Milwaukee eyes abandoned Walmart for housing, library and data facility
City documents and local reporting say developers want to reuse the long-vacant Walmart at Midtown Center near 60th and Capitol. The proposal mixes affordable housing, community space and a small data-processing component, but officials say the project is not a large-scale AI data center and still needs further review.
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Milwaukee developers are proposing a new use for the long-vacant Walmart at Midtown Center near 60th Street and Capitol Drive, with plans that mix affordable housing, community space and a small data-processing facility. City documents and local reporting show the project would also include a library and self-storage, with the technology portion taking up a relatively small part of the site.
The Walmart has sat empty since 2016, and AFS Milwaukee LLC bought the property in 2022. The proposal calls for about 100 affordable apartments in the parking lot, a public library and community space in the front of the building, and roughly 19,000 square feet for “data processing/computer services/computer research” at the rear.
For Milwaukee residents, the plan could turn a long-neglected property into housing and public amenities in a part of the city that has gone without investment for years. Supporters say the housing and library are the main benefits, while critics want more clarity on the data-related piece and its possible impact on zoning, energy use and neighborhood character.
The city says the proposal still needs further review, and the City Plan Commission and Common Council would have a role in approving the project. Milwaukee officials have said they are seeking more details from the applicant before the plan moves forward.