CRG, the national real estate development and investment firm, announced it has started construction on Chapter Mifflin, a six-story, 516-bed student housing community in Madison’s vibrant Mifflin District, adjacent to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
CRG assembled a 1.5-acre site of 12 contiguous parcels at 416-436 W. Washington Avenue and 413-417 W. Mifflin Street for the project and rezoned them for higher-density residential. Chapter Mifflin will offer 162 fully furnished units, along with a robust suite of resident amenities, outdoor terraces and a public walking path connecting West Washington Avenue to West Mifflin Street. Construction is now underway, and the project is on schedule for a targeted delivery for the 2027-28 academic year, with pre-leasing expected to commence in summer 2026.
“Breaking ground on Chapter Mifflin marks an exciting moment for CRG as we launch our second student housing community in the Madison market, coming on the heels of Chapter Madison, which opened in fall 2024 at Park and Regent,” said J.J. Smith, executive vice president and partner at CRG. “This marks our seventh new student housing development since 2021, totaling over 4,000 new beds across the U.S. — an investment of over $650 million that reflects our belief in the sector’s long-term performance.”
Currently home to a mix of single-family residences and duplexes operating as student housing, the strategically located site is just one-half mile from the Memorial Library and four blocks from the retail and entertainment offerings along the State Street corridor. The location offers exceptional convenience, placing future residents within easy reach of campus landmarks and urban amenities.
“Given that developable land near campus is in increasingly short supply and student enrollment has soared to over 50,000, with fewer than 9,200 on-campus beds and robust out-of-state enrollment growth, the demand for quality student housing has never been stronger,” said Smith. “Our first project in the area, Chapter Madison, achieved 100% lease-up before opening and is 98% occupied for the 2025-26 academic year, underscoring the phenomenal fundamentals and sustained strength of the student housing market in Madison.”
Chapter Mifflin was designed by architecture firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative, a subsidiary of CRG’s parent company, Clayco. The design prioritizes a strong pedestrian experience, with the building’s scale and massing carefully broken down to create a welcoming, human-centric streetscape. The project activates the surrounding neighborhood by introducing a public pedestrian connection through the site, enhancing walkability and fostering community interaction. Drawing inspiration from the character of the Mifflin Street neighborhood, the architecture integrates familiar residential elements — such as porches, balconies and patios — that reflect and reinforce the local context. Along Washington Avenue, the design preserves historic trees and enhances the streetscape, creating a visually cohesive and inviting connection to the nearby State Capitol.
Wisconsin-based CG Schmidt will serve as general contractor for the project.
Chapter Mifflin will offer a mix of studio, one-, two-, four- and five-bedroom apartments, all of which are fully furnished and offer stainless steel appliances, in-unit laundry and contemporary, tech-forward finishes designed for style and comfort.
To support both academic success and a dynamic lifestyle, Chapter Mifflin will include a robust suite of resident amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, abundant private and group study areas with modern conferencing technology, multiple outdoor courtyards, a hot tub, bocce court, and grilling and dining areas. A fifth-floor terrace will offer additional lounge areas overlooking Mifflin Street. Residents will also have access to a secure parking garage with EV charging stations and ample bike storage.
CRG worked diligently with Alder Mike Verveer; Madison’s Department of Planning, Community & Economic Development; Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc.; and other local stakeholders to create a dynamic addition to the neighborhood.
With Chapter Mifflin, CRG continues to expand its national portfolio of purpose-built student housing. This marks the firm’s second student housing development announced in 2025, following Chapter Ann Arbor, a 183-unit, 625-bed community located steps from the University of Michigan’s iconic Diag. That project is also slated to deliver for the 2027-28 academic year, reinforcing CRG’s strategy of investing in vibrant university markets where enrollment growth and housing demand remain strong.
CRG’s student housing and multifamily team has a strong track record that includes the development of over 50,000 beds in over 80 university markets. The firm will continue to seek investment opportunities near major tier 1, power 5 conference schools for similar types of investments.
