Latest news with #CommonCouncil
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Common Council approves affordable apartment community after delay. It will be near Northridge
A large affordable apartment community on Milwaukee's far northwest side has been approved by the Common Council after opposition from the district's alderwoman and a two-week delay on the vote. The council voted 10-1 with three abstentions on July 31 to approve Cudahy Farms Healthy Living Campus. Construction could begin before the end of the year. Alderwoman Laressa Taylor, whose district includes the development, abstained from voting. Taylor said she's continuing to speak with the developers about what's best for her constituents. The apartments would be near Milwaukee's demolished Northridge Mall. It would include a healthy living campus on a former YMCA property east of North Swan Road and south of West Fairy Chasm Road. The $56.9 million first phase of 212 apartments would be listed at below-market rents ranging from $600 to $2,300 monthly. Those would be for households earning from 30% to 80% of the local median income, with 100 apartments reserved for seniors and families. Taylor raised concerns from constituents at a July 15 council meeting when she delayed the vote to allow further discussions with developer Royal Capital Group Ltd. Neighbors are concerned the apartments could end up like the nearby Woodlands lower-income housing community. Milwaukee Police consider the Woodlands a crime "hot spot." Royal Capital plans to secure the development with entrances only accessible for emergency vehicles. Other opponents cited a loss of woodlands on the site, and questioned whether the recreational facilities would be available to community members who aren't Cudahy Farms residents. A tax incremental financing district would use property tax revenue from the development to make annual payments to Royal Capital totaling $3.7 million. The financing district also would pay $2.1 million of interest costs. Taylor abstained from the financing district vote, which was approved separately. Two years after the original proposal, Royal Capital hopes to begin construction this year and have the project completed by the end of 2026. CEO Kevin Newell said after the votes the firm was pleased with the city's leadership. "We are committed to improving the quality of living for our beloved city," Newell said, "and this investment by my firm will be another step forward in that effort."This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Affordable apartments approved for site near former Northridge Mall
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City GOP makes pick for Ward 3 special election
PLATTSBURGH — Dennis Chaney is the city of Plattsburgh Republican Committee's pick in this November's special election for Ward 3 councilor. City Republican Chairperson David Souliere said Wednesday the committee is 'incredibly excited' to nominate Chaney, who lives on Rugar Street, for the seat. Souliere said Chaney graduated from Plattsburgh High School in 1975, attended Clinton Community College for two years and then served his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force, where he served as a security specialist, as well as a recruiter. This experience then led to his next career, 17 years at the Clinton County Sheriff's Department, where he served as a correction officer seargeant for 14 years, retiring as special deputy for the Clinton County Airport. 'Through these experiences Dennis has attained strong leadership qualities, along with the ability to collaborate, to attain goals that are in the best interests of his community as a whole,' Souliere wrote in a statement. 'These attributes will serve as a critical asset to the Common Council, and the Mayor, as they navigate long term debt stability, public safety issues, and future development within the City.' Souliere said Chaney is already thinking about ways to improve Ward 3. 'Within Ward 3 is the newly annexed property off of Reeves lane, Dennis looks forward to working with the Common Council, and the Mayor, to find the most sustainable and responsible use for this property,' Souliere said. 'In conclusion, we could not be more excited to have Dennis Chaney as our candidate for Ward 3 City Councilperson. He will be your FULL-TIME Councilperson!' The Ward 3 seat, which was made vacant in June when Democrat Elizabeth Gibbs resigned after six years on the job, will be up for grabs in a special election this November to fill the remainder of Gibbs' three-year term, which she was elected to last year. Mayor Wendell Hughes was given 30 days from July 1 to find and nominate a replacement for Gibbs through the rest of 2025. 'This was nothing I planned on doing,' Hughes said in June after news of Gibbs' resignation was announced in June. 'If somebody told me I would be replacing Elizabeth Gibbs, I would have argued all day, but I'm happy for her as a friend. She's a friend of mine, and I respect her a lot.' Gibbs' successor was made public Wednesday when the city of Plattsburgh shared that Hughes is expected to appoint resident Jackie Strack to the vacant Ward 3 seat through the end of 2025 at the Common Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Chaney and Strack now appear poised for a November General Election face-off. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apartments planned near Northridge have council review delayed with talks between developer, opponent
An apartment community planned near Milwaukee's former Northridge Mall had its Common Council review delayed for two weeks during discussions between the developer and a council member opposed to it. Cudahy Farms Healthy Living Campus is planned for a 50-acre former YMCA property east of North Swan Road and south of West Fairy Chasm Road. It's being proposed by Royal Capital Group Ltd. Cudahy Farms' $56.9 million first phase calls for 212 apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms — with 100 smaller units reserved for seniors and the larger units targeting families with children. It would be on 22 acres. Royal Capital's financing package includes affordable housing tax credits. In return, it would provide apartments at below-market rents, initially ranging from $600 to $2,300 monthly, for households earning from 30% to 80% of the local median income. Also, a tax incremental financing district would use Cudahy Farms' property tax revenue to make annual payments to Royal Capital totaling $3.7 million. The financing district also would pay $2.1 million of interest costs. The Common Council on July 15 was to review both the development's zoning as well as the proposed TIF district. The council voted to delay acting until its July 31 meeting. That hold was proposed by Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, whose district includes the site and who opposes the project. Taylor told her colleagues she needed time to work on some compromises with Royal Capital. Taylor told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel she's working on ways to make Cudahy Farms more palatable to nearby homeowners who are fighting the development. She said will still vote against the project if residents remain opposed. Taylor wants Royal Capital to provide more details on its plans for security, property management and programming at Cudahy Farms. That final point concerns whether recreational programs and other activities will be available to community members who aren't Cudahy Farms residents, she said. Royal Capital President and CEO Kevin Newell said the firm will continue to be collaborative. Newell said he hopes those efforts will be recognized by the council at the July 31 meeting. Neighborhood opponents say the loss of woodlands at the site would harm an important environmental area. They also worry Cudahy Farms could end up like the nearby Woodlands lower-income housing community — which the Milwaukee Police Department considers a crime "hot spot." In response, Royal Capital is providing cars access to Cudahy Farms from Fairy Chasm Road, with the Swan Road gate near Woodlands to be opened only for police, fire and other emergency vehicles. Also, the site's wetlands wouldn't be disturbed by construction, with a landscaped buffer being added between the development and houses east of Cudahy Farms. Both the zoning change and TIF district were recommended for approval by the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee on 3-2 votes. Development Commissioner Lafayette Crump says Cudahy Farms would provide badly need affordable apartments within an area "starved for investment" more than 20 years after nearby Northridge Mall's closing. Royal Capital hopes to begin first phase construction in 2025, with completion by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, the city has plans pending for development to replace Northridge − which the city is demolishing. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@ and followed on Instagram, Bluesky, X and article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Apartments planned near Northridge Mall have council review delayed Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City's west side looking for support
As the city celebrates progress in revitalization projects, some residents are asking when the west side will get any attention. As 200th anniversary events for the Erie Canal approach, 3rd Ward residents are quick to point out that West Avenue is attached to the downtown corridor. 'This is a major artery into the city,' said Joe DiPasquale who is running for the 3rd Ward alderman's seat. '(Route 31) brings people in from Niagara Falls. We are going to have visitors from all over the world. We need to have positive, permanent spin-off from that event.' 'There's no reason it has to look dirty and unwelcoming,' added Kathy O'Keefe, owner of Windsor Village Artisan & Antique Market at 43 Stevenson St. 'My grandma lived over here when I was growing up. So it kind of hurts me that it goes totally ignored.' DiPasquale, who purchased his grandmother's home on Bright Street, echoes the sentiment. 'When I was growing up, we had car dealerships, a grocery store, and an Italian import store,' DiPasquale said. 'It needs to be picked up. We're not doing any of those wonderful businesses on West Avenue any favor by turning our back on how it looks.' Roland O'Malley III, a Park Avenue resident running for the 3rd Ward seat, has similar memories. 'Years ago, Pelicanos had a meat market on West Avenue,' he said. 'It's a unique little area. There were five or six car dealerships. On South Niagara Street, there's a lot of work that could be done there. There's a lot of shops and they have employed people.' Mark Devine, 3rd Ward alderman, could not be reached for comment. Devine has missed a number of Common Council work sessions this year and has decided not to run for another term. All three residents point to the many businesses that continue to operate along West and Park avenues and deserve the city's support. O'Keefe said revitalization efforts need to continue from the Pot-O-Gold Bar and Restaurant and go down West Avenue. Having written grants, O'Keefe questions why city grants can't benefit the west end. 'The excuses are that none of the grant funds can go to the west end. The west end just doesn't qualify,' she said. 'Yet it has the largest base of businesses and employees. It's absolutely a false statement, 100 percent. You've always got to balance things. You've got to think — what is going to create a tax base?' 'All they focus on is three blocks of Lockport,' O'Keefe said. 'They never focus on incorporating a bigger area for commerce and business and tying it in together. I think the key to look into is industrial heritage and create an industrial heritage zone and get grant funds,' O'Keefe said. 'There are industrial buildings there from the turn of the century. You could tell those stories. We have a bike lane on 31 and we have the trail right here. We could literally just do a loop.' While there are a number of unoccupied homes and buildings on the West Avenue corridor, O'Malley points out that a number of successful businesses continue to operate, such as Precision Cycle Shop and Candlelight Cabinetry. He said vacant properties could be turned around. 'You could have a restaurant. There's some smaller buildings out there,' O'Malley said. 'There could be bed and breakfasts. Little by little, working with these people who are already there, we can create an environment where people will want to come.' O'Malley said code enforcement is another tool for correcting problems like accumulating junked cars and unmaintained exteriors. Speaking of property near New York Street with wrecked cars, he asked, 'How is a junkyard allowed to be there now? It's unsightly.' DiPasquale also noted a location on West Avenue. 'You've gotta take care of that pile of tubing,' he said. 'I know there's industry on the west side, but we have to work hand-in-hand to clean it up. You can't expect this part of town to rejuvenate with it looking like that. We've got to work with all of them to make it look better.'
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Milwaukee street takeover on city's southside; police say no arrests
The Brief Milwaukee police say they broke up a street takeover on the city's south side on Sunday evening, June 8. The takeover happened at 13th and Burnham Street. Officials said there were no arrests or injuries. MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee police confirmed for FOX6 News there had been a street takeover at 13th and Burnham Street on the city's south side on Sunday evening, June 8. Events like these are often fueled by social media, city officials have said. What we know Officials said there were no arrests and no injuries at the location on Sunday evening. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android FOX6 News has a crew on the scene – and we will update this post when more information is available. What we know To address the problem of street takeovers, the Milwaukee Police Department told the Milwaukee Common Council back on May 22, that they will be doing what's called directed patrol missions. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Five teams of police officers will be dedicated to the north side and five to the south side, along with two tow trucks to crack down on the takeovers and those involved. MPD created a map of 52 locations where these takeovers are happening. What you can do Milwaukee police say if you see street takeovers happening, call and report them so officials can send officers. The Source The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department and a FOX6 News crew on the scene.
