Gold Medal Lofts Housing Development Opens

RACINE, WI — Gold Medal Lofts, Racine's first multi-family housing development in more than ten years, opened in Racine’s Uptown neighborhood Tuesday.

The $18 million development for mixed-income renters took the historic Gold Medal Furniture manufacturing plant and renovated it into a "fresh, urban-design" housing with new architectural features, modern amenities and community-building gathering spaces.

Renovation of the former Gold Medal Furniture building, which manufactured cots and chairs for the military, and produced director chairs for Hollywood, began in May 2019. The building is now open for occupancy with residents moving in this month.

WHEDA and U.S. Bank provided federal affordable housing tax credits and equity in support of the project. The city provided additional financial support to help make the project happen.

The two 1894 buildings sit at Uptown’s southern edge, immediately north of the Southside Industrial Park. The 77-unit apartment complex features three studio units, 35 one-bedroom apartments, 16 two-bedroom units and 23 three-bedroom rentals.

All units feature an industrial style with exposed brick and high ceilings. Rents range from $354 per month for studios up to $1,095 per month for three-bedroom units.

The Gold Medal Lofts opening was celebrated Tuesday with a small, socially-distanced ribbon cutting ceremony involving Joshua Jeffers, president and CEO of J. Jeffers and Co., Racine Mayor Cory Mason, Joaquin J. Altoro, WHEDA Chief Executive Officer and Ald. John Tate II, representing Racine’s Third District.