Our story

Built in 1871

At River Place Lofts, we believe in respecting and embracing the history of the world before us, preserving the charm and character of the past while creating spaces designed for modern living. Each apartment is thoughtfully renovated, blending historic detail with contemporary comforts to offer a one-of-a-kind living experience. Beyond your home, enjoy a 3,000-square-foot rooftop patio with stunning views of downtown Milwaukee, stay active in our state-of-the-art Fitness Centers, or host gatherings in one of four stylish common rooms. Unwind with friends on our cutting-edge Golf Simulator, cruise the river on our resident pontoon boat, or challenge yourself to a game on the platform tennis court. With fully gated access, on-site security, and every detail crafted to enhance your lifestyle, River Place Lofts offers a living experience unlike any other.

This commitment to preserving history is deeply rooted in the site’s legacy. In the 1840s, German immigrants Guido Pfister and Frederick Vogel separately made their way to the United States. After working at a tannery in Buffalo, New York, they relocated to Milwaukee in 1847. Pfister opened a leather retail store on Market Street Square, while Vogel established a tannery along the Menomonee River. In 1848, with support from their former employer, J.F. Schoellkopf, they joined forces to create G. Pfister & Company. By the end of its first year, the company accounted for 50% of Milwaukee's leather production. The business was so successful that Schoellkopf was able to withdraw in 1857.

In 1872, the company was renamed the Pfister & Vogel Leather Company, and began rapidly expanding. By 1881, it processed 100,000 hides annually and, by the 1890s, became the world’s largest tannery. Mechanical and chemical innovations allowed them to scale production to meet soaring demand. The site’s proximity to the Menomonee River and railroads made it easy to import hides from places like Chicago, further fueling growth.

Between 1889 and 1904, the company acquired additional land, transforming the original tannery into a huge industrial complex of 41 buildings with three smokestacks.

At its peak, the tannery employed 750 workers and established sales branches in major cities worldwide. By 1904, the company was capitalized at $4.5 million, and it was still the largest tannery in the world. During World War I, it supplied leather for the military and acquired the Herman Zohrlaut Leather Company to keep up. In 1919, annual sales hit $34 million.

The post-war era marked the beginning of challenges, including competition from synthetic materials, reduced leather demand, and foreign producers. Though the company weathered the 1920s, it ceased operations in 1930. In 1931, it split into two entities: the Pfister & Vogel Tanning Company and P & V Atlas Industrial Center, Inc. The tanning company continued on a smaller scale, producing military leather during WWII, while P & V Atlas moved into real estate. By the 1980s, the last Vogel family member sold his shares, and in 1993, the buildings were sold to River Place Lofts.

The property celebrates Milwaukee’s legacy, from the iconic Cream City brick, a hallmark of Milwaukee’s architecture. First manufactured in the 1830s, the brick’s unique hue came from the calcium- and magnesium-rich clay found in the area. Production of Cream City brick ceased in the 1920s, making the remaining structures a rare and treasured part of the city’s history.

The site itself has undergone an extraordinary environmental transformation. Once a polluted, unusable train yard, has been revitalized into Reed Street Yards and Freshwater Way. A bioswale, permeable pavers, and native plantings were installed to filter stormwater before it enters the river, treating up to 90% of runoff. These enhancements not only mitigate pollution but also contribute to larger riverfront and riverwalk restoration efforts.

In the early 1990s, development began with a single test unit. Further renovations on River Place Lofts started in 1995, though a five-alarm fire in 2001 delayed progress. Finally in 2015, the 63-unit Beam House was completed, followed by the Dock House in 2018, the Finishing House in 2019, and the Power House in 2023.