Plans for a new downtown apartment building were dealt a setback last week.
Horizon Development Group wants to build a three-story, 40-unit apartment building — with 85% of the units considered affordable housing — on the city-owned site at 11th and Madison Avenues, but the South Milwaukee Plan Commission voted against rezoning necessary for the project on Nov. 19.
The biggest concern raised at the Plan Commission meeting: density. The proposed 40 units on 0.86-acre site are well above the guideline of 20 to 25 units per acre (maximum) called for in the 2003 comprehensive plan.
Learn more about the initial proposal at the end of this Business Journal article here. From it:
The developer plans to finance the project at 1028 Madison Ave. with affordable housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, said Scott Kwiecinski, development manager for Horizon. The project would have six market-rate units, and the remainder would be rent-controlled. Madison-based Movin’ Out Inc., which develops and provides housing for people with disabilities, would manage about 10 apartments in the building, Kwiecinski said. … Horizon also will seek city financial support in the form of low-interest loans or potentially tax-incremental financing, Kwiecinski said.
I’ll keep you posted on this project if it moves ahead.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Please Erik, no more low income housing in South Milwaukee! I am not one of those not in my backyard folks, in fact I work with a lot of low income individuals. We just have too high of a density demographically already.
Wow, this is good news! The housing industry has really taken its toll, it’s really booming. I’m glad that there are company who’d like to commission such big project like this. Keep it up!
To my recollection, at one time this parcel of land was designated for high end luxury apartments or condos. What happened to that concept? I would like to see some exquisitely built dwellings in South Milwaukee–although not necessarily on this Madison Ave property. I suppose if one can afford a luxurious, expensive space, one would not choose to live amid factories and track tracks.
Selfishly, as the area is my back yard, I would like to see a park with playground apparatus. No where exists downtown within walking distance for children to play.
How would these plans affect the Downtown Market?
ps. I appreciate your blog. Thanks for the effort.
No low income housing because of density problems but a Wal-Mart is okay?
Oh this sounds like a great place or a 40 unit apartment building with no green space! Maybe the kids could play on the railroad tracks? Don’t we have any respect for the occupants of this government subsidized housing project?
Sounds like greedy investors who only care about the housing credits not quality of life….pretty sad…..
Also, I’m not too sure I’m very keen on having additional low income housing in the 1st District. If Horizon really has their heart set on South Milwaukee I think that Horizon ought to consider converting some of the old, vacant Divine Mercy institutional buildings into housing instead of taking a vacant parcel. Let’s fill some of the vacant buildings before building new buildings. See:
http://cdx.xceligent.com/CDXDirect/Clients/Frames/Search.aspx?FullId=3243_6345
http://cdx.xceligent.com/CDXDirect/Clients/Frames/Search.aspx?FullId=3243_6345
http://cdx.xceligent.com/CDXDirect/Clients/Frames/Search.aspx?FullId=3243_6345
It would at lease save the South Milwaukee tax payer some TIF dollars for a different project that would have fewer demands on City Services. Plus, many of these vacant Divine Mercy buildings are/were once set up, or could easily be converted over to, apartment housing.
Better watch this, looks like Horizon is still making a run for the money. See:
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/real_estate/2012/12/horizon-seeks-county-support-for-south.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2012-12-04
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