Milwaukee developer proposes affordable housing for seniors

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A Milwaukee developer on Monday won early approval for a 50-unit affordable housing proposal intended for seniors in the city’s north side.

Milwaukee-based Cupid Development LLC and Madison-based Cinnaire Solutions proposed to redevelop a vacant lot and create St. Matthew’s Senior Housing on the south side of West Chambers Street and North 8th Street, according to city records.

The Milwaukee Plan Commission on Monday voted unanimously to approve rezoning 2953-2979 North 8th Street to support a detailed plan development.

The project will consist of six new buildings, including a single five-story building with 40 units for seniors, a plan commission report showed. The first building will have a community room, an office and 26 enclosed parking spaces on the lower level and first floor.

The southern portion of the development will have five two-story buildings with 10 townhouses for families, according to the report. There will be a surface parking lot with 10 spaces north of the townhouses. The remaining 40 units will be set aside for seniors, the developers noted. City officials reported the 50-unit development will be made of one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

A Cupid Development document describes construction to take place in one phase with each residential being completed shortly after the other.

The first building will have a backlit sign on its east wall that will read, “St. Matthew’s Residence” or a similar slogan, according to developer plans. The letters will be around one foot and six inches tall, but the developer will submit its final sign plans to the Milwaukee Department of City Development for approval.

City staff reported the developers will apply for tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority next January, making the development affordable housing.

Currently, the vacant lot on North 8th Street is used as overflow parking for the St. Matthew Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on nearby North 9th Street.

Milwaukee-based Engberg Anderson Architects created early designs for the affordable housing project.