New Apartments for the East Side

The first phase of the Greenwich Park Apartments, a building with six floors and 53 apartments, is nearing completion after years of delay. First proposed in 2010 for a site just north of E. North Ave. in the heart of the East Side, the project was delayed for years due to a rejected low-income housing tax credit application and the fallout of the Great Recession. Finally in 2014 the project was awarded $652,500 in tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. Construction started in late 2015 at the site bounded by N. Farwell, E. Thomas, and N. Murray avenues.

The low-income housing tax credits require the developer, Mercy Housing Lakefront, to set aside 45 units at below-market rents for people making 60 percent or less of the area median income.

Last year the non-profit developer came before the city to amend the Detailed Planned Development zoning package for 2353 N. Farwell Ave. following final engineering work. They reduced the number of parking spaces from 52 to 44 following the discovery of contaminated soil on the formerly city-owned parking lot. The project is now being built without a basement.

As with the Milwaukee Streetcar project, which may someday run past this site, utility relocation has added unexpected costs to the project’s budget. Relocating electrical poles and two transformers increased the cost by roughly $400,000. That cost increase led Mercy Housing Lakefront to opt for wood-frame construction above the second-floor, eliminating the glassy facade proposed in 2013.

The second phase of the project, to be located immediately to the south, is planned to include 40 units and 33 parking spots. It would be built on a parking lot owned by US Bank. This building would also be part of the Greenwich Park Apartments complex: when finished it will be two different buildings but one complex.

Northtrack Construction is serving as the general contractor on the project. The building is being designed by Korb + Associates Architects. General Capital Group is providing development assistance. The total project cost is estimated at $16.7 million, with the first phase valued at $9.6 million according to a building permit.

Mercy Housing Lakefront purchased the project site, formerly a 46-stall parking lot, from the city for $150,000. Terms of that deal require the developer to work with the East Side Business Improvement District #20 and Columbia St. Mary’s to establish public parking at the 300-space parking garage in the Whole Foods/Prospect Medical Commons building.

Construction on Greenwich Apartment Projects began in October. Mercy Housing Lakefront has also developed the 91-unit Johnston Center Residences in Milwaukee. In addition, the firm manages the St. Catherine Residence and associated McAuley Apartments in Milwaukee’s Yankee Hill neighborhood. The non-profit organization will take over the housing properties of Franciscan Ministries this year, which includes the 221-unit Jefferson Court Apartments in Milwaukee.

Construction Photos

2015 Design

2013 Design

2011 Design

2010 Design