the Journal Sentinel
January 10, 2012
From the Journal Sentinel:
By of the Journal Sentinel
An apartment building aimed at homeless families, and families at risk of becoming homeless, was unanimously recommended for approval by the Milwaukee Plan Commission Monday.
The development, with around 35 units, would be built at the northwest corner of E. Center and N. Buffum streets by Chicago-based Heartland Housing Inc.
The project, which also needs Common Council zoning approval, was opposed by nearby homeowners Carolyn Peters and Kyla Fernandez at Monday’s hearing. They raised concerns about more traffic in the neighborhood, and about developing a city-owned lot that’s been used as a community garden.
Heartland, a nonprofit developer, will seek federal affordable housing tax credits to help finance the project. Those credits are given to developers in an annual competitive process.
Developers that receive the credits agree to provide apartments at below-market rents to people earning no more than 60% of the area’s median income. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority usually announces in April which developers receive credits from that year’s allocation.
The four-story building would include a community room, business center, child care center, 17 parking spaces and an outdoor playground. Community Advocates, a Milwaukee social services agency, would provide on-site assistance to residents.
Heartland and Community Advocates officials say the development is badly needed because of the high number of families in Milwaukee that are facing homelessness.
