MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — Milwaukee’s tallest residential building, completing a milestone this week. The 44th floor of The Couture was “topped off” and CBS 58 got a look at the first furnished units.
The ride up the temporary elevator that hugs the outer wall was like a ride into the clouds on this foggy day.
“Very proud to have you here today,” said Rick Barrett, Developer, Barrett Lo Visionary Development.
The carcass of the 44th floor, over ten years in the making, is complete.
“This building is transformative for the city,” said Barrett.
Developer Rick Barrett tells CBS 58 that crews can now focus on finishing off the interior spaces.
“So, what we have here is it’s open to the dining room to the living room. The bedrooms are separated by this main living space,” said Barrett while giving the tour.
Windows stretch from floor to ceiling in these luxury apartments along Lincoln Memorial Drive.
The first residential units will be four stories up. One of them is on the 8th floor and even in the fog, the view is incredible.
“And we wanted people to immediately see what is so dominant which is Lake Michigan,” said Barrett.
The Couture’s Milwaukee’s tallest residential building, offering 322 apartments and 42-thousand square feet of retail, plus indoor parking.
“I love it, been looking at it for a while now as it’s being constructed and so was really happy to come in and take a tour with the hard hat,” said Kerry Hicks, prospective tenant.
Kerry Hicks is hoping to move in this spring.
“In April we’re looking to get people from the 30th floor on down starting to move in,” said Barrett.
Crews hope to wrap it all up by July.
“Hopefully at that point we’ll be waiving at the Findorff truck saying goodbye, nice for you to be here but we’re all done and we’re a residential building ready to fly,” said Barrett.
There is a noticeable difference between the size of the junior one bedroom and the one bedroom.
Monthly rent ranges from $2,000 to $11,000. Barrett says somebody has already reserved one of the priciest ones, which is in walking distance to the Summerfest Grounds.
“A building of this size hasn’t been built in 50 years, so from my perspective it lets everybody know Milwaukee is on the rise,” said Barrett.