Milwaukee co-housing development proposal gets first OK

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A proposal for a co-housing development, which developers said would be the first of its kind in Milwaukee, on Monday received early approval from a city committee.

The city of Milwaukee Plan Commission approved a zoning change for the “River Trail Commons,” located northeast of the intersection at East Center Street and North Humboldt Boulevard. The project includes three buildings; two buildings with eight townhomes each and one multifamily building with 24 units. Amenities include a community garden, workshop, library and a children’s play area.

The city of Milwaukee Common Council at a future date will decide on final approval for the zoning change. The developer also wants to combine several parcels which includes two houses and a commercial building.

The co-housing development is described as a mixed-income community with a deemphasis on cars and with its homes facing the middle of the lot, said Nola J. Hitchcock Cross, who is leading the development effort and works as a lawyer in Milwaukee. The library, workshop and craft room would be put in a central location.

The development will have market rate condos and around half of the units will be offered at a discount for first-time home buyers, Cross added.

There are five co-housing developments in Madison and 190 across the U.S. However, Milwaukee has none yet, Cross noted.

Sustainability features include two electric vehicle charging stations and the option to install solar panels on the multifamily building in the future, according to a Department of City Development report. The developer aims to add solar panels within several years of construction, the report showed.

The development has plans for bicycle storage and connections to the nearby Beerline and Oak Leaf Trails, the report showed. The development is expected to have 25 parking spaces, plans showed.

Before making the decision, commissioners listened to nearly an hour of public comments from residents concerned about traffic in the alley access to Center Street. An analysis from the Department of Public Works showed the number of cars going through the alley wouldn’t cause extra burden.

The Kubala Washatko Architects provided design services for the project.