Neu-Life Breaks Ground on $16 Million Facility

Herb Kohl Philanthropies Announces $1 million donation

Community leaders helped kick off construction today of a $16.2 million mixed-use project just north of the new Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center in the King Park neighborhood just west of downtown. The groundbreaking comes one year after nonprofit Neu-Life Community Development launched a fundraising campaign for the transformative development.

Neu-Life is a 26-year-old agency providing youth on Milwaukee’s near-north side with the skills and support they need to thrive. For Neu-Life founder and CEO Joann Harris-Comodore, it’s a long-time dream come true.

“NeuVue is more than just a building. It will provide safe and beautiful workforce housing, access to supportive programming and services, and will be a place of gathering and community for young people aged 18-24,” said Harris-Comodore. “NeuVue will help pave the way to self-sufficiency for the young people who will call it home.”

The six-story NeuVue development at the corner of North 12th and West Cherry streets will total 108,000 square feet, featuring street-level commercial space and 36 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments for young adults aged 18 to 24.

The project also includes spaces for Neu-Lifes’ Farmfork Culinary School and Café, Neu-Media Studios, Neu-Life’s administrative offices and space for collaborative partners. It also will feature a two-story gymnasium, an outdoor courtyard, community gathering spaces, a rooftop garden with a green energy roof, and underground and surface parking.

NeuVue is designed to bridge critical gaps in Milwaukee related to housing, workforce development, mental health, and economic opportunity, while creating a vibrant community for emerging leaders. It reflects Neu-Life’s commitment to restorative care and whole-person development offering life skills education and supportive programming for youth aging out of traditional systems of care, offering a pathway toward stability and self-sufficiency.

The project received its largest donation in September 2025 from philanthropists Keith Mardak and Mary Vandenberg in the form of a $3 million matching grant. NeuVue got an additional boost with the announcement that Herb Kohl Philanthropies committed a $1 million challenge grant. This comes a month after Gov. Tony Evers announced a $1.8 million economic development and workforce training grant for NeuVue last month.

“The Governor has made building strong, safe, and resilient communities a top priority, and is committed to ensuring the state’s infrastructure, workforce, and economy are prepared to meet the needs of the 21st Century,” said Kathy Blumfeld, Secretary of the state Department of Administration. “We recognize NeuVue will provide even more benefits to residents, partners, and the community as a whole. This is just the type of public-private partnership we had hoped to support through this grant.”

Cavalier Johnson, mayor of Milwaukee, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony and lauded his “Year of Housing.”

“Everything begins at home. A quality, stable home is the foundation for a healthy and thriving life,” said Mayor Johnson. “We’re making real progress. For the first time in years, we’re seeing a rise in homeownership rates among Black and Latino homeowners. We’re starting to see a decrease in out-of-state, predatory landlords. Previously vacant lots are being turned into homes for Milwaukeeans. And at the corner of 12th and Cherry, a new building will rise.

NeuVue, the dream of Joann Harris-Comodore, Jody Rhodes, Chanda Harris, and the youth at Neu-Life, will help provide quality housing for young members of our vital workforce in Milwaukee.”

JaQuawn Seals, who first came to Neu-Life as a young person, credits the nonprofit for literally saving his life.

“If it weren’t for Neu-Life, I would be dead or in jail. Neu-Life saved my life, transformed my mindset, and empowered me to understand my power,” said Seals, who is now co-site coordinator for Neu-Life’s Youth Work Innovation Center. “Fast forward to today, and that’s my passion. Helping kids out there stuck thinking this is life, and helping them to understand life is way bigger than this.”

About Neu-Life Community Development:
Neu-Life Community Development is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and families through restorative practices, creative expression, and whole-person support. For over two decades, Neu-Life has provided safe spaces and life-enriching programs that help young people build skills, gain confidence, and envision a brighter future. From leadership development to housing support, Neu-Life meets youth where they are—and walks alongside them as they grow. Learn more at www.neu-life.org.