Bria Grant studied this building's development potential for a class project. Now, she's renovating it for a restaurant and other uses.

A development plan that started as a class project is now proceeding, with a historic Milwaukee building to be renovated into a mix of two apartments, a restaurant and office space.

The two-story, 5,144-square-foot building, 2501-2503 W. North Ave., would be sold by the city to UniteWI Inc., led by Bria Grant, under a new proposal pending before the Common Council.

Grant is executive director of UniteWI, previously known as UniteMKE Inc., a  nonprofit group that trains and coordinates community health workers.

UniteWI will move much of its operations from 1433 N. Water St. to the building but still keep its administrative office at the downtown location, Grant told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday.

There also will be offices at the north side building for other organizations, such as the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health, which work with UniteWI, she said.

In addition, Grant plans to renovate some of the first-floor space for a family-style restaurant. 

Grant initially hoped to lease the first-floor space for a restaurant to be operated by Artaynia Westfall, a professional chef for over 30 years. Those plans have changed, Grant said, with the restaurant's details to be disclosed later.

Meanwhile, the two upper-floor apartments will be renovated.

Grant also is buying an adjacent city-owned lot, which is to be converted into outdoor dining space for the restaurant, a produce garden for the restaurant and green space for the apartment residents.

The proposed sale price for the building and 4,720-square-foot vacant lot is $1,500, "which factors in the overall condition of the property," according to a Department of City Development report.

The city acquired the building and lot through property tax foreclosure in 2007.

Grant's budget for redeveloping the property is $750,000. Her potential financing sources include the Zilber Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, nonprofit lender IFF and personal savings, the report said.

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She plans to begin renovations in August, with the project completed by May.

Grant is a 2017 graduate of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program, which helps minorities learn about careers in commercial development. 

She studied the property as part of an ACRE class project and decided to pursue the property for development.

Around that same time, Grant launched UniteMKE, now UniteWI, which supports community health workers. They help bridge the gap between low-income patients and health care professionals.

Grant started that organization, which is supported by state and federal funds as well as private donations, after previously working as a consultant and a substance abuse counselor. 

Her development plans surfaced publicly in 2019, when the Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett agreed to provide Grant with an exclusive right to negotiate a purchase of the building and lot.

The new sale proposal from the Barrett administration is to undergo council review in June.

The building was constructed in 1914 in the German renaissance revival architectural style, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health.Unite WI is an organization with a growing local impact.