New Concept: Mixed Use Proposal Surfaces For Land At College And Pennsylvania

A mixed-use development with retail, industrial and multi-family housing is now the focus for the 64 acres of land that the U.S. Postal Service had been eyeing for a new mail facility.

The Oak Creek City Council heard details of the conceptual plan at its meeting on Tuesday night. Oak Creek Patch has the story. From it:

This type of development is more viable than a postal facility and would also give the United States Postal Service an exit strategy to get out of its agreement to develop the processing center, said Scott Yauck of Cobalt Partners.

Oak Creek officials like the proposal because it would get the land back on the tax rolls – the land is currently non-taxable since it’s owned by the U.S. government.

It would also seem to be exactly the type of economic development that local officials were hoping for with a new-and-improved College Avenue.

But neighbors of the would-be development, just like they opposed the United States Postal Service building, voiced their displeasure of the plans Tuesday.

Most of their angst seemed to center on the multi-family housing aspect. Residents said they were fine with retail located directly next to the intersection of College and Pennsylvania. An industrial component, as proposed near the railroad tracks, would probably be something along the lines of an electrical parts distributor and unlikely to be seen from the residential neighborhood.

But residents said they did not want multi-family housing that close to their single-family neighborhood. They worried about the increase in traffic, impact on their property values and the type of people who would move in, among other concerns.

Of course, this development has a direct impact on South Milwaukee and the 4th District — it’s across the street. I am working on getting additional information and will keep you posted as the process unfolds.

In the meantime, what do you think? Post your comments below!