WAUKESHA, Wis.— Plans to redevelop the former UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha campus are moving forward after the Waukesha County Board approved the sale of the property.
The 76-acre site at 1500 N. University Drive is slated for a mixed residential development led by Milwaukee-based real estate and investment firm F Street, in partnership with Waukesha County and the City of Waukesha.
The proposal includes roughly 70 single-family homes and about 600 market-rate multifamily units, which would be built in phases. Apartment buildings are expected to include two-story garden-style units and three- to four-story buildings.
County officials say the redevelopment could add more than $150 million to the tax base while helping address local housing needs.
The master plan, developed by Milwaukee-based architecture firm RINKA, incorporates green space, trails and open areas throughout the property. Officials say the design aims to preserve natural features, create buffers and improve connections with nearby neighborhoods.
“Waukesha County carefully evaluated a plan that prioritized land compatibility, mixed residential use, neighborhood feedback, open space and connectivity to ensure a high-quality fit with surrounding areas,” Waukesha County Parks and Land Use Director Dale Shaver said.
The campus closed officially in May 2025, following a 2024 announcement from UW-Milwaukee that it would shut down the Waukesha location after the spring semester. County officials have since worked with city partners and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to advance redevelopment plans.
“By adding a balanced mix of single family, and multifamily units, this proposal meets documented housing demand and fits the character of surrounding neighborhoods,” Waukesha Community Development Director Jennifer Andrews said.
The sale now moves to the City of Waukesha Plan Commission and, ultimately, the Common Council for approval.
If approved, demolition of the former campus could begin in early 2027, with the first phases of housing construction expected to start in late 2027.
