward Memorial Theater, Soldiers Home Chapel, and Governor’s Residence pre-rehabilitation, available attached.

ABOUT THE ALEXANDER COMPANY
The Alexander Company has over 40 years’ experience specializing in historic preservation, urban infill development, and property management. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, The Alexander Company gives new life to historically significant buildings and downtown neighborhoods nationwide. Learn more at alexandercompany.com.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR VETERANS ISSUES
The Center for Veterans Issues is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Milwaukee and provides housing and supportive services to help improve the quality of life for all veterans, their families, and the communities in which they live and serve. Learn more at cvivet.org.

ABOUT THE MILWAUKEE SOLDIERS HOME
A month before his assassination, President Lincoln signed legislation to create a national system of homes for disabled veterans. Established in 1867, the Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home (Soldiers Home) is one of the three original Soldiers Homes in the country. The 90-plus acre district rests on the grounds of the Clement J. Zablocki Medical Center and was designed to be a place of refuge for Civil War soldiers and help ease their transition back to civilian life. One of only 43 National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Soldiers Home contains some of the oldest and most historic buildings in the VA system.

Soldiers Home Phase II: Theater, Chapel, and Mansion Fact Sheet

5000 W National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53295: Theater (41), Chapel (12), and Mansion (39)
 

The Milwaukee VA Soldiers Home Historic District (Soldiers Home) on the grounds of the Milwaukee VA Medical Center is a National Historic Landmark, and one of Wisconsin’s most important historic assets. In 2021, as part of an Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), The Alexander Company and a team of local organizations celebrated a major victory as veterans were welcomed home to Old Main and five other historic buildings on campus. Building on this success, the focus now shifts to the Ward Memorial Theater, Soldiers Home Chapel, and the Governor’s Mansion, and rehabilitating these three additional historic buildings into community space and supportive service offices. Through another strategic partnership with the VA, this initiative extends the continuum of care for veterans residing on the Soldiers Home grounds and in the greater Milwaukee area, demonstrating a continued commitment to those who have served.

What does the rehabilitation include?

• Adaptive reuse of three historic buildings: Ward Memorial Theater, Soldiers Home Chapel, and Governor’s Mansion
• Preservation of interior and exterior historic features
• Additional offices for on-site veteran supportive services
• Community space for veterans
   

Project cost: $24.6 million
Public funding sources: State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, PACT ACT Funding, National Park Service Save America’s Treasures Grants, New Markets Tax Credits, Philanthropic Funding
 

Project partners:

The Alexander Company is the developer and will lead the project, in collaboration with non-profit partner Center for Veterans Issues. A strong group of local organizations are teaming up to make this project a reality. They include:

• General Contractor: JP Cullen
• Architect: The Alexander Company and [TBD]
• Veteran Service Providers: The Center for Veterans Issues, the Wisconsin Veterans Network, Journey to the Light Ministries, Feast of Crispian.

What community amenities and supportive services will be available to veterans?

The second phase of Soldiers Home will feature a wide array of community amenities and services, including:

• Additional, expanded PTSD and mental healthcare options and counseling
• Social opportunities, including with other veterans and within the broader civilian community
• Easy-to-access veteran resources for information, aid, and opportunity
• Centralization of veteran services
• Aid veterans in job readiness and developing technological skillsets to be competitive in the workforce
• Enhance outreach and awareness in veteran communities
• The development and performance of all-veteran, fully actualized productions at the Theater, developed out of veterans’ service and trauma stories
• Provide faith-based services in the Chapel such as counseling, support groups, and bible study, as well as advocacy with hand-selected community resources
• Additional amenities may be identified and incorporated as rehabilitation continues

Project timeline:

• Construction commencement: Q2 of 2025, 16-month construction period
• Anticipated construction completion: Q3 of 2026

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Ward Memorial Theater: 21,986 square feet

Ward Memorial Theater was constructed in 1881 and named after Horatio Ward, an American banker and patriot who created an endowment fund to construct memorial halls for the Soldiers Homes. The intent was to provide the Homes’ residents with cultural activities such as concerts, theatrical performances, and lectures providing them with opportunities to socialize, relax, and enjoy recreation time with one another. It was originally a multi-purpose building with a flat-floored hall, serving as a theater, amusement hall, restaurant, home store, post office, and place of worship. At one point, it even housed veterans when membership exceeded space in the barracks. During an 1898 renovation, the building was altered to its present configuration with balconies, stage, new seats, and an orchestra pit, and was used solely as a theater. Arguably the most spectacular feature of Ward Memorial Theater was the large stained-glass portrait of General Ulysses S. Grant on horseback, a gift from the people of St. Louis and the Grand Army of the Republic following the army’s 1887 national encampment. In November 2011, the window was removed from the theater for safekeeping until repairs to the buildings are complete.

Proposed new use:

• Host community theater and musical groups, as well as the showing of movies for veterans living on-site
• Destination venue for conferences and lectures for VA Medical Center staff

Soldiers Home Chapel: 7,316 square feet

The Chapel is a multi-denominational church built in 1889. It was paid for with “Post Funds,” which included profits from the operation of the Soldiers home store, the sales of products made or grown at the branch, gifts, bequests, and unpaid pensions of members who died without wills or heirs. This chapel served as a place of prayer, refuge, and true patriotism, and remained in use until 1996.

Proposed new use:

• Nondenominational worship space, conference space for training and mental health sessions
• Destination venue for meetings, small lectures, corporate gathering, banquets

Governor’s Mansion: 7,488 square feet

Built in 1868 and remodeled in 1916, the Governor’s Mansion was built for the Soldiers Home director, whose position was then referred to as “governor.” The oldest building remaining on campus, the Governor’s Mansion is located on the main road, separate from the core grouping of buildings, across from Lake Wheeler. The mansion’s design is attributed to architect Edward Townsend Mix, the same architect that designed Old Main. The 12-room home still has original windowpanes, stained, and leaded glass windows. Until recently, the Governor’s Mansion served as the Medical Center Director’s quarters.

Proposed new use:

• Technological training center to provide computer literacy training
• Supportive service provider offices

Contact:
Kendra Bishop, 608-268-8114
kbishop@alexandercompany.com