Milwaukee gathers for ThriveOn King Open House celebration

By Karen Stokes

After years of planning, the former Gimbels-Schuster building on King Drive, vacant and considered an eyesore for 30 years, has undergone a remarkable makeover.

ThriveOn King is located at 2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and serves as a hub for three major north side neighborhoods: Halyard Park, Harambee and Brewers Hill.

This site was selected for its potential to create significant impact and achieve the vision of providing economic and social benefits to communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by inequities.

Attendees enjoyed music, artwork from Milwaukee artists and snacks from Kinship Community Food Center, Lush Popcorn, Honeybee Sage and Northern Chocolate Company.

A hand-painted vinyl mural featuring prominent Milwaukeeans including Mildred Harpole, Dr. Howard Fuller, Dr. James Cameron, Lula Reams and Rueben Harpole, was revealed.

The ThriveOn collaboration of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the Medical College of Wisconsin and Royal Capital advocates for intergenerational investments throughout Milwaukee’s Bronzeville community and beyond.

ThriveOn King will provide community, commercial and residential spaces that provide new resources and opportunities to the neighborhood. The first floor of the building will house anchor tenants Malaika Early Learning Center, JobsWork MKE and Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin. There will also be spaces for community meetings, public art, wellness areas, healthy eating options and more. ThriveOn King will also serve as the new home for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and house the Medical College of Wisconsin’s community engagement programs.

There will be 90 affordable mixed-income residential units for families, seniors and students on the upper floors.