North Avenue Complex West of River Gets New Design
The design includes plenty of parking, an outdoor patio and maybe a bocce ball court!
1150 North Apartments Rendering of originally approved proposal.
Life near the Milwaukee River is getting a little more streamlined.
HD Development LLC, led by Todd Davies, is seeking an amendment to a Detailed Planned Development (DPD) to allow for a revised design for the proposed 1150 North Apartments project, located at the corner of E. North Ave. and N. Commerce St., just west UW-Milwaukee’s RiverView Residence Hall. The changes to the design include new exterior building elevations and the removal of a digital billboard sign that had been built into the building. The changes will go before the City Plan Commission on Thursday, July 15th.
The original DPD was approved in 2012 by the Common Council and construction had started on the project, despite a story by Tom Daykin of the Journal Sentinel saying financing was still a question for the project. Excavation work on the site was visible as early as September 2012, but the project has since stalled.
1150 North Apartments current rendering.
The new design, by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, shows a L-shaped 5-story building which will form a streetwall along North Ave. and have a 30’ setback from Commerce St. There will be up to 122 apartment units and approximately 125 parking spots, of which 65 will be indoor and 60 will be outdoor. The facade will consist primarily of masonry brick, metal panels and shingles, and cement board. Other site amenities include an outdoor patio space, possibly a bocce ball court for residents, and an improved connection to the Beerline Trail.
Renderings
Elevations
Site Plan
As a local merchant we are thankful for the re-design. This design brings a more consistent design with the rest of the new architecture in the neighborhood.
Nice improvement… will be nice to have something besides an empty lot there! Although I always wonder if developers do odd things like the billboard to get their projects through with less complaints… They simply remove it and they look like they are cooperative!
Bill — About the billboard: It is an existing structure on the land, and according to law is a continuing property right on the part of the owner. Billboards operate in a strange legal realm at the intersection of free speech and property rights.
During the original design process it was assumed that the owner would exercise his right to the sign. I do not
know at this time what has changed. It is unlikely the owner of the sign would have surrendered it without compensation. There was quite a bit of discussion about this when the plan was in public hearing mode.