Florist Highlands

With diverse single- and multi-family homes, immediate access to two major Milwaukee roadways and the quaint village of Butler just a few minutes away, Florist Highlands offers dynamic outer-city living while still within a convenient range of downtown.

Florist Highlands is a triangular neighborhood on Milwaukee’s Northwest Side with a small cluster of winding streets on either side of Florist Avenue. It’s wedged between Interstate 41 to the west, Appleton Avenue to the east and train tracks to the south. About half of the neighborhood’s roughly 1,200 residents live in single-family homes, while the rest live in duplexes, mostly two-story town house-style units.

Common single-family house styles include Colonials, split-level and ranch-style homes from the second half of the 20th century (and a few 2000s builds). Some older Cape Cods also pop up in the neighborhood, some having stood since before World War II. The average Florist Highlands home value is about $245,000, though you might find a lightly updated Cape Cod under 900 square feet in the mid-$100,000s. Large Colonials tend to carry the highest price tags, with a 3,000-plus-square-foot construction likely costing in the mid-$400,000s.

Outdoorsy residents can access the county-wide Oak Leaf Trail at the neighborhood’s southeast corner, offering abundant shade from the surrounding trees and views of the Little Menomonee River. If you’d prefer a day in the park, drive about five minutes southwest to the Village of Butler’s Frontier Park, bisected by the Menomonee River. “We have tennis courts there, basketball courts, volleyball courts and horseshoe pits,” says Village Administrator Benjamin Hubrich. “There’s a walking path that goes down by the river and three different baseball diamonds.” He adds that the village hosts several popular activities year-round, from monthly bingo nights in the community building to Hot Rods on Hampton, an annual muscle car showcase.

Car shows have also historically occurred at Mitchell’s Tavern, a downhome watering hole in Florist Highlands. Other easygoing eateries within blocks of the neighborhood include Red Crab, a seafood joint with plenty of screens to watch the Packers game, and Mediterranean spot Sinbad’s Grill. Butler has a few well-known eateries of its own, including the Butler Inn, which has been serving classic American fare in a pub-like setting since the 1980s. Just a block over, you’ll find Mexican eatery El Taco Feliz, a recent addition to the town’s culinary portfolio. “Here at Village Hall, we like to go there quite often,” Hubrich says. “They have really good nacho options — the beef or the chorizo nachos are always very good.”

Florist Highlands students living along Florist Avenue can easily walk across I-41 to River Trail School, which the U.S. Department of Education has named a National Blue Ribbon School. This agriculture-focused public school welcomes kindergarten through eighth grade students to participate in an open learning environment where different classes are unseparated by walls. Eighth graders face the unique challenge of compiling a digital portfolio showcasing their various skills before graduating from middle school. They can then advance to one of Milwaukee’s many public high schools, the closest being James Madison Academic Campus, about seven minutes east of the neighborhood.

Large employers and work opportunities abound on the Northwest Side. Some nearby examples include Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate, whose U.S. plant operates just three blocks west of the neighborhood, and a PepsiCo warehouse to the south. If you work in downtown Milwaukee, near-direct access to I-41 means you can get there in about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, if you’ve got a hefty to-do list, visit Woodman’s Food Market, Sam’s Club and other stores within a 10-minute drive.

Written By

John Battiston

Photography Contributed By

Christopher Giblin

Video By

Kellan Beaver