The developer briefed the city on this opportunity more than a year ago — and I’m excited to see this move forward.
Redevelopments like this are a foundation of South Milwaukee’s future.
For a landlocked city, this gives us our first opportunity at significant growth in decades, while also giving a “second chance” to an abandoned lakefront property that was home to manufacturing for generations.
From the Journal Sentinel story …
The proposal from Fresh Coast Development could be constructed in multiple phases on just over 31 acres of brownfield at 315 Marion Ave. north of the city’s water treatment plant.
“A project cost estimate is still being calculated,” said Assistant City Administrator and Economic Development Director Patrick Brever. “TIF support is likely going to be targeted toward infrastructure needs for the site.”
South Milwaukee’s plan commission acknowledged there are still details to work out but on Nov. 8 voted unanimously to direct city staff to take initial steps to create Tax Incremental District 6 in 2023. In a TIF, property taxes from within the district are used to pay for public improvements and other costs. Once the debt is paid off and the district is retried, the added tax base flows into the general coffers of the city, school, county and other taxing entities. …
The single-family component includes 25 new homes along 5th Avenue with attached two-car garages accessed via a rear alley. Project documents show the placement of the single-family homes is to act as a buffer to the existing neighborhood to the west.
Brever said the final breakdown of one-, two- and three-bedroom units in each building has not yet been determined.
To the northeast is a clubhouse with community room, outdoor pool, fitness and business centers and a locker room. There is a lawn area set aside for outdoor activities with access to the public park overlooking Lake Michigan. Throughout the development are sidewalks and walking trails connected to the bluff and down to the lake.
Two playground areas are also included in the proposal at the north and south of the property and a fenced dog park along the northern border of the property east of the playground and west of the clubhouse.
Here is Business Journal coverage.
South Milwaukee Blog 
It would be nice if they could increase the number of single family homes. 25 houses seems pretty small when compared to over 500 apartments.
I think this is worth taking a poll, particularly for those who live south of Milwaukee Avenue. As well, a community meeting should be planned around this prior to any further steps being taken in decision making. In this first stage, it’s a pretty lifeless concept, relating less to lifestyle needs favoring the “more is better” planning MO. Transportation? The number of vehicles on 5th Avenue? Do we punch a new hole in the train tracks to get vehicles to Hwy 32 and beyond? Do we lose the interesting brick historic structure now on the property? Sustainability issues? Contamination issues?
I agree with both I would like an estimate of cost to replace the heater fan resistor on an Edge 2008eter and Betsy. Also wonder how much of this is low income housing?