The city of Milwaukee received two mixed-use development proposals for its Forest Home Library and three mixed-use development proposals for its Mill Road Library, in response to a request for proposals.
The city wants to see the libraries become part of mixed-use developments similar to The Standard at East Library project on East North Avenue and the Village Square project at 3427 W. Villard Ave., which both have library branches located within apartment buildings.
The public will be invited to review and comment on the development proposals for the Forest Home and Mill Road libraries. Public input meetings will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. at the Forest Home Library, 1432 W. Forest Home Ave., and on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the Mill Road Library, 6431 N. 76th St.
The city received two mixed-use development proposals for the Forest Home Library.
Cardinal Capital Management and Journey House submitted a proposal for a $21 million project to demolish the Dental Associates building at 1135 S. Cesar Chavez Dr. and replace it with a four-story building with a 16,500-square-foot library space and 51 units of affordable housing, including 24 for youth aging out of foster care. Other tenants could include a coffee shop and office space for the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative. The project would seek low income housing tax credits and new markets tax credits. Eppstein Uhen Architects is the design firm for the project.
Gorman & Company, Mitchell Investment Properties and VJS Construction submitted a proposal for a $10.4 million project to renovate the Hills Building at 930 W. Historic Mitchell St. The project would create a 15,000-square-foot library space and 33 units of affordable housing. The project would seek low income housing tax credits, historic preservation tax credits and new markets tax credits.
Click here to see more information about the Forest Home Library development proposals.
The city received three mixed-use development proposals for the Mill Road Library.
Maures Development Group LLC, CommonBond Communities and Engberg Anderson submitted a proposal for a $13.8 million project for a city-owned lot at 7717 W. Good Hope Road, where they want to build a four-story development with a 15,000-square-foot library space, 46 to 82 units of affordable housing and either a 2,500-square-foot commercial space or a larger library space. They plan to seek low income housing tax credits for the project.
Gorman & Company, the Northwest Side CDC and VJS Construction submitted a proposal for a $6 million project at 7717 W. Good Hope Road, where they want to build a development with a 17,000-square-foot library space and a charter school space above the library. The partnership would offer to buy the current Mill Road Library building for use by a public charter school. They plan to seek new markets tax credits for the project.
The City of Milwaukee Housing Authority submitted a proposal for a $17 million project that would be built on the current Mill Road Library site at 6431 N. 76th St. The project would have a 15,500-square-foot library space and 60 affordable housing units in two buildings. Adjacent Health Department buildings at 7630 W. Mill Road would be removed. New space for the Health Department could be part of the project. The project would apply for low income housing tax credits, federal home loan bank funds and housing authority grants.
Click here to see more information about the Mill Road Library development proposals.
City officials have allocated $18 million for library redevelopment projects and plan to spend $4.5 million each for the redevelopment of four libraries: Forest Home, Mill Road, Capitol and Martin Luther King.
In addition the Tippecanoe Library will be renovated, but will remain in the same building.
