Edison School sits in a former Milwaukee school building founded in 1924, and you'll see that the place still keeps much of its history, with original wood windows, terrazzo floors, old classroom doors, and lockers that are still there as decorations, and now the old classrooms have become one- and two-bedroom apartments for people aged 55 and older, and these apartments come with washers and dryers in every unit, along with energy-efficient appliances and ADA-accessible features, and if you walk down the hall you'll probably notice the bright, restored wood floors and big windows that bring in a good amount of daylight. Residents can choose either private or shared rooms that come furnished, and there are also 12 newly built Edison Townhomes with three bedrooms each, set up for families and facing south toward W. Rohr Avenue, so the whole campus serves both seniors and some families.
Dining at Edison School happens in the dining room, where staff prepare and serve meals all day, making special meals for folks with diabetes or those who have allergies, and they respect other dietary needs too. The building offers help with bathing, dressing, and medication management, and there's always someone ready to answer a call since the place has a 24-hour call system, supervision, and an emergency alert system to help keep everyone safe. Housekeeping and laundry services are available, and staff help with moving in so new residents can get settled without too much trouble.
Edison School includes spaces like a fitness center, an arts room, a spot for movie nights, and a community room, and folks can participate in community-sponsored activities, social gatherings, or tend to the community gardens if they like being outdoors. The gym and restored auditorium inside the historic part of the building are also available for community use. The building has 75 affordable senior living units, of which 63 are one- and two-bedroom apartments for people who are at least 55 and whose income is between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income, and the whole complex uses low-income housing tax credits so rent isn't more than 30% of a household's income.
Van Ryn & DeGelleke did the architectural work for the redevelopment, and the site is now part of a wider community transformation, bringing affordable housing to seniors and families near shops and restaurants. With features like restored original design, community gardens, and both new amenities and preserved old ones, Edison School offers seniors and families safe, comfortable homes, and it brings new life to a long-standing neighborhood building.
