A vacant building near Washington Park is to be converted into an events venue. It would be the latest in a series of nearby developments.
A vacant building near Washington Park is to be converted into an events venue — the latest in a series of nearby commercial developments.
Known as Denizen MKE, it would host weddings and other events in a one-story, 3,100-square-foot building at 4227 W. Vliet St.
That's according to a new filing with the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals. Denizen MKE would need a special use permit from the board.
Denizen MKE is owned by Amber Bricco and Rachael Flood.
Bricco is director of events and marketing and Flood is banquet chef at a Milwaukee-area country club, according to their LinkedIn profiles.
"Denizen MKE will be an event space that will benefit the surrounding community by hosting weddings, family celebrations, holiday events and neighborhood gatherings," according to the zoning board filing.
"We will serve recently engaged couples seeking an inclusive, accessible, event-ready space with flexible options for customization," the filing said.
Improvements for the building, which was constructed in 1933, are to include a new facade, interior furnishings and a courtyard, according to the filing.
Bricco told the Journal Sentinel she and Flood hope to have Denizen MKE ready to host events by May 2023
The venue is to have a capacity for 148 people. The events would be on Fridays and Saturdays.
The owners expect to host over 30 events annually, with an average attendance of 125 people.
People attending events at Denizen MKE would be encouraged to park on Vliet Street and Highland Boulevard — staying away from streets with more residential use, the filing said.
Also, Denizen MKE would encourage people to use shuttles to attend events.
Bricco and Flood live in the nearby Martin Drive neighborhood, which is part of Milwaukee's near west side.
Other nearby developments include the planned conversion of a former movie theater, 3804 W. Vliet St., into the new home for accounting firm Metz & Associates and other businesses.
The building, which now houses Color Wheel Painting LLC, will be known as MKE Business Collective.
Other newer developments include Triciclo Peru restaurant, which opened in 2019; Empanadas Pachamama frozen empanadas business, which is under construction, and frozen fruit confections maker Pete's Pops, which opened in 2018.
Meanwhile, underused buildings throughout the Milwaukee area continue to find new life as weddings and events venues.
Other pending projects include plans to redevelop buildings into venues at 2202-2210 W. Clybourn St., near Marquette University, and at 1500 E. Park Place, next to Riverside Park.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Vacant building near Washington Park to be converted into events venue
