I will begin by calling the role.

Commissioner Allison.

Here.

Commissioner Katrina Cray.

Present.

Commissioner Willie Smith.

Commissioner Rennell Washington.

Commissioner Tariq Moody.

Present.

Commissioner Jesus Gonzalez.

Present.

Okay, thank you very much.

The first item of business is to review.

Well, actually, first of all, Ms.

Vonsecca, would you like to review the rules and directions for the meeting?

Thank you, Chair.

Today's City Plan Commission meeting will be carried out in a hybrid format, which means we are accepting public testimony both in person at 809 North Broadway and online in GoToWebinar.

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Again, that's city.mwaukee.gov slash cpc.

From this web page, you can download and log into go to webinar and provide testimony during any of the public comment items.

Whether you are providing testimony in person or remotely today, please state your name, address, and affiliation with the item for your testimony.

Thank you for your participation.

Okay, thank you very much.

All right.

Um the first item business is to review the minutes.

Commissioners, have you had an opportunity to look at those minutes?

And if so, I will accept a motion on the minutes.

I'll make a motion to approve the previous meeting minutes.

Okay, there's been a motion.

Is there a second?

Commissioner would be seconds.

A second, any discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Abstentions, motion carries.

Okay.

Item number two.

Kristen, would you like to introduce or whoever would like to introduce the file?

Sure.

The next item is file number 252012, a resolution relating to a minor modification to the detailed plan development known as St.

Rita Square to allow additional building signage on the existing building located at 728 East Pleasant Street on the north side of East Pleasant Street, east of North Van Buren Street in the third Aldermanic district.

Kristen Connolly, DCD planning.

Um the subject site before you was rezoned to a detailed plan development back in 2018, and it allowed the construction of a senior living facility as well as new church for the St.

Rita congregation.

The senior living facility entails a six-story building with independent living, assisted living, high acuity, assisted living, and memory care.

This particular minor modification relates to allowable signage for the senior living facility.

See if I can advance.

There's the building.

Currently, the DPD zoning allows signage near the main entrance and drop-off area along Pleasant Street and at the corner of Van Buren and Pleasant.

And so this minor modification will approve one new sign.

It'll be a projecting sign along the Van Buren frontage.

And the purpose of the sign is to allow additional visibility and awareness that this is a senior living community.

The sign will follow the provisions of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances with respect to not projecting more than four feet into the public right-of-way and being not less than 10 feet above the adjacent sidewalk grade.

So as long as these are done, DPW has no concerns about the projecting sign.

Um this site's within the boundary of the northeast side area plan and more specifically located within the lower east side sub area.

The plan aims to enhance the sub-area's characteristics or pardon me character by allowing for context sensitive development options and supporting a variety of lifestyle options.

The plan encourages attracting new residents to the area and promoting aging within the community.

And these objectives are further accomplished by improving the uh visibility of the senior living community.

The sites within the third Aldermanic District and Alderman Brower is supportive of the file.

And since it's consistent with the detail or the area plan and blends in nicely with the building, it's a high quality sign.

Staff recommends approval.

And we do have representatives from both the State Rita Square as well as the sign company if there's any questions.

And this is permanent, the permanent sign.

It is a permanent sign, and I believe non-illuminated, right?

Yeah.

Non-illuminated good.

That's good.

Yeah.

Okay.

Ummissioners, do you have any questions?

I did have one quick question.

Um, is there more signage wayfinding that indicates the Saint Rita's square portion of that?

Because it seems like you're eclipsing it all with senior living.

Um I just didn't know if so, why don't we have um the applicant to see?

The applicant come and uh and I can share it doesn't show up in that drawing because I think it's just too new to be in the Google Street View, but at that corner where that flag is is where there's the state readers.

I think it's oh it's the opposite corner.

The top left is where there's St.

Rita Square currently type A signage.

So I skipped that in my presentation.

Currently, there are building wall signs right at like the top left corner above those first floor windows, so on the corner there, and then there's a wall sign in the lower right corner where the flag is.

There's like that monument or wall sign that's that has another um like identity project identity sign.

Okay, um go come right, come right ahead and just introduce yourself.

Hi there, Amy Shanneman from Capri Communities.

We um own and operate St.

Rita Square.

Um, we built this property about five and a half years ago, and you know, as Kristen had mentioned, the signage is further eastward away from Van Buren Street where our entrance is, so it's more on Pleasant and Cass Street, and we put that signage in initially for monument signage, but we realized there was no presence along Van Buren.

We came in again and and added just bronze letters that were attached to the face of the building up higher.

Um the purpose for saying senior living is just to truly give awareness.

Uh you know, there's a lot of different product coming out there.

A lot of people just intuitively in Milwaukee think it's another multifamily property, and you know, it's almost like we'll get calls then from people looking for senior living, and it's suddenly their first time of choosing to do independent living or having to come in because there's an event where they're looking for health care, and they're like, We didn't know you were a senior living, you know, building.

And so truly just having that brand awareness of people driving by and knowing that it's in their community.

Sometimes it's like a five-year-long process of people knowing that you're in the community before they even approach senior living.

So it that's really the necessity of what we're hoping to achieve here.

Okay, that helps.

Um, the other question I have is color choice.

Um the blue.

Yeah.

It seems like everything else has been kind of in the bronzes and you know, kind of going with this neoclassical kind of thing that you've got going on there.

Um, is there what the attraction of the blue other than eye catching?

The the blue just happens to be our capri branded colors.

So if you'd look on the monument sign, which again it's it's much further inward, we kept bronze on the corner, but our capri logo is that blue and that gold color.

Okay, so it works off of something else that you're already doing.

Perfect.

So it works off with the with the brand of Capri.

Yes, necessarily with this building.

Correct.

Okay, yeah, all of our all of our capri.

Okay, about why it was blue, blue, and yellow.

Yeah, all of our Capri communities that say Capri have that blue and gold in some version.

Okay, but it's not illuminated.

No, so that's good.

Okay, any other questions?

Yeah, this is Commissioner Washington.

Um, just a general question on I believe page nine of our presentation.

Um, it shows some of the renderings of the proposed sign.

Um you've mentioned independent living, but there's like the little advertisement with um the lime green.

Does that switch?

Do you swap that out at all, or is that just a standard?

So to me, it's a little confusing if I see senior leaving there, but then I see independent living there.

So I know you're trying to bring awareness for a future um prospective tenants, but I'm curious.

Does do you ever swap that out, or is there an opportunity to match the brand name from this proposed sign with there?

Yeah, so um senior living is more of the it generally encompasses independent living, assisted living and memory care, which is what we offer.

So um you're trying to market to different um different acuity groups.

So senior living is like the broad definition of why we would want it on that top sign, and then that's just letting people know that there are independent apartments available in the green again is within our sub branding colors.

Oh are there other um marketing pieces in this area right here as well, too?

Or this is just the only one is green with this um single picture.

Those were put up, I think they're like peel and stick laminate.

Those have been up for I think since we opened again, trying to let people know what we who we were.

Sure.

So it's independent of the blade sign.

Okay.

And then my question is more of a safety feature as I went around.

Like, I'm just trying to make sure that this I understand you're you saying that the signage is there in order to like bring that aesthetic so people understand, but is it also there for people to understand that there are seniors there?

Like, has there been any issues or concerns with that?

When I it's just some of the things that I saw within that area, and I was just curious about that.

Um from like a safety perspective or below who are seniors okay, you know, I mean traffic, things like that.

So I was just wondering again, sometimes the sign is going to be placed there in order to alert others, and I was curious if that was something that was I guess that wasn't considered, but I think that could be like a bonus for people to hopefully be more cognizant at these intersections and slowing down.

That would be lovely.

But nothing has happened to that would cause any no, we and we haven't had any traffic considerations.

Our building is um fully locked um and secured um with fobs and all of that from our perspective.

So thank you.

And um, you know, the the signage becomes an issue in in all of Milwaukee.

So that's why we have a lot of questions on this, and and a lot of times people will put signs up in their windows and never take them down.

We want to have um a lot of translucency and so forth.

Um, but do you just want to add?

Um, it seems like it's been a great um building, and people have very high reviews about living there.

Is there anything you want to add?

Are you full?

Are you have a waiting list?

Um, we're we're full.

Um, it's pretty amazing that we opened a month after COVID released its May 26, 2020.

May was the release, and we had 40 people moving in in June into a senior living environment.

So um, I mean, we would maintain a very healthy occupancy higher than what the national trends were, and I think that's attributed to Capri's success in all of our portfolio, but then also St.

Rita Square.

I mean, paired with the church next to the church, it's been a really beautiful synergistic relationship.

Um, we offer a lot of community events outward too.

So I think that that helps.

Like, you know, we're constantly marketing to the external community for educational purposes, um, coming to our community for lunch and learns.

And so again, it's just helps for that wayfinding that they've they've found the building.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Uh Commissioner, any other questions?

And uh, is there anyone else that would like to speak to this item?

Uh if not, um, commissioners, uh, is there a motion?

Commissioner Crane, a motion to approve file number two 52012 as presented.

Okay, and is there a second?

Commissioner Washington now, second.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye, aye.

Opposed, abstentions, motion carries.

Um, best of luck to you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

All right, let's move to item number three.

Okay, item number three is file number two five one eight six seven, a substitute ordinance relating to the change in zoning from industrial heavy IH to industrial mixed IM for the properties located at 2156 South Fourth and 2166 South 4th Street on the east side of South Fourth Street, south of West Beecher Street in the 12th Aldermanic district.

Kristen Connolly, DCD planning.

These subject sites are uh currently zone industrial heavy and within the Harbor District Riverwalk site plan review overlay zone.

Um 2156, which is that north parcel, the larger parcel, um is a multi-story building with surface parking lot, and then the smaller parcel to the south is the city-owned vegan lot.

Um Drummond Company and Bill Sinski from Drummond is here, um, owns that north parcel, and they're the ones who requested the change in zoning to industrial mixed to allow a wider uh mix of uses in the existing building on their site.

Give you a little sneak preview.

So you've probably seen that one driving up the interstate.

Um, the multi-story building just doesn't function well for industrial heavy any longer, and they've received interest in the space within the building for uses such as schools, daycares and in studios and such.

About half of the building is currently occupied by a daycare facility, and that was approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Um, this zoning change also includes, like I said before, the city owned vacant site to the south.

Um, just for continuity, because otherwise it would be right, it would be an industrial heavy site right between the residential and Lincoln Playfield to the south, and then the subject property at 2156 South Force Street.

Um, these it is anticipated that the city site will be used in some fashion as part of the river walk extension in the future when the Harbor District River Walk is expanded from um Lincoln Playfield North to Beecher Street.

The sites are within the Harbor District water and land use plan boundary, and more specifically, they're within the plan's lower Connect River subdistrict.

Um, the plan supports transitioning this area from exclusively industrial uses to a more diverse mixed use environment, um, which is achievable through zoning, rezoning certain properties from industrial heavy to zoning classifications that allow a broader mix of uses, such as industrial mixed.

Um, the plan also calls for the extension of the river walk system along the Connectnik River, and um the proposal is consistent with the plan.

Um, this is in the 12th Aldermanic district, and President Perez has not stated any objections to the file.

Um, we do recommend approval, and like I said, Belsinski is here from Drummond Company to give a brief presentation and answer any questions.

Okay, great, thank you.

Thank you.

I uh Bill Sinski with the Drummond Company representing the landlord who is East Lincoln LLC, and I don't have much to add with that presentation.

Just uh to simplify our marketing of the uh available space in the building to make it uh a broader range of users.

Clearly, heavy industrial, you know, at one point worked for these kinds of buildings, but now a more of a mixed use is better.

Ebenezer is a new tenant.

Uh I think they've been in about a year, they're thriving.

It's terrific.

Um with the riverwalk going in and just the playground being rebuilt down there, it's uh clearly not appropriate for a heavy industrial use.

So we're requesting this change to uh industrial mixed.

Oh yeah.

Yeah, there are some.

Yeah, here's some photos of uh Ebenezer's build out.

Okay, commissions.

Any questions?

There's no um this gets the support of the Harbor District and the water, you know, and their their plan.

I'm sorry.

Um, this more of a question for Kristen, but um it this has the support of the Harbor District.

Oh, yes.

Okay.

Okay, commissioners, any other questions?

Commissioner Washington.

Um available floors are three and four.

Correct.

Okay.

What is on uh the third floor?

So you have a picture of the fourth floor, but not the third third floor.

It had been a school years ago, so it's some large classrooms right now.

Okay.

Um what types of tenants are interested in uh upper floors?

First question.

So we've had some office, we've had some uh uh nonprofits, we've had some art type schools.

Um just people who like the airiness, like the open space and the location is great, especially once they finish that intersection.

If you've been down there, it's gonna be terrific.

So okay, and more follow up question.

Did you speak to the access so with um first two and a half floors being geared towards youth, children, parlors, etc.

Um access for the upper floors for safety concerns via elevator or whatever?

Sure, Ebenezer has its own entrance at the lowest level, and then there is a main entrance for the building that Ebenezer can use, and it also goes to a lobby with an elevator to serve the third and fourth floors.

So there so in other words, the other tenants will not be going through Ebenezer's place.

Right.

Okay, commissioners, anything else?

Um, is there anyone else that would like to speak to this item?

All right, commissioners, is there a motion?

Um I would have moved to approve the change in zoning from industrial heavy IH to industrial mix I am.

Okay, is there a second?

Seeing none, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Opposed abstentions, motion carries.

Okay, good luck to you.

Thank you very much.

All right, item number four.

Item number four is file number two five one six oh six, a substitute ordinance relating to the change in zoning from single family residential RS2 to multifamily residential RM3 for the property located at 11919 West Bradley Road to allow multifamily residential development on a portion of the site located on the south side of West Bradley Road, east of North 124th Street in the 9th Aldermanic district.

Kristen Connolly, DCD planning.

Um the subject site's approximately 15 acres, and it's currently zoned single family residential, and it consists of a church, as you can see in the in the aerial photo.

Um the applicants, Scott Crawford Inc.

is requesting to change the zoning of the site to multifamily residential or RM3 to allow a portion of the site to be the developed to be developed as housing.

Um a church does remain an allowable use in that RM3 zoning as well.

Um, since this is a base zoning change, specific plans are not part of the file, though the applicants from Scott Crawford behind me, um, we'll share an overview of their concept plans, which just in general include 100 units of housing for seniors that will be within a series of townhouse style flat buildings.

Um the RM3 zoning designates design standards will apply to those residential buildings, and board of zoning appeals would be necessary, at least for one component of the project, just to allow multiple principal buildings on the site.

Future phases of the development could include a new school attached to the church and memory care facility.

Um this site's within the northwest side area plan and more specifically is located in district three.

Um this district is characterized by diverse land uses, small and large multifamily housing developments are present throughout the district.

And district three also has sizable tracts of land.

Sorry, just trying to advance.

I pushed the wrong button.

I guess that would help.

Um has sizable tracts of vacant land that will be accommodate future ongoing development.

The plan does encourage residential or other compatible uses along commercial corridors and areas where residential and commercial activity as a primary use are no longer supported by the surrounding residential densities.

This includes policies to increase the amount of land designated for mixed use development in order to provide more variety in the area.

And then residential land use policies recommend locating residential land uses adjacent to compatible non-residential uses.

It also encourages residential development to be placed near access points to recreational trails.

Um the proposed zoning change is consistent with the Northwest Side Plan area.

Um the sites within the 9th Aldermanic District, and I believe Taylor is here as well.

Um, so she can speak on the file.

Staff does recommend approval.

And as I mentioned, the development team is here to give a brief presentation of their concept plans as well and can also touch on um community engagement that they've held already in um in partnership with older woman tailor.

Okay, thank you very much.

Um good afternoon, everybody.

My name is Marcus Morgan.

I'm uh here on behalf of Scott Crawford Incorporated.

And um, the development that we're proposing is as Kristen mentioned, 100 units, 100 units of senior housing that'll uh be based on site uh right off of uh 119th and riley road.

Uh have uh Pastor Robert Randolph here, who's the the head pastor for King of Fellowship Kingdom Fellowship Church, who is uh our partner on this, uh our partner on this development, and they also own the land currently.

Um so here on a site plan, I'll kind of go into a little bit more of our overall plans.

So uh as Kristen mentioned, we're looking to do 100 units um in phase one.

Um so that is our that is our main purpose for being here today to kind of get the rezoning approval for uh for the uh 100 units.

Um then phase two and three will be um an additional build out of the church, um, which includes um they currently they have a current gymnasium inside of the church, so it'll kind of be an additional build out to build out of that space, um, as well as additional classroom space so that later on they can do uh somewhat of a vocational Bible school as well as a potential uh early early education elementary school as well.

Um, and then as you can see towards the bottom left of the uh bottom left of the site plan, we'll be uh looking at 60 to 80 unit memory care center as well, um, within phase two and three.

And then I'll kind of go through here um as far as the the target population um that that will be that we'll be targeting.

Um it'll be uh uh a split of workforce housing and market rate.

Um so we will have uh some units that are a little bit more affordable on site as well as uh some some market some market rate in there as well.

plan we'll be uh looking at adding a 60 to 80 unit memory care center as well um within phase two and three and then i'll kind of go through here um as far as the the target population um that that we'll be that that we'll be targeting um it'll be uh uh a split of workforce housing and market rate um so we will have uh some units that are a little bit more affordable um on site as well as uh some some market some market rate in there as well um these renderings just kind of show a little bit more of kind of what our overall plan is for the housing for the housing section of the site and can you go i'm sorry can you go back to that last slide um two slides before i just wanted to see how what the mix is on the the mix for the unit one bedrooms oh gotcha and two bedrooms 54 and three bedrooms 21 okay thank you and then here just kind of gives the overall lay of kind of uh our overall vision once uh all three phases are completed so to show the housing the memory care center um as well as the uh the build out of the church okay um and you said the the phases are when when do you when when would you expect this to be completed or and starting um well the plan will be to start the the 100 unit construction later on this year so we're targeting a quarter three uh construction start we have about a 12 to 14 month construction um construction time period for uh for the housing piece and then the plan would also be to get going on phase two and three uh once the housing component was completed so we'll be looking at very likely 2028 for a construction start for phase two and three for phase two and three and what how many uh units do you expect with phase two and three um so it'll just be a total of 60 to 80 units like so I mean to be more specific we can call phase two the memory care center um and that'll be between 60 and 80 units and then phase three will be the build out of the church that includes the uh the the vocational bible school okay so those won't be additional housing units so the only additional housing units will be uh attached to the memory care center okay thank you well there's a lot of um there's a lot of demand for senior housing so this is um really you know quite quite lovely the renderings that you have can you tell us a little bit more about the units themselves um yeah look so our plan here which we had a meeting uh with auto woman tailor uh coming up on about a year ago now um and some of the some of the input that she kind of give gave us that she received from um some of the constituents within the district is that they wanted more like private entry townhouse style uh apartments instead of just one large 60 80 100 unit apartment building so that's more so our plan so each unit has our own private entry um we each unit won't have their own garage but within our current plan we have I want to say about 40 garages um so some will be attached some will be kind of next to the unit um to a certain extent um but that that was more of our plan to kind of create more of a open open private townhouse style uh townhouse style design um that also kind of still incorporated some of the nature feel um that kind of comes just naturally on this site of being over 15 acres are they two floors um yes all of the units are two floors not all or not all of the units some not all some okay all right uh commissioners you have any other questions commissioner moody uh I was looking at the parking you're not required to have bike parking on this property um to my understanding we are not I can follow up with that and get back to you though um but to my understanding we're not I believe that they they will yeah they will have I believe that'll come up in the DPW review yeah just so you're not surprised got it thanks for that and so really the task behind us is just the zoning change today to make this correct happen.

Yes not necessarily a um critique of the development itself is that correct that is correct okay we're not doing a design we're not doing design but we're interested to know what's what what you're what you're building sounds it's good we appreciate the feedback okay any other questions or comments um just a comment I mean it is a beautiful natural site um you know so you are taking down a lot of mature trees and I understand kind of the the trade here but you know just just uh as you do go forward in design kind of thinking about you know where things are located and um how you can balance with the existing nature that's out there I think would be a good challenge.

100% and that's definitely something that the church has been uh very instrumental as well as far as making sure that we kind of keep some you know some of that nature uh preservation as much as we can like we looked to um adding a butterfly garden um a few other green spaces as well that we're looking at I saw a nature trail and kind of going yeah going through there and I think those are all nice little insertions um to keep as part of the final development scheme.

I know you mentioned that the other a year ago had a conversation with us from the community.

Since you guys have come up with a lot of this now, have you had any recent conversations?

Yes, we uh we started our uh conversations with the author woman last summer.

Um, and then we just recently this was the end of February.

Um we had a community meeting where we invited um essentially everybody from the ninth district, um, as well as the members of the church to come out.

Um, we had actually a pretty nice turnout.

Um, and we kind of went through a very similar, very similar presentation at that time to kind of get feedback, and we were able to get everybody's full support, including our residential neighbor who's right next door.

There's a house uh like like literally right next door to the site, and we even got her full approval as well.

Yeah, okay, great.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, next I'd like to ask uh Alder Woman Larissa Taylor to come to the podium, please.

Thank you very much.

Um, so I did want to come and just express uh my support for this project.

Um he's right.

I did meet with them about a year ago, um, and that's when they were just at the whole idea phase, just um showing what they thought they could do, but they spoke a lot to uh veteran the community uh and um making sure that they kept as much of as he said, the greenery that they could with this development.

Um I think I heard one of you say that yes, we need a lot of senior housing.

Well, our district has 13 senior housing um developments already.

Um are not so good, some are good.

Uh but what makes this one a little more unique for our district, uh, which I think will make our district a little more competitive is the adding of that memory piece.

Um, because out of the 13 senior housing developments we have, none of them have that.

Um so it sounds um from the conversations that I've had with them that this would be um a very supportive um development that would um support the care of our seniors in a much um more detailed way than what we already have existing, which I think will um make us a little more competitive with other um senior facilities that I've seen around our city.

Uh so I so I'm really excited about what they're bringing to the table.

Uh and um and where they're located.

So we've right, we did reach out um about a month, maybe two months ago now, um, to the community, and um so um they they did receive um support.

Like he mentioned, there is one um house that's on the property there, and so she was excited, and she just is ready to um sell her house to them.

So which I thought okay.

Um, but uh, but she's she did mention how she's been there long enough to see the development that has happened in that area.

Uh and so um for her to be pleased with this and pleased enough to say, hey, I think this could be a benefit of you for you.

I think that's a good thing as well.

So um, and where they're located is sort of at the end of our office park.

Uh and that office park needs some development over there, and so I think that this would be a good start to what um the rest of that office park could actually look like.

So um so I'm appreciative to um this church uh being in the area and what they're bringing to the table.

Okay, thank you so much.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, and uh, I would like to ask Dr.

Robert Randolph to come to the podium, please.

Good afternoon.

You'd like to introduce yourself and then I am Dr.

Robert C.

Randolph.

I am the senior pastor of Kingdom Faith Fellowship Church, and we're excited to be co-sponsoring this uh development with uh Scott Crawford and um and pleased to be here today.

Okay, you want to add anything to um to let us know about this this project?

Uh mostly I'm just echoing uh everything that has already been said.

Um this is a uh I think a very much needed community asset uh in the ninth district, and I appreciate having our alder woman support, and uh, we're looking forward to uh all of the phases uh to be quite honest with you.

Yeah, it may take a little take a little time to develop all of it, but in the end, uh the investment that uh we will make in the community, I think will be substantial.

So you'll have the memory care, and then will you also have assisted care?

Um so you have independent living, right?

Just like apartments for people 55 and up, right?

And then you'll have the memory care.

Um, so you'll have people there to assist uh people that are living living there in the in the um project.

Absolutely.

It uh it allows one of the things again that I'm most excited about the project is it allows our um aging population to age in place, as opposed to you know having to be sparse and scattered.

So again, it's one of those things that our community desperately need.

I think that you uh you hit the nail on the head that the demand is great, so it's actually outpacing the supply.

So uh what we're doing is uh desperately needed, and again, uh it is a mission focused, uh mission centered project.

And again, we're just we're happy to do the work that we're doing.

And we couldn't have picked a better, a better part.

Great.

And it um so good to see that you were meeting with Aldwoman uh Taylor and listening to the residents about what type of um housing they'd like to see because these townhouses are not something that we see a lot in Milwaukee, and it's something that um people are are wanting more to be able to have a place to park and to be able to have their own private entrance, similar to a single family house, but having the ability to have the the scale um that comes with uh more of an apartment complex.

Absolutely so, but it looks looks looks great.

Is there any other questions or comments that anyone might have?

Anything on the outdoor space.

Looks like you have a nice design for the outdoor, um, being able to enjoy the outdoors and the yeah.

We have uh if you look at the um go back to the site plan, there is a path that goes around the uh circumference of the entire property and connects to the old leak trail.

We call it uh walk by faith, and it's essentially a walking path that the community community can use.

And uh, we have some renderings.

We don't have them in this presentation, but we have some renderings that basically just showing again, you know, what the project is centrally focused on is giving back to the community.

Uh, and so again, we're we're excited about uh the implications of all of this and uh and what it means in terms of uh the long term care and viability of of this population.

Okay, wonderful.

Um, thank you.

Is there any other questions?

I had a question for staff.

So this, if we allow the zoning change, then if they meet the requirements of the zoning, we'll never see it again, right?

That is correct.

And really, it's it's whether we think it should be a multifamily development on the site or not.

Correct.

Not really the design, the specific design of any of this.

That's where you guys come in.

Yes, that's right.

Yeah, and um, but we um what we do like to learn more about uh the projects that are happening and uh you know the population that you're serving and the ability for people to be able to age in place and also be able to worship at the same time and take part in the the outdoor um trails and so forth.

So thank you very much.

Is there any other questions or comments?

Right, thank you so much.

Is there anyone else that would like to speak to this item?

I know I have quite a few people that are registered, but not that have said that we would like to speak.

But if you changed your mind, you could do so at this time.

All right, thank you.

All right, is there um if there's nothing else?

Is there a motion?

Commissioner Rudy motions to approve item 251606.

Okay, there's been a motion.

Is there a second?

It's commissioner watching now, second.

And a motion is second.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, uh, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye, opposed abstentions, motion carries.

Uh best of luck to you in the project.

Looking forward to seeing it.

Okay, now we are moving on to item number five.

Okay, item number five is uh file number two five two one five five, a resolution approving plans for a new multifamily residential development located on a portion of 5825 West Hope Avenue on the east side of North 60th Street, north of West Hope Avenue, relative to the Midtown Center Development Incentive Zone or Diz Overlay established by section 295-91.0044 of the former Milwaukee Code and the second Aldermanic District.

Okay.

The subject site is within the Midtown Center Diz Overlay and is zoned regional business or RB2.

Midtown Center DIS was established in 2000 and includes an allowable use list as well as design standards for new construction and alterations.

This site was previously occupied via Walmart, which left in 2016 and has remained vacant since.

The current owner, AFS Milwaukee LLC, purchased the site in June of 2022 and previously requested a deviation from the DIS overlay allowable uses to permit self-storage, self-service storage within the vacant Walmart building.

That request was denied by this body because it was determined that the deviation criteria set forth by the zoning code were not met for reasons, including that the only proposed non-speculative use proposed for the site at that time was for self-service storage.

Since that time, the owner has worked collaboratively with several partners to create a dynamic redevelopment plan for the entire site.

This residential development that is the subject of this file is part of a multi-component redevelopment plan for the entire site and encompasses the former Walmart parking lot on the north side of West Hope Avenue.

Plans for the remainder of the site, the lands, the land south of West Hope Avenue will be submitted for City Plan Commission consideration as part of a future file in the near future.

Gorman and Company is seeking approval of a 200 unit affordable residential development known as Midtown Commons as it relates to the Midtown Center DIS overlay.

The development team will go over the proposal in more detail, but I'll share a high-level overview.

Multifamily residential is an allowable use per the development incentive zone.

The development will be constructed in two phases with 100 units in each of the two four-story buildings.

It is anticipated that the phase two building will be constructed immediately following the completion of phase one, though we have some standards written into the DIS exhibit with respect to depaving the remainder of the parking lot and constructing the play space if construction uh if phase two construction is delayed.

Parking for the residents will be located between the two buildings, and loading zones and angled parking for guests have been added to the north side of Hope Avenue.

Development includes numerous outdoor spaces, both within the courtyards of each building and in a larger play space area along Hope Avenue.

Staff review the proposal alongside the DIS design standards and have concluded that the plans comply with all applicable standards.

The building height does not exceed the maximum 50 feet in height.

The building's exterior design and facade materials are compliant with the overlay.

Details relating to pedestrian and vehicle access, circulation and parking, as well as building place placement, site improvements, and dumpster screening are all compliant with the DIS standards.

And staff worked with the development team to ensure that the new sidewalk along Hope Avenue and the walkways within the site are all of generous widths with clear pedestrian connections to the buildings and the play area.

Future pedestrian connections to the south of West Hope Avenue will be coordinated with the final plans for that portion of the site.

And landscaping requirements for the parking lot and the perimeter of the site meet both the DIS overlay and zoning code requirements.

The site is within the West Side Area Plan, and more specifically, it's situated within the Midtown Center district.

The plan encourages the integration of residential uses throughout the Midtown Center and directly recommends including a mix of commercial residential, institutional, and office uses.

Additionally, the plan uh supports extending Midtown Center's town square approach by adding pedestrian connections and in fill buildings where feasible.

The proposed infill development meets this recommendation, achieved in part by situating the parking lots at the rear rear or side of the building's principal facades and improving on and adding to the pedestrian network.

The plan also recommends increasing landscaping at the midtown center for environmental and aesthetic improvement and to reduce the impact of impervious surfaces and the landscape plan submitted as part of this file, achieves this.

The plan also encourages incorporation of open space features and amenities and development projects, which is achieved here with the courtyard spaces in play area.

The proposed plans for this residential development and associated play area are consistent with the West Side Area Plan.

And since the proposal overall is consistent with the DIS overlay with respect to use and design and is strongly supported by the recommendations of the West Side Area Plan, staff recommends approval of the subject file.

Um, this file also has the support of the local Alder Alderman Chambers, who has joined us today for this item.

Okay.

Thank you, Ms.

Monsecka.

So I would um propose if we would like to take it out of order.

I know that Alderman Chambers has some time constraints.

Would you like to would you like to present first before the uh just to make sure that you able to remember that thank you?

Thank you again, madam chair.

Um thank you, madam chair and uh commissioners, um Alderman Mark Chambers, representative of the second district.

Um just wanted to thank you uh again for taking the opportunity to hear this project.

Um, you know, as the Alderman for the uh second district, I want to express my support for this project.

We came with a long time coming.

Um I know as you know, Ms.

Vonseca brought up, we uh been here before, but um give credit to um AFS uh Milwaukee and over you and his team um for reimagining this project uh all along we have been um as collaborative as possible and just knowing that you know the first denial doesn't mean it's the final denial, and I think this project proves it in the future files that come forward.

Um you know, bringing this project to uh the midtown area where it's been a focal point for me not only as opportunity and um concern over the years, and this this particular proposal represents a step towards stabilizing and reactivating the site that residents interact with every day.

Um that being said, the support must be grounded and accountability.

Um, and that I will give much credit to um Ted Macham and uh Gorman and also Dave Miskin and the rest of the guys at City Development Um for their um their commitment to ensuring that we take in the resonance um you know the resident's input with the West Side plan and ensuring that this is an intentional project.

Um we're looking for clear commitments around quality development, long-term maintenance intended mix that reflects the need of the surrounding neighborhoods, including access to essential goods, services, and workforce opportunities.

It is equally important that this project aligns with a broader housing and economic development goals, particularly as we can continue to advance efforts tied to affordable and workforce housing across the city.

I also want to uh emphasize again the importance of continued engagement with the residents within the West Side plan.

So um the community does deserve transparency, responsiveness, and a voice throughout this process, and they have um their lived experiences to help shape that this development how it ultimately takes form.

Um Midtown Commons has the potential to be a turning point for the corridor, and I remain committed to work collaborating with the partners involved to ensure that this project delivered real lasting benefits for the residents of the second district.

And thank you for this opportunity.

Well, thank you.

And we'll we'll save our questions for the details of the of the plan for the for the uh developer, but um it's it's it's very important for us to hear from you that you are supporting this project.

We know that this has been uh an area that you've been working on for a very long time.

Um and it is such an important part of our city to see it developed in the in the way that really benefits the community.

So um it's uh good to hear that you are fully in support of of the project.

Yeah, thank you.

And and to your point, um, it's very important to the entire city of Milwaukee that Midtown is thriving, and hopefully, this project will be the launching point of more opportunities within that corridor in the nearby neighborhoods um within the second and also in the city of Milwaukee.

So thank you for that.

And I think it's important to just remember um just to point out uh to all of us, if if we don't have it just on the top of our mind, just um, you know, what a what a what a real tragedy it was when Walmart just decided to up and leave and abandon that uh property and left all of us to to deal with um their bad decision making.

And so um I think that this is uh you know a long time coming.

And of course, we had another project with the with the storage units that wasn't really going to bring much dynamism dynamism um or uh jobs or uh benefit to to you know this important uh land and important um I always want to call it Capital Court because that's what I know it as.

So, like you know, so you know, again, this opportunity um will provide to reimage and reimagine, you know, reimagine that that whole corridor, you know, everyone knows remember as you said Capital Core has a thrive, uh once thriving place, midtown shopping center in the beginning it was thriving and then it kind of just fell apart.

So I look at this opportunity and this project and the future projects that are coming um to be a restart for that imagine and potentially a name change.

Um, you know, I'm I'm uh spoke to you know the owners of the other building, and it looked like can we kind of tie in both together and possibly look into a you know a name change for that just to you know out with the old and in with the new and just provide new horizons for this neighborhood.

So okay, wonderful.

Well, thank you for all your work on this.

Um does uh commissioners, do you have any other comments or questions for alderman chambers?

Commissioner Washington.

Um just looking at the proposal and just want your opinion.

Um it states that there's uh two buildings that we built, but it doesn't indicate a unimix.

So I'm curious if you have had conversations about the unimits, but from your perspective is Ottoman, is it more important for more family units here, or are you looking for an equal mix of single individuals or more family?

Because it can go either way.

So I'm just curious what you are, a mixture of both.

Um, you know, what was important to me, and um, I'll allow you know Ted and his staff talk about it as well.

Um, what was important to me with this particular project is the opportunity to bring you know single and also family.

So that's where it's a good mixture of uh one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedrooms as well.

And not only that, is to uh ensure that the property is you know, may, you know, maintained well kept.

Um, so they have a commitment of you know, 24 or seven, um, you know, on site management, um, maintenance and um security that's going to be over there.

So that was an entirely important to me to ensure that you know, while we are reimagining this opportunity, we don't want this opportunity to be waste with, you know, because we do have some tenants that just kind of don't care about where they live at.

And this project is very important to the city, in my opinion, um, whether that's families or whether it's just someone who you know graduate college and want to come back and you know find some place affordable.

Um, so you know, again, credit to Ted and his team to really take in those concerns, not only for myself, but from DCD and also the residents that spoke about it within the West Side Plan um to just encapsulate, encapsulate everything in there.

So to answer your question, yes, it's a good mixture of both.

Um, I think that if I'm not mistaken, I know they're gonna go on time.

I'm not mistaken, it's gonna be a total of about 40, you know, possibly about 30 units of each, you know, 30 units of three bedrooms, two bedrooms, we'll actually have them get into the details.

And I know we did this a little bit back.

Oh, no, no, it's fine, it's fine.

So yeah, schedule.

So that's the question it was very important to me to have it.

So thank you.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

I have a question too, as far as like your involvement with the community, the neighbors of that area and making sure that they are aware and a part of.

I'm wondering like how many times has there been any commit communication or connection to actually express anything about this project.

So we hosted a um the West Side Plan meeting at Marshall High School just recently, I think it was in March, but prior to that, when Garmin first um won the first 100 credits last year in 2025.

We also two town halls in the nearby area, one at Capitol Library and also the other at Marshall High School, where we allow residents to come and speak about those.

And the mix, the reviews was, you know, it was more people that was in favor.

Some people were thinking it was section eight.

I don't know why they think low income is section eight, but um, you know, we expressed that you know, this is uh affordable family, and you know, given the pros and cons of not having this and you know, having something that's not there, um, you know, some people were reluctant to agree, but um, my continued commitment to those residents that we're gonna be, you know, holding you know, Gorman and everybody else accountable with their commitments to obtaining to making sure that the property um is you know kept up, you know, maintained well.

Um, and also they're providing the security to ensure that no one leaks out into those neighborhoods, but also with the other um the other additions that is happening in you know in this entirety with the other part to be happening later on.

Um, I think it will encapsulate everything um as far as community engagement uh moving forward.

I think the community will will really appreciate what is being brought to this area.

So I want to like learn more of, and I know I've made this comment before at this body with understanding the um the full area of who's encapsulated because when I look at this picture, my house is in it.

But did I know anything about this?

I didn't, as far as these meetings.

And it's been a problem to me when it comes to the midtown development.

As I I mean, I look, I can see my house.

Where you live and uh where you live in?

Do I what?

What area are you in mines?

Or you're in Jackson?

I'm in yours.

Okay.

Um and you know, so it's always been an issue to me with understanding because again, I lived in this area for 40 years.

Um, and so everything that happens to the Midtown Center is actually because I even kind of took offense to you saying the name change, I'll be honest, because it's a historic thing for me as well.

But um, you know, just the whole thing of understanding what's happening, and then also as a resident thinking through my um reluctance of some of us of letting go and seeing what needs to happen to such an area.

But I just wanted to understand more about how it's being community sensitive that you're increasing because again, it's it's a center that yeah, and it's an area that like you're gonna have more residents outside of like a small because it kept being just this area of 60th street before that was communicated to, and but we see these images, and they're we're not allowed to be able to do that.

So, what I can tell.

So, what I can tell you we did not have direct mailing that where where you if you were expecting, like, hey, we're gonna talk about mid-town project on this day far as this.

But you live in my district, I'm pretty certain you received my my town halls.

Um, you know, I have a list of them in every town hall, and Tanya can speak into it.

Every town hall, I pretty much within that area, I talked about this project.

Um, you know, I talked about this project, I talked about the other Walmart.

If I go closer over there, I talk about the other Walmart that I have on Timberman Plaza.

Um, they always been a focus on that because I want the cut the residents to be aware of what's going on if they have any concerns because once the general sentinel article came out that Gorman received those tax credits, I received 35 calls from residents thinking it was low income and everything.

And I talked to each and every one of them and told them that's not it.

And also was able to share some of the you know, some of the you know, description of what's going on within the project on to each and every one of those.

I can give you a couple names, Mr.

and Mrs.

Powers that live right by Jeans uh Suburb Club, Miss Lula Rogers live right across right uh across the alley from them.

I can just go on on with the residents that I did personally talk to.

I did not talk to you, I apologize for that, but we can have another conversational side of that.

But um, I do think that you know, being the elected official, I was elected to make said decisions within the community of mine, does not I do not take this lightly.

I do not take this.

Um, you know, I I hold this heavy.

Um, and I think that you know, the opportunity that we have with this, uh I think it's a great start to you know eliminate some of the blight that is happening at this location.

I see it, I saw it, I hear it, I've dressed it multiple times, and they keep on going.

So I think this opportunity um is just one that we couldn't pass by, and that's why I kept going back to the table with affordable family storage um since I've been elected in 2022.

Um, we've been at this literally three weeks after I was elected, it came to my first council meeting to try to talk about storage.

Yeah, and um, you know, I've I've been with this and just you know told them to think bigger, and I told them to think more community focused storage, as I mentioned in my previous testimony, it kills development, it kills you know, opportunity in there.

And um, you know, I I think I I think this is a right combination, especially with what's going to come afterwards as well when I'm thinking of civic engagement, community engagement, education, and recreation.

Um, so I think it's a good mix.

Um, I I'm not gonna say this is gonna be perfect.

I'm not gonna say it won't have this trials and tribulations, but as the elected representative for that area, I will take a head on and handle whatever concerns that we need to handle together.

So yeah, If my commitment commitment on that, Commissioner.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Okay, well, thank you all, Alderman.

Um, we will um let's move to um having Mark.

Is it Mark Larson?

Or Ted Madcom or both of you I am Ted Madcom, Wisconsin market president for Gorman and Company.

And Mark Larson with Corbin Architecture.

Okay, great.

You can go ahead and proceed.

Welcome.

I think Mark, you have an actual presentation.

Yeah, um, but uh just to give you an introduction.

So um a lot of the things uh that relate to the dynamic nature of this proposal have been said.

Um it is a uh it's a rare opportunity, I would say here that I've seen in decades of working with the city.

Um where the city actually said no to a developer and um demanded more.

Yeah, and that was before I was even involved.

Yeah, and the caused the developer to go out and and figure out something more.

Um as the alderman said, I don't know if you know everybody's gonna look uh agree on everything we're gonna be presenting here on tonight and um in the future with the Walmart, but I think it's a really great start based on what's it's a tough property.

I'm just gonna tell you it's a tough property, it's a 10-acre parking lot that we're working with today.

The Walmart's a tough building, it's actually in great shape because to your point, uh irresponsible corporate leadership there.

They they um you know deserted that building way before its useful life.

So there's something that worked there, which is great, but you know, that type of storage building is only on the back now, whereas some interesting retail opportunities and uses, which we'll talk about uh later, is uh is coming to the front to the fore.

And I think this mixed use development, which I'll call the whole thing, really is a testament to the alderman and staff that actually thought that this has to be more.

It can't just be a saddle.

And um, so I I applaud them in that and would love to hear your comments on what you're gonna see today or hear today from Mark.

Uh and Mark's done, I think a very nice job kind of fitting in what we're trying to do here into a uh a nice development that is right now really needs a you know the sea of asphalt to go away and something else to come back in there.

So I'll uh so to kind of introduce you to this project.

Uh all familiar with the existing uh with the existing site.

So we have the existing Walmart and the existing parking lot.

What we're looking to do is to divide the uh development into four different lots.

So there'd be the existing Walmart and the um the surrounding parking lots to the west, and then there's exist or empty land to the east that would remain as one lot, and then the existing parking lots that we're talking about today, which is highlighted in red, um, would be the phase one, phase two, and then we're a separate lot for the player area that we're looking at proposing as well.

Uh so each phase one and phase two are 100 units um the multifamily uh combination of one, two, and three bedroom units.

Um we kind of already talked about it's heavy kind of more on the family side.

So we have 35 three-bedroom, 40 two bedrooms, and 25 one-bedrooms in each of the um complexes.

Did you say those?

I'm sorry.

I can.

Uh so each 100 unit building has 35 three-bedroom, 40 two-bedroom, and 25 one-bedroom units.

How did you come to them?

I actually can just sent yeah.

Let's go let's go ahead and go, let's have them go through it and save up your questions.

Um, and then you know, so we'll come back to these.

I'll have it written down there for you.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Uh, so just kind of a high-level uh understanding of the existing kind of midtown center.

Um, our and kind of the location of the Walmart is that dark black roof.

Um, and then our kind of lighter green and uh development is just to the north of that.

I'm gonna zooming in just a touch.

I see uh just how it starts to integrate into kind of those adjacent uh developments as well, and I'll zoom in a little bit more.

Uh so the uh the development itself does not uh in uh add any additional kind of uh curb cuts uh off of 60th.

We're utilizing the West Hope Avenue extension, which is private road that runs along the face of the Walmart.

Um we enter into uh the phase one development, which is along 60th, and the phase two, which is a little bit east on the on the other end of the site.

Uh kind of a um the parking lot itself would be divided in two for the phase two and phase one developments.

It as it was described.

The hope is that phase two would start construction just a few months behind phase one if everything kind of moves smoothly.

So they kind of uh built contiguously if it doesn't, uh we do have language within the agreements that we would depave and uh sod the rest of the development if that doesn't work.

Um, and then so in between a little bit darker green is a large fenced play area that would serve both uh the the phase one and phase two buildings, but also kind of the surrounding um neighborhoods that would be able to come and utilize it.

The hope across the street on Hope Avenue to the south and the existing Walmart, uh all the street-facing components, which this is not part of this kind of agreement, but would be activated storefronts uh that would still be kind of part of this whole development.

Um this is uh the facade along uh the west facade along 60th.

I just want to mention both buildings are mirrors of each other, so all the facades would just be so both buildings look the same, just here.

Uh this is facade along 60th, uh 60th.

I can't.

Uh so this is north uh the north side, sorry.

So this would face um the uh previous lows, which is now Phoenix.

Um this to the north.

Uh along this is sorry, along West.

This is the west facade.

This is along 60th, um, which is where we increase the amount of brick uh facing the streets.

Um, and then we also do have these bump outs, which you kind of saw on the north side as well.

Uh it's a change of elevation by uh foot, I believe, but also just a change in materials again, a combination of we see the cream city brick, creep city like brick.

Um we have the light medium gray is a lap siding, and then the dark uh tone is a flat party siding with um Gordon Batten kind of accenting in kind of a random patterning uh to play off the windows themselves.

Uh the brick height is at about that 12, 12 foot four height to be able to kind of correspond at the first level.

I'm sorry, to correspond with the other storefronts within the developments.

So it's this building doesn't kind of stick out uh too much.

We do emphasize the corners on uh each of the primary corners of the buildings to be able to have uh taller brick uh and to promote kind of uh emphasize those elements.

As we turn uh a little bit to the corner, uh the elevation to the left is um the building is kind of kinked a little bit.

So this is the straight view of that.

Uh so we can I can go back to the floor planning to see it.

But um, so this is the return on Hope Avenue that you see, and then the second portion on the right is the return, the rest of the south elevation.

That small little rendering you can see is kind of where those two elements come together.

We have kind of that kinked uh element to the left, and then have a uh midtown commons um signage uh located on the building so that's visible from uh 60th, uh, and then kind of that entry is tucked into it in that little um gasket.

Again, along the South Avenue and uh at each of the corners, we do have uh brick going full height and emphasizing those elements.

As we wrap around to the east, this is kind of where it opens up to that courtyard.

Uh, we do have on the south side, so which would be the left, uh, that brick wrapping the corner and that element in, and then as the rest of it faces the parking lot, is just uh primarily uh lap siding.

Uh in inside within the courtyard itself, uh it's a combination of brick and lap siding and those kind of bump out elements to provide a little bit of interest as you're kind of sitting it within that kind of cloistered courtyard.

Uh just a kind of a close-up of what those bump outs are kind of detailed.

Uh again, uh flat flat panel siding with um accent trim.

And then the overall material board, again, kind of a cream city like brick, uh lap siding, and then flat bonus board.

Uh, and then just to go kind of skim through, but stop me if you do have questions, please.

Um, but uh civil plans again, planning for uh parking lots to be in between phase one and phase two.

We did widen or add along the existing Hope Avenue to the south.

Uh, we added guest parking closer to each of those entrances.

There's handicapped parking both there and in our parking lots, um, as well as having uh loading zones for parcel delivery or food delivery located, or just even standard pickup and drop-off of people uh off of Hope Avenue.

We do have kind of loading zones within the parking lots for kind of move in as well, so that we don't have large trucks within Oak Avenue.

Um again, we do have that play area that is accessible from both developments and uh accessible to the community.

Uh it's fenced area, it's safe, and I'll have a little bit of another screen on that.

Uh this is just kind of close-up if we have any further or additional questions, we can zoom into those potentially of just the um overall, and then um phase one and phase two landscaping plans.

We're fully landscaping along the perimeter.

Um on the west side or the phase one between the building and 60th Avenue.

There is a larger setback there, and that's because of the existing easements and utilities that were created as part of the Midtown Commons development.

So we are pushed uh back because of those easements, otherwise we would be closer to the street.

Uh, it does kind of create a nice buffer for those families.

We didn't really want to invite you know, families can obviously go and play on the lawn, but we wanted to create a safe place for uh the children to play.

So we do have those internal courtyards, and then having that fenced uh play area will have uh playground environments within those.

Uh and then phase two again is that mirrored uh development of that, and then we complete the play area just so that it doesn't get damaged during construction.

It's planned and part of phase two.

Um I know that was mentioned before, so our crash enclosures that we do have uh one each for phase one and phase two will be wrapped in the same brick that is on the building uh to be able to conceal them and have them integrate into the element.

Uh just kind of an overall of we did some uh lighting analysis so that we're not uh drifting too much onto the neighboring properties.

Um I'd want it to be safe for all the families that are living here.

And then uh this is conceptual.

We haven't finalized all the details, but the intent of that fenced in play area is to have it a really active animated uh playground environment.

So that safe place for all the children to be able to play.

That would end those, so I can always go back to any of the screens, and uh Alison, we can go back to you or okay.

Um all right, so we can start with um any comments or questions, and I'll go to uh Commissioner Nemek first with your question about the just how you determine the unit next.

Yeah, so uh we need a market study, and what really uh spoke out us was the walkability of the amenities that are family related, it's banking, health care, and grocery, and those are there, you know, and so we thought there's very few places in Milwaukee where those are amenities are in one place, and the more people we can get in there using those amenities, the better for the uh shopping center and for those families.

So that's kind of why we skewed towards actually heavy threes, as you know, threes and twos, and the ones were a little, you know, really to me it wasn't a one and a two-bedroom place, it was more of a two and three-bedroom place.

That's how we skewed up that a lot of my discretion though, basically part of set.

I think it would have been helpful just to see kind of like an axon of how this fits in to the rest of the community.

I mean, I'm sort of like, you know, you got this Walmart right there.

What is the shadow lines?

You know, it looks like it's set back from the play area enough, but what is that facade looking like, like used down there, so you could kind of understand it in context a little bit more.

I mean, I I go down 60th Street all the time on the urban left, and he knows I've got a project right up there.

Um, that's my favorite culverse, too.

It's dangerously close to a culverse.

Um, we it's interesting you say that because um I think we've all been looking like all been working on an island, it seems like in this big complex, and uh and it probably is a valid comment because it's like we're trying to just kind of create a community out of this big environment that is an island.

Parking lots, right?

Yeah, it's parking.

And so uh I think that is that's a good you know, kind of comment to see how it interacts with the center.

So I was trying to figure out whether you're you know, I supported your landscape plan and you know what it tied into and how you improve walkability.

I mean, you've got a lot of sins to overcome here, right?

I'm not gonna minimize the design task, but um, you know, but uh you know what and it's hard because you only control so much of it, but how are you?

How is that development of the north side of the Walmart?

I can speak to this.

I should like to speak.

So what the way we've been approaching this is the um the side of well, I look at it as the uh west side of the Walmart is more of that strip of parking that will be uh servicing the retail uses that are in the Walmart.

Okay, so obviously the parking lot now is for the community, and that is more I would say parking that is servicing that side, the retail of the Walmart, not intended necessarily to keep going down 60th Street because those are kind of sparse uses.

I would say we're trying to divert the traffic going east to where the shopping center is, and then down where you would get the grocery store and those retail uh users that are along the main spy of the shopping site.

So that's kind of where we're trying to divert people.

And uh there is an interesting um patch of grass.

So yeah, you can see it to the regular Walmart there.

I don't know if you cursor it or not, there it is.

Yeah, that's that's an unused piece of real estate that um is kind of maybe uh the yeah between a connect connectivity there.

Uh and so if people can you know continue to walk through it or engage that somehow, I think that's very important, but then also this point, you know, we don't have something that's uh uh a walkability strategy around the site, it's more in it get people into the shopping center.

So they use the shopping center.

This whole thing was trying to be a catalyst for the success of the shopping center.

So that was kind of worried.

And before we go to the next question, I just want to comment on the um the mix that you that you ended up deciding on, which was your first question.

Um I think this is really great because we are I mean, we see a lot of a lot of projects come through here that are all studios in one bedrooms.

So to see um three bedrooms for families is um really quite refreshing here.

So um uh Alder um Alderman, Washington College.

I'm sure it's okay.

It's been a long day so far.

Um I kind of want to echo um uh chairwoman Bloomingo's um comment about coming with a great project geared towards families, and that's why I asked uh Arnold Chambers before he left.

What was his thoughts on the unimix before we knew what it was?

Is did it fit because you know, a lot of times easily it could have been a lot of one bedrooms for you know your blue collar or uh folks and then the afterthought is the families, but I'm glad that you guys are heavily invested there.

Um just to um expand on um's question.

If I am somebody without a vehicle, I'm curious.

My first question is is there access for a walking individual coming from like in 60th to access this um property, or is there a curb cut within this tree line area of 60th that it gets me to the property?

So if you're walking along 60th or north, do I have to walk down the I guess that's the northern uh access point to get to the property?

Like, is there a way for me to get to the property there?

Or you know, same so there are so there are sidewalks all the way around, but there are only sidewalks and then primary entry into the facility would be on the south.

If you are a resident, there's also an additional couple of entrances within the courtyard, yeah.

But that could be private entry.

I think it would mean it would be further for you to walk all the way around.

Got it.

But the security access point is to the south on top of uh and there's no fencing along 60th street, right?

No, and then uh just when everything just suggest and comment.

Um aesthetically, um, how much of the color scheme was taken from the other projects within the the midtown development, um, like the creams or you know that have you all thought about adding any like art or you know monument things for kids this is supposed to be family friendly to make it as inviting as possible for them uh throughout the first phase and second phase.

So we're sorry, uh the the palette itself does kind of coordinate with uh the other development uh kind of palette of bricks that I think there's things there's the subject.

Um so we could do our blending in there, want to make a kind of stand a little bit on its own too, because with a kind of a palette make it feel a little bit more residential than too commercial.

Um we haven't necessarily explored uh the artwork, artwork can be very sensitive.

So if you choose the wrong feet, um so we wanted to make sure it just hasn't had something really approached so far, but from the children and the kind of player that other aspect, that's why we're kind of really investing in that player.

So trying to make that as dynamic, which is doubt to determine by the way, right?

That would be a resident engagement.

Uh that will not be something just gonna say what's gonna happen, right?

Yeah, so we started working with a consultant on what those opportunities are.

That's not which I wanted to ask actually about that, because when I think about Hope Avenue, and I do walk this all the time, um, and that's not safe, but I know that it will be.

I mean, part of this you walk whole bathroom.

I walk there going over, yeah, yeah.

Because actually, I've had some people we would go and pick up the trash in that parking lot.

Are you with the covers that you got your ice cream?

Oh, well, yeah, I live a block from there.

Um, but the um when I think about that Hope Avenue, and I kept trying to think through the setbacks for that play area because I was like, oh my god, a play area there versus in the center, possibly of that, because I see the cars just zooming through there right now.

There's nothing there, but they zone through there like it's a highway, um, especially at night time.

So I just wanted to like understand, but you just kind of address that, and that makes me happier to hear that it is something that the residents work through and actually think through how this can be and look because that frightens me a little bit.

There will be a lot of traffic calling vessels, believe me, on that whole gallery.

So and then what is the setback then from 60th Street as well?

Because that looks like a heavy setback, which is good, but I wanted to and that's because the existing so that hatched marks that you see kind of vertically on the screen right now beside the building, those are the existing easements and utility lines that we can't build over.

So um, as part of the town center, they had built in this loop of utilities that would allow people to come off of these if they want.

Um, but that set that on the 60th street is 91 feet because of those 91 feet.

91 feet.

Yep.

So yeah, as we saw on that landscaping, we're trying to maintain the existing trees that are in good shape, we're removing the ones that are bad shape, and then we're adding some additional ones to really kind of make it feel like I don't want to say a park, but want it to feel like a lawn for the people that live in this residence.

So we want them to feel like that they could come out, have a picnic within that lawn if they wanted to, it's that back enough to say you could you do feel safe instead of it feeling like right next to that street.

Um purposely for along Hope Avenue.

You can see that larger kind of um we have about it's 20 feet plus the seven foot sidewalk that we have.

Um, and then we have that fence playground.

We don't have that kind of you know, typical sidewalks is like a five-foot buffer and then a five-foot sidewalk.

We really wanted to extend that up to provide that sense, and so there are trees, which is not represented in this view, we can back to the landscape, but would um that you kind of represent that sense of buffer here.

We go.

So along uh so there is landscaping within around that play area as well.

Then there are trees kind of helping kind of create that buffer between West Hope Avenue and that play area.

Uh trying to really kind of warm up that up.

So your experience walking down Hope Avenue uh will be enhanced.

Um now with uh we'll uh with the increasing landscaping the trees that increase are you turning that into a one-way no, but the diagonal parking just only goes in one direction, the band material to the shop and center, so we have to use a trail supplement by people okay, yeah.

It's meant to so that we don't have people hopefully churning, so we intentionally kept them diagonal so that we like have people crossing the street to be able to they would have to go around the phone.

Okay, thank you.

Um, I apologize, but I have to uh I have to leave, so I'm gonna turn over the gavel to commissioner uh vice vice chair commissioner Nemek.

Um, but I do want to just thank you for all of your work and effort on this project.

And uh I understand there's a lot of complications and it's a very difficult and long time long-term difficult uh site, but um you do have my support on this, and um uh I I will turn it over to you uh commission.

Commissioner Moody.

Um no, no, was there a plan for this Walmart building?

Is this just gonna stay there?

There is um I I just the reason I whispered to Dave is like when I talk about the Walmart really's like you just can't do that.

We've got a lot of notes you want to talk about.

So we're gonna just I wouldn't want to have an apartment.

I'm looking at that building.

I don't want to barb in that building.

Yeah, so well uh Dave Miski with the Department of City Development, the director of real estate.

Uh you know, I appreciated Commissioner Crane's comment of going down walking through that.

It's not a pretty site, is it?

To your point as well, Commissioner Moody.

How do we engage the other side of Hope Avenue, which is a private road, but there are tremendous amount of easements that allow people to continue to drive over that.

So to Ted Madcom's perspective of slow slowing down traffic, that will happen on the Walmart building itself, but you will see that in front of this body very very soon.

Uh, there's been an awful lot of delicate balancing that's been going on.

It's very complicated deal, as you heard at the beginning of this from Alderman Chambers and actually from from Tanya that you know the self-storage was the initial look at this building, and this body and the city didn't support that.

Um, but it's continued to be owned by the same group, so we've had to negotiate with them as far as moving forward.

The first step, and Alderman Chambers pointed it out that Trent Overhew from the ownership group AFS was very open to discussing other potential uses and the housing was the first and foremost piece.

This is the first piece of all of this moving forward.

Uh they've received first uh the first the credits for the first phase.

Hopefully, we'll hear about the second phase in the next few weeks from WEDA.

So this project is moving forward.

We were kind of holding this to ensure that this was gonna happen before we could move forward with anything with the Walmart.

So there's been a lot of discussion with Trent, uh overhew the owner.

Uh what we've what we've negotiated to date is that some of this would come forward with uh with a use for his uh about two-thirds of the building for his uses, uh, which is still being worked out, and you'll probably see that at the next CPC meeting.

And the other third, the site facing this the side facing the housing would be set aside for a lease with for community engagement or community functions, so it'll be a lease with potentially the city of Milwaukee.

And so uh you wouldn't see that specifically here, the lease itself that would go to the common council, but that is something that if we can leverage the lease and and his use for the other two-thirds of the property, and then the housing piece, that's the the entire mixture.

How the city uses that is still being worked out.

Uh, there's a lot of different ideas, including other municipal uses.

Um so uh we'll see, but there's nothing set in stone as to how the Walmart on the north side facing the housing is gonna be used exactly.

Thank you.

Funny, my uh program, this is almost my capstone the site, yeah.

Almost we're gonna build uh apartments and single family cottages for sale on the site, and costs just one follow-up question.

Uh my question is for the development team.

Um so just so we're clear.

Um, the phase one building, the play area, and both sections of the parking lot are going to be developed at the same time.

It's a they might be staying a couple months, but that's the intent.

Okay, and then um total parking space estimate is how many?

So we're at about 205 total, including including those guest parking spaces along uh okay.

And then I know we saw a grid for the lighting plan, but can you just kind of speak to what the lighting over the parking lot in walking past areas will look like?

Uh so the lighting along Masoka Avenue would remain as it is, it's kind of part of the development itself.

Yeah, and then within the parking lot, there's just a combination of just kind of security facing down LED lights, and the courtyards themselves are the bollard uh for as well.

Okay, I can put back to that.

You know, I would make them not so blue white.

Um, so let them not be as security lighting as some of the other developers in town, if you know what I mean.

And uh you got talked with our uh designer on perfect and kind of fine strategy there.

The a lot of things that we have been hearing from like all the chiefers and uh constituents that he's been hearing, he's wanting to make sure that people feel safe and having um so many people within these developments, so it'll be a balance absolutely.

Um, but I did I hear you correctly that the play area and the parking lot will be can constructed with okay so the in the intent is like uh phase one will start phase two would start while it's also still in construction.

The hope is that that would happen, and so then we finish it and then finish the parking lots and the playground together.

Um so that nothing gets damaged during construction, it's all kind of seems like there's enough space.

I just want to make sure that if phase two doesn't happen, yeah.

We get a play area for the hundred units that are you would in that first development.

That's written into the uh narrative or the okay description now.

We're we're actually trying to uh close phase one by 831, and that doesn't mean that we start going up.

We have a lot of work to do because the 10 acres of that parking lot is trouble.

Yeah, so you've got a geotherm foundation if you could get that, which will take about three months by the time that happens, we're hopefully gonna get our entitlements for phase two so they closer at the same time.

Okay, sorry, one more just clarification.

Um, but I just want to make sure if for whatever reason, like madam share stated, there's an issue with phase two.

There's a requirement that they have to pave something.

Okay, okay, okay, deep.

Okay, that was the remaining of the parking lot.

Okay, depave it and then so inside it.

Got it accordingly, but okay, all right.

If phase two does not move forward, yeah.

I am trying to understand.

Um, and I think this is where when you mentioned having the larger so because I keep getting confused, even though I've lived there since I was 11.

But I'm trying to the um the North 56th Street, like there's there's a light, and I'm so coming back over in that particular area.

There's a light there.

Yeah, that that's the intersection everyone else they covers.

There's cars flipped over there almost three times a week.

When you think about the number of people that you're putting here and what that means to because I typically have to drive around that the accidents in that area is absolutely insane.

Um this is yeah, yeah.

Is that like Maxville or something?

It's yeah, it's a lot of weird streets that are all combined.

Yeah, that come in, like, yeah, that but they come into the uh the parking lot right at culverse.

Um, and so just curious as to as you guys think through some of these things that knowing that putting that number of individuals coming in and out of the lot, um, and using that intersection, unless new intersections are I mean not intersections, but new ways or entryways are gonna be coming in, but that one is absolutely insane, right?

Yeah, as I kind of mentioned before, we're not adding any more kind of you gotta leave it as so that we're leaving it as is um kind of specifically for that reason.

Yeah, one of the I mean, one of the benefits of having more density within this area of more people is that it will slow people down.

You will have there will be more traffic, there will be more cars, it will automatically slow down.

I don't know, because we the reason that they are split over is because those little new little islands that are so pretty put up around the city, they're just jumping over and still doing they're thing.

Yeah, so the city is trying, but it's still yeah.

Sorry, one more question.

Um, because you just brought up something that is important to me, I think now the back side of phase two is grassy, but it doesn't look like there's like trees abut in the building.

Um from an aesthetic standpoint, how are you envisioning making that quote unquote pretty to passers by?

So we are that there's a portion on phase two, is you can kind of see that we don't phase two, but the northern part of the site that skirts along the northern part of the property.

Um we're working with uh the property to the north, which Phoenix.

Oh, Chris, can you go to phase two landscaping?

Yeah, you can't see it here too, where that little strip strip there, the that what the back side of the building to the north, yeah.

Yeah, that one and the east, right?

The east, yes, that one.

That that's what I'm concerned about.

Is like what the grassy part and like the rear of that building, like what's there to make it as appealing as possible.

Own the triangle portion, okay, straight up.

And so we're our landscaping around the building, and we didn't want to get obviously the trees too close.

Uh so we're working with the property to the north to depave and potentially add more landscaping just along that north side.

Uh we don't own, I'm not sure who it is to the east of this city property.

It's kind of part of the class.

We could get an easement for that.

Yeah, that would be nice.

Yeah, yeah.

I think that would also help in traffic learning, but just uh a follow-up kind of that's based on these these commissioners' questions.

Your your thought is that people are coming off of Hope Avenue into your parking, and there's no other option from the north, correct?

No gates or gates, no gates.

We had a gate there, it would just be gone through.

So if we had a gate means from Hope Avenue to our parking lot, it would be down like all the time.

So I think it's just too big in the parking lot to do that.

Okay.

We are definitely deprived traffic and slow.

Okay.

The reference driving is that.

Yep.

So you could come off of 60th Street and along Hope and interior off 60.

Sure.

Any other questions for the development team?

I don't know if there was anybody else who wanted to speak.

I don't believe so.

Looks like all familiar faces back there.

Um other questions.

So uh Tanya, next steps after we open here are so next steps is well, today we would be uh hopefully uh moving forward approving the plans for this multifamily development on the site, which is phase one of the larger redevelopment, and then at a very uh uh near-term city plan commission.

We will review phase two, which will be the future use of the former Walmart building.

All right, thank you.

Um I had one last question.

I meant to ask this earlier.

What made you guys think of four floors for this area?

Um again, I think it's with the unit mix is the same thing.

Uh pardon the phrase, we're trying to put bots in the seats, and and uh well, I had a little bit of a cheat sheet on Bay Shore.

Okay, so base or um when they were doing that, I was working with Glenvale on that, and um the entire bargain setting, those were mostly ones and twos up there, there were not three, which is why I actually call out threes here because they're a lot threes there, and the whole point to save them all was to put people there to spend money in the wall, right?

And I thought they missed it.

I actually thought they missed it, so that the ones and twos are not really going to target and uh and stuff that's network.

I was kind of like, I don't know, that's like it'll work when it happened.

I think it's turned out okay.

I don't know the actual numbers, but that's kind of the impetus of how we came here.

We all have agreed that the way to save this mall is put people within the community, so it's like a you know, town hall, what do you call it?

Then a town hall or a town closing center center, like a town center versus um you know just changing that asphalt into people is really what it was.

So it really wasn't that city thing.

Yeah, we wanted to maximize it as much as possible without it drowning out the surrounding neighborhoods, yeah.

Because to be four does drown it, but maybe it's just me just still trying to I and our Florida floor heights aren't too tall, and I think in comparison to the rest of the development, we're gonna tie in from a scale-wise closely because we're within we're under the 50 feet mats, okay.

And also that 90 foot set bath.

Yeah, that's kind of that does removes you from being you know uh the opposite side of the street or one or two story residences, you know, the buffalo is the scale would have been bad if we were on the street, I think would have been different.

Um, and what you're not used to having that park space that's in front of it, that lawn, I think is uh really beneficial cover, kind of actually great call to the neighborhood.

One additional question that I thought of.

Um, in without floor plans, it's a little hard to see where your units kind of shake out, and then I know that we do requires you to have certain amenity spaces.

Could you speak to your in the inside amenity spaces?

We've talked a lot about the play area, and I know my play area buddy here and I's desire to get that as fast as possible.

Uh in both, so again, they're mirror um buildings, so both buildings will both have um a community clubroom environment, uh community service environment.

So this is where Lutheran Social Services will have an office within buildings.

Um there'll be tenant storage, indoor bicycle storage, on-site leasing, on-site management, on-site maintenance.

Um there'll be fitness room each buildings, and then secure meal supports.

So you don't have to go from one building to the other to use in a different amenity if they both have through it.

Okay.

um a community club room environment uh community service environment so this is where luther and social services will have an office within buildings um there'll be tenant storage indoor bicycle storage on site leasing on site management on site maintenance um there'll be a fitness room in each of the buildings and then secure mail supports so you don't have to go from one building to the other to use in a different amenity they vote temporary okay sorry well one quick follow up question um given um this is a affordable project and servicing families is there like a business service center where youth can do some studying or access some technology from Luther's social services something like a media room where you can go do some homework or the community community club room is a flexible environment that somebody could um go down during the day if it's not reserved for anything specific and just kind of study get away from your family whatever you'd like to do um but it's also a great location that if you wanted to host a larger event for families for a holiday or special you know celebration there's a great kind of community space for that but uh we do find that these club rooms or community rooms that are in the buildings are during the day are kind of a work from home environment um and then at night is where it's kind of special special events there's also a space that the Lutheran social services can utilize for kind of a bigger outreach camp program thing and hopefully we have more we'll supplement those things all right any other questions no i um if there aren't any i will motion to approve item two four five two one five five as presented we have a motion do we have a second commissioner moody seconds any other further questions discussion hearing none all those in favor of this item say aye aye any opposed motion passes congratulations and best of luck to you hopefully you're accessible in that second meeting thank you thanks to adjournment oh do we have a motion to adjourn some second second all is in favor aye thank you chris