Here's a guide to Milwaukee's Cambridge Heights neighborhood

Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·6 min read
Cambridge Heights' "boathouse," described as a yacht bungalow, was purchased in 2018 by Steve Tilton and Nola Hitchcock Cross.
Cambridge Heights' "boathouse," described as a yacht bungalow, was purchased in 2018 by Steve Tilton and Nola Hitchcock Cross.

Question: Which Milwaukee neighborhood, where a mix of college students and longtime homeowners resides, also features the famous "boathouse?"

Answer: Cambridge Heights.

The neighborhood is home to the quirky Milwaukee landmark, but there's a lot more to see and do. Cambridge Heights is also known known as Cambridge Woods, which is the name recognized by the neighborhood association. It's a nod to the peaceful green spaces along the Milwaukee River, which borders the area to the west.

Here's what to know about the location, history, landmarks and things to do in Milwaukee's Cambridge Heights neighborhood:

Where is Milwaukee's Cambridge Heights neighborhood?

Cambridge Heights is on Milwaukee's upper east side — nestled between the Milwaukee River and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus. It's directly across the river from the Riverwest neighborhood.

Cambridge Heights is bordered by East Edgewood Avenue to the north, North Oakland Avenue to the east, East Locust Street to the south and the Milwaukee River to the west.

Those are the boundaries defined by the Neighborhoods In Milwaukee project, created by nonprofit Urban Anthropology Inc. While Milwaukee is known as a "city of neighborhoods," the number of neighborhoods and their boundaries varies, depending on whom you ask.

Working class neighborhood had many shops, likely a few speakeasies

While Cambridge Heights is now home to a mixture of college students and homeowners, the neighborhood first attracted industrial workers, many of them German, in the late 1800s.

They began to migrate northeast from the city's center in search of work at Milwaukee Worsted Mills — a yarn factory — or breweries' ice houses, the Neighborhoods In Milwaukee project found. Cambridge Heights remained a "working-class neighborhood well into the 20th century," according to the anthropologists.

The Schlitz Brewery Ice House Tunnel, found near the Oak Leaf Trail, is a relic of that past. Perhaps part of the appeal is that the tunnel is a bit of a historical mystery, according to an urban explorers forum. One theory is that it was a tunnel for the brewery's carriages to access the river and ice houses in the area.

Blocks away, Oakland Avenue was bustling with shops for shoes, hats, tea, meats, piano repair, bakery, plumbing, dentistry and more. Many owners lived close to their stores, sometimes above or behind them. There were a few "soft drink" establishments — which were more likely speakeasies during Prohibition.

The Schlitz Brewery Ice House Tunnel, located in the Cambridge Heights neighborhood, is a bit of a historical mystery. One theory is that it was a tunnel for the brewery's carriages to access the river and ice houses in the area.
The Schlitz Brewery Ice House Tunnel, located in the Cambridge Heights neighborhood, is a bit of a historical mystery. One theory is that it was a tunnel for the brewery's carriages to access the river and ice houses in the area.

Cambridge Heights attracted more students around 1956 merger

Immediately to the east of Cambridge Heights, the Downer Woods neighborhood was home to small colleges since the beginning of the 20th century, according to the Neighborhoods In Milwaukee project. But in 1956, Wisconsin State College merged with parts of UW Extension to become UW-Milwaukee.

"Students and faculty — and their cars — became a dominant influence on neighborhood life, and the local real estate market was completely remade, as both groups sought housing close to campus," Milwaukee historian John Gurda wrote in his "Milwaukee: City of Neighborhoods" book.

The neighborhood is now home to a mix of young professionals, university students and staff, and longtime residents, according to the Cambridge Woods Neighborhood Association.

George Wagner, the president of the neighborhood association, and his wife, Barbara Rasman, moved to Cambridge Heights in 1985. He was a librarian and she worked for the school system, and there were many city government employees living in the neighborhood.

"We were looking for a nice neighborhood to have our family," Wagner said. "We've seen a lot of kids grow up and move away, and we're both older ourselves now, but we're noticing many more families moving back into the neighborhood. So we're happy to see that."

About half of homes — which range from the intricate Queen Anne style to low-to-the-ground bungalows — are owner-occupied. Some residents who move away convert their homes into investment properties or lease them by contracting with a management company. There are occasional noise or maintenance issues with student housing, Wagner said, but landlords are better at taking care of properties in Cambridge Heights than south of UWM.

The large population of students makes Cambridge Heights a neighborhood with high education rates but lower incomes. It's not as diverse as other neighborhoods in Milwaukee — about nine in 10 residents are European American and trace their roots back to Germany, Ireland and Poland, according to 2021 numbers cited by the anthropologists.

Average home prices in the neighborhood are in the $250,000 to $350,000 range, according to Zillow. Rentals with two or three bedrooms go for around $1,500 on average. Despite parking both their cars on the street, Wagner and Rasman have never had an issue with finding parking.

Serving a mix of both Greek and classic diner fare, Oakland Gyros, 2867 N. Oakland Ave., opened in 1985 and has been a popular late-night dining option for decades.
Serving a mix of both Greek and classic diner fare, Oakland Gyros, 2867 N. Oakland Ave., opened in 1985 and has been a popular late-night dining option for decades.

What is there to see, do and eat in the Cambridge Heights neighborhood?

Cambridge Heights is home to the "boathouse" — one of Milwaukee's quirkiest landmarks and described as a "yacht bungalow." It's formally called the Edmund B. Gustorf House, named for the traveling sales representative who built it as a tourist attraction in 1926.

In 2018, Steve Tilton and Nola Hitchcock Cross bought the two-bedroom house for $190,000 from the estate of longtime owner William Kortsch. They recently needed approval from the city to replace the deteriorating lighthouse because the property is designated as historic.

Walking or biking along the Oak Leaf Trail is a popular activity. Just up the path is Hubbard Park Beer Garden, and Riverside Park's Urban Ecology Center is slightly to the south. Wagner and Rasman also enjoy having UWM's campus within walking distance, with a library and community events like movie screenings.

More: About Milwaukee's Oak Leaf Trail

When it comes to dining options, some of the restaurants along Oakland Avenue are clearly geared toward the college crowd. Those include Cheba Hut, a pot-themed sub shop with late-night hours. There's also a Qdoba, Jimmy John's, Noodles and Company and takeout pizza joints. The neighborhood is also home to one of the three George Webb diners within city limits.

If you're looking for something more local, one of Wagner and Rasman's favorite spots is Oakland Gyros on the corner of Oakland and Locust. There's also the long-standing Lisa's Pizzeria (Google reviewers recommend the thin crust). Our dining critic recommends Shahrazad, which serves up Persian and Middle Eastern cuisine, for a quick lunch.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Milwaukee's Cambridge Heights neighborhood