Royal Capital’s Cudahy Farms project moving forward

Plans for a large apartment community with more than 1,100 units on Milwaukee’s northwest side appear to be moving forward.

Milwaukee-based Royal Capital Group announced Cudahy Farms, a 50-acre development, more than two years ago. The Plan Commission approved the project in 2023, but it has not gone before the Common Council. However, the city signaled it will help fund the project with a tax incremental district.

The project could go to the next Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee meeting scheduled for April 15. On March 20, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee signed off for public financial support.

Royal Capital acquired the development site, on the southeast corner of North Swan Road and West Fairy Chasm Drive, from the YMCA of Greater Milwaukee. The YMCA operated a full-service branch and an early childhood education center on the site, which was donated in 1999 by philanthropist Michael Cudahy.

The project features up to 1,145 units and amenities such as an early childhood education center and a fitness center, city plans showed. The first phase of construction includes 212 units with units available for those earning 30-80% of the area median income. Of those units, around 100 one-bedroom units will be reserved for those 55 and older, plans showed.

The overall project is expected to provide homes for 700 families and will include 400 senior households, according to the developer website. The developer also wants to build a business center and makerspace, which gives adults and kids access to a woodshop and 3D printing facilities.

The city will fund $3.7 million in capital project costs annually, according to the TID agreement. The project cost is estimated to be around more than $56 million.

However, the funding wasn’t granted without pushback. Both neighbors and Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, who represents the 9^th District, shared concerns over the development reducing natural space and being next to a crime “hot spot” neighborhood, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

If approved, the project will dedicate 25% of construction cost to use certified small business enterprises and 18% of funds for professional services to go to SBEs, according to the agreement. The project will also use unemployed and underemployed Milwaukee residents for at least 40% of its total work hours.

The project site is northwest of the former Northridge Mall, which the city recently acquired through tax foreclosure. There are around 50 acres ready for redevelopment when Veit crews finish demolition of the mall, which closed in the early 2000s.

Royal Capital Group has worked on Milwaukee projects such as ThriveOn King, The Wheatley and 550 Ultra Lofts.