M&R Development started construction on a 278-unit luxury apartment building located on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan in St. Francis, Wisconsin, just 5 miles south of downtown Milwaukee.
The Bluffs on Lake will offer apartments ranging from studio to three-bedroom designs. M&R is co-developing the Class A project with Campbell Capital Group, LLC, the same firm it teamed with to successfully develop 42 Hundred on the Lake, a 236-unit luxury rental building just south of The Bluffs on Lake that opened in 2021.
Located on a 21-acre site at 3700 S. Lake Dr., The Bluffs on Lake will feature extensive resort-style amenities and sweeping views of both the lake and Milwaukee skyline. The development will be spread across a four- and five-story building with one level of underground parking and 8,000 square feet of first-floor retail space, some of which is earmarked for a restaurant with outdoor seating. First deliveries are targeted for late 2026 with pre-leasing expected to start that fall.
To address the large number of residents who continue to work from home at least part-time, The Bluffs on Lake will have a robust business center with multiple seating areas, including private booths and conference rooms as well as communal meeting spaces. The development will also offer a meditation room and Zen Garden for times when residents need intentional spaces for reflection, focus and stress reduction.
The Bluffs’ indoor community amenities will be concentrated in a two-story clubhouse that will include an entertainment lounge with kitchen and large dining table; 24-hour coffee bar; media room with bar; game room with billiards and a shuffleboard table; and a pet spa with walk-up tub and adjustable grooming table. A self-service package room will provide 24-hour access, and a resident market will offer vending and ice machines as well as a food delivery drop-off area.
A two-level fitness center will feature state-of-the-art cardio and strength training equipment, plus a fitness studio/yoga room with on-demand exercise programs. For biking enthusiasts, a bike storage room and repair area will be located near the parking garage. In addition, the community will offer complimentary bikes for residents to check out.
Outdoor amenities will be spread across multiple courtyards and offer a mix of active and passive uses. The main courtyard will include an infinity-edge pool with two shallow sun shelfs overlooking Lake Michigan, a tranquility garden, grilling stations, fire tables, hammocks, multiple lounge seating, herb and vegetable planters for residents, and a bocce ball court. A second courtyard will feature a game area with a ping pong table, cornhole boards and shuffleboard court; lounge areas and fire tables; grilling stations; and an outdoor fitness area. A large outdoor park dog park will feature water and waste stations.
The Bluffs will offer studio, convertible and one-bedroom apartments as well as two- and three-bedroom units. An underground parking garage will include 248 parking stalls, 12 of which will be electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. There will also be 183 surface parking stalls and 98 retail parking spaces.
Apartments will feature 9-foot ceilings; luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout; full-size stackable washer/dryers and smart thermostats. Kitchens will include quartz kitchen countertops, subway tile backsplash; pendant and track lighting; and a stainless steel appliance suite. Baths will have cultured marble vanities and combination tub/showers with subway tile surround. Most apartments will have a balcony or patio, and select units will include walk-in closets.
The Bluffs on Lake will be located approximately 1 mile north of St. Francis High School and a five-minute drive to middle and elementary schools. Residents will be just a five-minute drive to Milwaukee’s popular Bay View neighborhood, which offers restaurants, coffee shops, a grocery store and shopping venues. Downtown Milwaukee is less than 10 minutes by car, putting residents within easy reach of major employers and popular Milwaukee attractions.
