Once one of the largest employers in Racine, Wisconsin, the historic Horlick Malted Milk Co. offered a complex of buildings on nearly 16 acres to be redeveloped and adapted to new uses. The intent of the Belle City Square mixed-use redevelopment of the site was to create a town center and draw people into a hub of activity while providing a sense of safety and security for residents in new market-rate and affordable living spaces.
Out of this redevelopment is Arabella, a 60-unit mixed-income multifamily community, from J. Jeffers & Co. The architectural and construction project partners identified the buildings best suited for residential layouts and studied them to find the most efficient use and rhythm of units to meet the developer’s goal. The first phase of construction included the site’s two largest buildings. The units and a communal atrium feature unique architectural elements original to the historic facility, such as restored Cream City brick, concrete, exposed tongue-and-groove wood flooring, ornate support columns, and steel girders incorporating old school hand-pounded rivets.
Because the project is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and needed to comply with the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program funding guidelines, the redevelopment was scrutinized and held to a high standard. In addition to working within preservation guidelines, the team prioritized sustainability. Arabella is certified Wisconsin Green Built as part of the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative.
In addition to reclaimed and recreated green space and on-site parking, a popular feature of the building is an exterior patio that was once a loading dock. The location provides an amenity for Arabella residents while serving as a connection to the public area of Belle City Square. This repurposed area supports the connectivity of the overall master plan as the commercial, retail, and additional residential components become fully developed.
Other amenities at the pet-friendly Arabella include a fitness room, a community laundry room, and an indoor mailroom with a package room and individual resident storage compartments. Residents also have access to a two-story flexible gathering and work area.
