The Mayor, naturally. CEOs, sure. Giannis, yes! But influence has many other forms, and we’re fascinated by the way these 47 people are reshaping Milwaukee and Beyond.
Written by Archer Parquette – Milwaukee Magazine
Creating Better Places
When Mandel talks about the projects he’s developed, he’s not just talking about the buildings. He uses the phrase “creative placemaking.” That’s the apartments or condo building itself, of course, but it’s also the space around it, the public park he builds, the walkability of the neighborhood. “It’s all part of an intentional effort for the development to be much greater than the building, to extend the community,” he says. Since Mandel Group’s first major Downtown development in 1991 – East Pointe Commons – Mandel has made a name for himself building in places with what he calls “high barriers to entry” – municipalities that weren’t interested in apartments. His developments have attracted suburbanites back to Milwaukee, and built out communities across the metro area. “We create more of a soul and spirit,” Mandel says, “than just four walls and a roof.”
