MILWAUKEE --The Milwaukee Business Journal is reporting a Madison developer has returned to the city to again seek approval for a 27-story apartment building on North Prospect Avenue on Milwaukee's east side.
According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the latest proposal mirrors one Palisade Property Management nearly got approved last year, with some changes. The project is at 1550 N. Prospect Ave., where the historic Goll House stands today. Palisade is again proposing a high-rise with 192 apartments near the Lake Michigan bluff behind the Goll House. The historic mansion would be moved closer to the sidewalks on Prospect Avenue and preserved on-site with four to eight living units.
The proposal includes 210 parking spaces in the building’s lower levels and under ground.
In a July 24 letter to the city, project architect Kahler Slater said the development team over the past 18 months has received “significant input from neighbors, staff and elected officials regarding the design.” Windows have been added to lower floors with the parking structure.
The developer also pledged to use a local union general contractor. Last year, organized labor raised concerns about a general contractor that was competing for the project.
Palisade also pledged to have workers in the Milwaukee Residents Preference Program perform 20 percent of the construction work, and to hire small and minority-owned businesses for 20 percent of its contracts. The developers volunteered to hit those goals when the project was under review last year.
Both the 2016 and 2017 proposals have the same height and total building square footage, according to plans submitted to the city. It does have more sustainability features, including solar panels.
Chris Houden, who operates Madison-based Palisade Property Management in Madison, issued a printed statement about the plans on Monday.
“We remain interested in investing in the city of Milwaukee and submitted updated plans to the city to continue the conversation," the statement said. "The updated plans include enhanced sustainability features, as well as our voluntary commitments to local and minority contractor hiring and to utilize a union general contractor.”
The same developer group last year pitched a $55 million development standing 27 stories tall, with 192 apartments. That project had support from 10 of the city’s 15 aldermen. However, it required 12 votes to be approved because of opposition from neighbors who filed a petition that forced the higher vote count.
Last year, neighbors in the 1522 On The Lake condo building immediately south of the Goll House opposed the development.
The property sold in October to a company led by Houden. In June, Houden confirmed he remained committed to investing in the property, and filed papers with the city for an estimated $65 million development at Goll House. The plans submitted Monday are the first detailed plans released for the project.
The city Plan Commission could review the project next month.
TODAY'S TMJ4 is proud partner with the Milwaukee Business Journal. For more area business news, visit the Milwaukee Business Journal's website.
