A mid-century modern home in Fox Point designed by Donald Grieb, the architect behind Milwaukee's iconic Mitchell Park Domes, has listed for $749,000. The 2,723-square-foot property at 715 East Juniper Lane sits on a wooded ravine lot and comes with an unusual résumé of connections, including ties to jazz legend Duke Ellington and the Milwaukee Journal.
The listing, tracked under MLS #1978180 through Coldwell Banker Realty, went live in late August, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The home features a south-facing great room anchored by a 10-foot by 20-foot wall of windows that looks out over a private ravine, according to Coldwell Banker Realty. Inside, a slab foundation with floor and ceiling radiant heating, a central brick planter wall, a stone fireplace, and river rock bathrooms round out the mid-century details.
A 1949 Design Built for a Newspaper Editor
The home was originally built in 1949 for an editor at the Milwaukee Journal, with a $30,000 construction cost, per the Journal Sentinel's reporting. It went up as a single-story structure with a flat roof and no basement, according to Mid Century Modern Milwaukee, before a later owner added a small second story with an extra bedroom and storage space. Today the house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage, per the Journal Sentinel.
The home also carries ties to Duke Ellington, the report notes, alongside its connections to the Domes and the Milwaukee Journal. Ellington maintained strong cultural connections to Milwaukee during the mid-20th century and was among the acts associated with the Casablanca Hotel, according to WUWM. Racial segregation during that era led visiting Black musicians to stay and gather at private Bronzeville residences, the station reports.
The Architect Behind Milwaukee's Domes
Donald Leon Grieb, who designed the Fox Point home, was an architect, according to his obituary published by Legacy.com. Grieb died in Houston in 2018 at age 99.
Beyond residential work, Grieb was the principal architect of the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory, better known as the Domes, and went on to design major civic landmarks including the 1965 Milwaukee Amtrak Union Station and the former Milwaukee County Courthouse Annex over Interstate 43, according to a statement from the Milwaukee County Executive's office. The Domes were dedicated in 1964 with an appearance by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, the county noted.
The Domes' Own Comeback Story
Interest in Grieb's legacy has been building for reasons beyond real estate. A 2025 County Board approval and a later long-term lease transferred management of the Domes to the nonprofit Milwaukee Domes Alliance, advancing a $51.6 million rehabilitation effort with phase-one construction expected in spring 2027. The rehabilitation effort has drawn renewed attention to the Domes.
The rehabilitation push has renewed attention on Grieb's broader body of work, including the rare residential commissions he completed on Milwaukee's North Shore. The listing is one example of mid-century modern residential work in the North Shore. Its design emphasizes geometric forms and a connection to the wooded setting.
Where the Listing Fits in Fox Point's Market
The $749,000 asking price provides a reference point for Fox Point's broader market.
Fox Point residents also have access to local emergency services.
