MILWAUKEE — JLL Capital Markets has arranged $87.6 million in construction financing for Ascent, a 25-story, 259-unit luxury apartment tower in Milwaukee. Upon completion, Ascent will be the tallest mass timber building in the world, according to JLL. The 272,475-square-foot development will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units averaging 1,052 square feet. Slated to deliver in summer 2022, the development will also include 8,000 square feet of retail space. Amenities will include an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, lounge, fitness center and a rooftop with event space, fire pits, outdoor cinema area, shared workspaces and views of Lake Michigan.
Timothy Joyce and Trent Niederberger of JLL arranged the financing on behalf of the borrower, a partnership between New Land Enterprises and Wiechmann Enterprises. Bank OZK provided senior financing while Hines Realty Income Fund provided a mezzanine loan. Construction is now underway. Mass timber is a category of framing styles typically characterized by the use of large solid wood panels for wall, floor, and roof construction.