Harambee

Who lives in the neighborhood, and who is buying houses

Harambee has a diverse age group, with young families, college students and multigenerational residents, and most people rent their homes. "It's more of an investor-friendly area for landlords," Duer says. "You'll get tenants from [University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee] and stuff like that." He explains that homes aren't as expensive as those in nearby Riverwest or Downer Woods, but units rent for a similar price. "Out-of-state investors are targeting that area right now… They feel there's plenty of room to grow on the property values," he says.

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Home styles and prices in Harambee

Bungalows, workers' cottages and simple Victorian homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s make up the area's gridded streets. Some properties are well-maintained, others are in poor condition, and prices are well below the Milwaukee Metro area median and in nearby neighborhoods like Brewers Hill or Riverwest. "Harambe is basically a cheaper alternative to Riverwest," Duer says. "It's right in that neck of the woods, but the houses in Harambe sell for lower prices." Single-family homes sell for less than $100,000 to the high $300,000s, and multifamily properties, usually duplexes or triplexes, range from below $100,000 to the low $500,000s.

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Projects and grants are bringing new life to the community

To fix up local houses, Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District #7 collects taxes for home repair grants. Riverworks Developments Corporation is another local non-profit organization that funds repairs, community beautification projects and safety improvements. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, called just King Drive by locals, saw some recent upgrades, with new planted trees, benches, trash cans and markers for prominent locations on the historic street.


An ongoing concern for Harambee has been its aging infrastructure, especially lead pipes in many homes. The Milwaukee Water Works' lead service line replacement programs are replacing the pipes. While progress is slow, the City of Milwaukee plans to replace all remaining lines by 2037.

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How to get around Harambee and the surrounding neighborhoods

Harambee is less than 2 miles from UWM, and less than 3 miles from downtown Milwaukee and Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Hospital. There are some parking rules, like no overnight parking along some main roads and alternate-side parking from December through March. Still, the regulations are not as restrictive as in neighborhoods close to campus. Getting around without a car is possible thanks to improved infrastructure, including:

• Regularly repaired and painted sidewalks and crosswalks.
• Milwaukee County Transit System buses that stop along King Drive, Holton Street, Burleigh Street, Center Street and others.
• Designated bike lanes on Holton Street and Center Street, with more shared lanes along intersecting roads.

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Public and private schools are within walking distance for kids

Walkable schools make a big difference to families living in Harambee, since almost one-third of the area's residents are under 18. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School, Oliver Wendell Holmes School and Rufus King International Middle School are all in the neighborhood, and North Division High School is just west of Interstate 43. Clara Mohammed School, Milwaukee's first Islamic school, and HOPE Christian High School are private options in Harambee.

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Where neighbors gather for food, music and community in Harambee

Social spaces bring the community together over food, dancing and shared hobbies. Residents grab a meal from Rise & Grind Café or Sam's Place Jazz Café, two Black-owned businesses on King Drive. Green thumbs grow fruits and vegetables at All People's Garden, a community garden that went up in an empty lot. Music lovers check out the summer concert series at Clinton & Bernice Rose Park, which highlights musicians from various cultures and genres.

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