The Bookends, proposed by New Land Enterprises, will go before the Milwaukee City Plan Commission on October 19th, 2009 to gain approval of a change in zoning to a detailed plan development. The project, which would be located at E. Kilbourn Avenue and N. Van Buren Street, consists of a 19-story mixed used apartment building with up to 224 dwelling units, a retail component, and five stories of structured parking

This past Monday night a public meeting was held to discuss possible streetscape improvements to Downer Avenue and a change in the previously approved plan for Downer Avenue. The change would replace a proposed medical office building with a small boutique hotel.

This past year saw tension grow between New Land Enterprises and East Side residents over the proposed redevelopment of Downer Avenue. Although the issue isn’t completely resolved, as shown by the ongoing lawsuit, progress has been made towards the redevelopment of Downer Avenue. At this point the Schwartz building has been rehabbed and medical offices have been added to the long vacant upper floors.

Both, New Land Enterprises’ apartment proposal and Mandel Group’s UWM dormitory proposal were approved without any debate on the floor and both are expect to break ground after winter.

Two significant East Side projects, New Land Enterprises’ Kenilworth apartment building and Mandel Group’s dormitory proposal, were on the agenda for this committee meeting.

First up was New Land Enterprises’ Kenilworth apartment building proposal. This proposal had been held at the previous committee meeting to allow for an “informational” meeting with the neighborhood. As the committee had indicated at the prior meeting they felt that overall this was a positive development for the city. It was approved and will now go before the full Common Council.

New Land Enterprises was before the committee requesting a change in zoning to construct a 5-story apartment building to be located on North Farwell Avenue and East Kenilworth. Although the current zoning would allow for 33 units New Land Enterprises intends for 91 units to be constructed. Individual units would range in size from 560 square feet to 850 square feet and would include one parking spot. It was generally accepted by the committee that this plan for higher density with smaller units would in fact be better for the neighborhood.

This meeting was the much anticipated combined City Plan Commission (“CPC”) and Historic Preservation Commission (“HPC”) meeting regarding New Land Enterprises’ development proposal for the Goll Mansion site. New Land Enterprises was looking for two separate approvals at this meeting to move the project forward. First a Certificate of Appropriateness (“COA”) from the Historic Preservation Commission and a change in zoning from RM-7 to Detailed Planned Development (“DPD”) from the City Plan Commission.

New Land Enterprises’ development of the Goll Mansion property, located at 1550 N. Prospect Avenue, has been in the works since 2005 when New Land Enterprises purchased the property. The current plan is to build a 27-story 35-unit condominium building that would utilize the historic Goll Mansion as the lobby of the condominium building. This plan would add $60 million to the City of Milwaukee’s tax base, enhance the skyline, bring new residents to the city and save the Goll Mansion.

Construction of the Terrace Row Condominiums at the intersection of Kilbourn Ave and Cass St appears to be near completion. Workshop Architects’ design utilizes styles of the current day and although very unique for the neighborhood adds to the urban fabric. Building on what was a vacant lot the project appropriately brings the [...]

Resolution 071339 consolidated property at 2040 W. Wisconsin Ave. and 2027 W. Wells St. into one parcel to allow for the expansion of 2040 Lofts. The expansion of 2040 Lofts shows that there is a continuing demand for student housing in downtown Milwaukee and that developers are stepping in to fill this need.
Substitute resolution [...]