Sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, Bay View was originally home to the Milwaukee Iron Company in the 1860s. Company owner Eber Brock Ward intentionally built housing in the area to allow workers to walk to the mills, which employed thousands of area residents. Until the mills closed in 1929, the neighborhood grew and changed culturally as various immigrant populations came to work in the mill and physically as residents voted to join the City of Milwaukee in 1887 and benefited from infrastructure improvements. Today, it is a vibrant lakeside neighborhood, a hip social and residential destination for many Milwaukeeans. The neighborhood has a hip bar scene, boutiques and two parks. Beyond, Interstate 794 and Interstate 94 connect to downtown Milwaukee and all it has to offer, 5 miles away. “We really love it,” says Steven Salfer, Broker Realtor with The Two For You and Bay View resident since 1978. “We raised our kids here, and now they're raising their families in the community."
Have a Bay View-tiful Day.
Bay View is one of the most charming neighborhoods in all of Milwaukee.
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Historic housing on Milwaukee Bay
Bay Area mill workers, known as puddlers, lived in cottages that continue to house residents today. These simple, chimneyed and lovingly maintained homes sit alongside other architectural styles: Bungalows with large front porches and modest, late Victorian-style homes. Many homes back up to alleyways with private driveways or garages. "Houses are still hot in this area; it has been a super-sellers' market the past year," says Salfer. "Listings are going for quite a stout price here, at least compared to many other areas of Milwaukee." Smaller homes built at the turn of the 20th century sell from the low $100,000s to the mid-$200,000s, while newer mid-century homes and larger centennials start in the mid-$200,000s and reach the high $300,000s. Renovated classic estates closer to Lake Michigan and South Shore Park range in price from the low $400,000s to the high $600,000s. Towards the lakeshore, Bay View Terrace condominiums juts up 24 floors into the Milwaukee sky, with units occasionally for sale between $120,000 and $350,000 based on size and amenities included.
Bay View is a quaint suburban neighborhood full of life and excitement.
Multiple single family residences line the streets of Bay View.
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Gem of Milwaukee's culinary scene
Downtown Milwaukee is easily reachable via one of the two interstates that border Bay View. Bay View's Kinnickinnic Avenue runs north to south through the neighborhood, lined with restaurants and businesses, and more options are available nearby. Music lovers can make themselves at home at the locally owned Acme Records, while creative types can enjoy gallery tours and the Bay View Printing Co. In this 108-year-old local institution, visitors can create unique works of art with antique letterpresses. “It’s a vibrant community,” says Bay View Printing Co. general manager Scott Town. “Spend any amount of time in this neighborhood, and you’ll be exposed to art, music and all kinds of great food.” As one would expect, this neighborhood is loaded with a high-end smattering of dining options. Foodies can enjoy Italian cuisine at Sorella or Santino’s Little Italy and American soul food classics at Goodkind and The Vanguard Bar and Restaurant.
Goodkind has delicious food and warm, Bay View hospitality.
The chef at Sorella takes great pride in his food and it shows.
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Historic drinks at Puddler's Hall
The historic Puddler’s Hall has remained the centerpiece of Bay View’s bar scene, a public forum for good cheer and good beer, for over 150 years. Public beer gardens on the popular South Shore Beach and centrally located Humboldt Park also serve local brews during the warmer months. For anyone seeking another unique or historic attraction, the Pryor Avenue Iron Well is the oldest and only functioning public well in Milwaukee. Initially installed in 1882 to protect a nearby school from fires, the water from this artesian well is still safe to drink. Visitors can come up to the well with any receptacle and pump as much free fresh water as they please. Found at the top of the Niagara Escarpment, Bay Shore Park is a waterfront park complete with nautical themed playgrounds, boat access, campgrounds and miles of trails ideal for walking or biking.
Puddler's Hall has been a fixture in Bay View since 1873.
A warm and uplifting atmosphere fills Puddler Hall.
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Ecological studies at Trowbridge Street School
Bay View's public schools also cultivate their students' love for art and nature. The Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies, serving kindergarten through eighth grade, focuses heavily on ecology and lessons infusing freshwater science and The Great Lakes. The school receives a C-minus grade from Niche. Another local K-8 option, Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts, takes an arts-integrated approach to a well-rounded education and gets a C. Bay View High School has clubs and classes for foodies, longboarders and musicians while receiving a C-minus grade.
Trowbridge School of Great Lake Studies.
Teenagers in Bay View can attend Bay View High School.
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Easy access to downtown
Interstate 794 and Interstate 94 streamline travel through the city and beyond. “You can get downtown in no time from here," says Salfer. Inside the neighborhood, Kinnickinnic Avenue runs diagonally to the northwest. "It's super easy to get around; it's so nice to be able to put on our coats and go grab coffee, dinner or head to a pub.” Ubiquitous sidewalks through the neighborhood connect residential zones to shopping areas, increasing walkability. Bus lines provided by the Milwaukee County Transit System run on Howell, Kinnickinnic, Clement, Lincoln and Oklahoma Avenues, providing another easy, low-cost method of getting around.
The Hoan Bridge is a beloved Milwaukee landmark and it connects Bay View to Downtown Milwaukee.
Hop on a bus in Bay View and be in downtown Milwaukee in minutes.
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Farmer's market at South Shore Park
Humboldt Park offers a taste of Bay View’s vibrant creative culture in the summer with its Tuesday night outdoor concert series, Chill on the Hill. Further east along the lakefront, South Shore Park features a farmer’s market from June to October.
The South Shore Farmer's Market is Bay View's happy place on Saturday mornings in the summer.
Empanadas by the Lake at the South Shore Farmer's Market is a great way to start your day.
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Written By
Phil Keeling
Photography Contributed By
Hayley McCormick
Video By
James Segars
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
William Lauer,
an experienced agent in this area.
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