Milwaukee advances free ADU plans and condo tower as home values rise

Milwaukee is preparing to offer free architectural blueprints for accessory dwelling units, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Hoodline. The initiative aims to help homeowners build smaller, secondary homes in their backyards without design costs, with the city providing standardized plans to encourage more housing options. The move follows similar efforts in other cities to expand housing supply through accessory dwelling units, though Milwaukee has not yet released specific details on eligibility or permitting timelines.

Meanwhile, a proposed 25-story condominium tower known as the Zenith has cleared a city committee and is headed to the full Milwaukee council for approval, as reported by The Business Journals and In Business Madison. The project, which would include condos rather than rental units, has gained support from the city’s planning committee but still requires final council votes and funding commitments before construction can begin.

In a separate development, Barrett Lo is delaying its Mayfair Mall apartment project until 2027 while seeking the final piece of funding, The Business Journals reported. The delay reflects ongoing challenges in securing capital for large-scale residential developments in the region. According to the Zillow Home Value Index, the typical home value in Milwaukee reached $384,496 in September 2026, up 5.3% from the previous year. ReZen Homebuyers released a housing market assessment for Madison, but that data does not directly reflect Milwaukee’s conditions.