Apartment Proposal on Kinnickinnic is Recommended for Approval by City Plan Commission
Bay View Apartment Proposal
HKS Holdings LLC. proposal for a $12 million mixed-use apartment building in Bay View was recommend for approval at the December 6th, 2010 City Plan Commission meeting. The 5-story building, to be located on the southeast corner of Kinnickinnic Ave. and Conway St., would include 70 loft apartments, 9,000 square-feet of first-floor retail, 71 underground parking spots, and 14 additional parking spots dedicated to retail use.
The development group is seeking WHEDA financing for a portion of the project, which would require 20% of the building to consist of affordable rental units.
There was some opposition to the project by a couple of community members. Greg Bird went so far as to say “the design is boring,” and another neighbor arguing against the gentrification impacts of a project like this saying Bay View isn’t the Third Ward and “we are not that classy.”
This proposal will now before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee on January 11th UPDATE December 17th. If approved by ZND, the proposal will go before the full Common Council.
Unfortunate that the best someone came up with to argue against the project was “Bay View isn’t the Third Ward and we are not that classy.” I actually thought BV did have some taste and did not want to fill it’s main commercial street with a 5 story bland box public housing project. This building is totally out of character for the neighborhood. Nothing says cheap crap like synthetic stone and cement panels. They already have a near identical building at KK and Beecher that is half-empty and already an eyesore.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Milwaukee,+Wisconsin&ll=43.006434,-87.907255&spn=0,0.008068&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=43.006434,-87.907255&panoid=DN8i92_oJ1KJbIolRK-XPA&cbp=12,164.56207399999994,,0,-8.328383&photoid=fr-147822807
In 10 years this thing will be about as charming as this http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Milwaukee,+Wisconsin&ll=43.002071,-87.904767&spn=0,0.008068&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=43.002071,-87.904767&panoid=0C6fPgoJONFZr-Ue-n1EJQ&cbp=12,285.86,,0,-17.26
The only thing driving any development anymore is WHEDA tax credits. Not what’s good for the neighborhood or quality of design. Unfortunately we’ll be stuck with these buildings for decades because of greedy short-sighted developers and city “leaders”.
I completely agree with SS’s “bland box” assessment. With the possible exception of the Mercy proposal, the North End, Jackson Square, Beerline, and Corcoran, while probably very nice places, don’t appear to add much variety to the architectural uniqueness of the city. Shouldn’t they be attempting to distinguish themselves by something other than what part of the city they’re in? That’s part of why I hope both the Moderne and the Marcus complex downtown are built is because they show some attention to detail and, hopefully, they’ll retain their character after 20 years.
> don’t appear to add much variety to the architectural uniqueness of the city
Exactly. These are cement boxes with smoking balconies, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. They are the McMansions of urban development. Faux quality and zero charm.
@Scott Oddly I find the Marcus proposal to be of the “bland box” type while I find many of the others you listed pretty good. And the Moderne is architecturally one of my favorites as well, but my point is not everyone will agree on the design of a building.
What I often look for is, does it hide the parking, is it built up to the street edge, does it have first floor retail, does it address the street, will it add density, and what materials will be used. Would I like more sure, but…well
I disagree with the criticisms of North End, Beerline, and the others. There is only so much charm and uniqueness a modern residental building can have. What we currently have looks good in my opinion.
After all of that beautiful work they did to the house on the corner of Wilson & KK ( http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl ) they are going to drop the above ugly structure across the street? YUK. How about some turn of the century architecture?
(Sorry that link didn’t work but you know the house I’m talking about. The red brick & cedar siding by Bell Ambulance. )
The people of Bay View are a diverse group with different levels of “class”. Really has nothing to do with this building alone. It’s the style that doesn’t fit in. As I pass the structure on Becher and K.K. twice a day, I think how sad . Boring and empty.
Since this is approved, let’s hold the negativity until after it has been finished. At least give this project the benefit of the doubt.
As long as this building is going to help the property value in the area and decrease the slow, but growing, low income trash out of this beautiful neighborhood. I’m all up for it.