Plan Commission Recommends Approval of Five-story Apartment Building
Green features garner support for apartment project from Alderman and neighborhood.
1509 N. Jackson St. Rendering
Dominion Properties LLC’s request for a change in zoning for the property at 1509 N. Jackson St. was recommended for approval at the July 9th, 2012 meeting of the City Plan Commission. The change is needed to allow Dominion to construct a five-story apartment building with 20 apartment units. The residential units would consist of one studio, seven one-bedrooms, and 12 two-bedroom apartments. The designs have been updated to alleviate neighborhood concerns over the lack of parking. The new design allows for 30 stalls, instead of the originally reported 26.
The building will utilize energy efficient technology throughout the building, as well as locally sourced materials. It will be built of steel and concrete which will help it achieve a R-40 insulation value (larger the number the better). Geothermal systems and solar panels are also envisioned for the development. Emphasizing just how efficient the building will be, project designer Joel Agacki stated it “would be one of the most sustainable multi-family buildings in the city.”
During the commission meeting multiple neighbors came to speak in support of the project, while only one spoke in opposition. Andrew Graber, the property owner to the north of 1509 N. Jackson St., explained how the new building will add security to the neighborhood saying, “more importantly there will be more sets of eyes,” and in regards to the entire project he added “overall though I think it is a very good thing.” Also speaking in favor of the project’s density Mark Stephen stated, “I’m all about it.” One resident while speaking in opposition referenced two other recently approved multi-family developments in the neighborhood and explained that “had this one been first I would have supported it.”
The commission voted for conditional approval of the change in zoning, but included a couple of criteria. Most significantly, the green features discussed are to be included in the project. This request for a change in zoning will now go before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.
I feel that we have enough housing on the East side with all these new condos and apartments that our property taxes should go down because you have more to collect taxes from but instead our property value is going down and our taxes are always going up enough of this we are paying more and more in hidden taxes then we ever have what good does it do to have more housing the more tax money you get it gives you the right to spend more. We as home owners have to stay within our budgets and if we do not have the money to buy something we don’t government spending is out of hand and services are getting less and less. I am fed up with it all. I am against new housing. The housing along the river is awful it looks cheap and will soon be an eye sore, I can see it now needs repairs it just looked cheap and ugly has been from the start.
@Shirley French Well I couldn’t disagree any more strongly. What Milwaukee desperately needs is more density. Density is what makes cities work. Density is what lets that new restaurant or retail store open. It is what makes a city exciting. And we know that the demand for these types of units is high right now, so this is good for Milwaukee in my book. As far as the taxes question. Just a little statistic that I’m aware of the top 10 downtown condo developments, pay more in taxes than two (specific) Aldermanic districts. Yeah, they have an immense value for our city.