Belle City Square

CHALLENGE:

Revitalize the 16-acre site of the former Horlick Malted Milk Company to create a vibrant mixed-use development that reenergizes this area of Racine, Wisconsin.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Jeffers & Company enlisted the services of AG Architecture in 2018 to develop a master plan to help bring their vision to life.
• The team carefully considered the components of a vibrant lifestyle district and strategically planned for a combination of residential, commercial office, retail, and incubator space within a combination of existing and new structures.
• A thorough analysis of the site and existing structures was conducted. The historic preservation consultants collected data and worked with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the National Park Service to list the property as a historic district on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
• AG in collaboration with construction partner CG Schmidt determined the appropriate future uses for each of the buildings, including which were best suited for residential layouts.
• The development strategy for Belle City Square was to introduce residential units in the first phase to rejuvenate the site and provide the increased density needed to support future commercial office, industrial, and retail phases.
• In addition to working within preservation guidelines, the team prioritized sustainability.
• Project-by-project decisions were guided by LEED Neighborhood criteria for the entire development, with goals of achieving the highest LEED rating possible for each building. The development is Certified Wisconsin Green Built as part of the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative.
• Read A Renewed Sense of Purpose for a Historic Community Site to learn more.
• Explore Belle City Square.