Developer Scott Lurie appears to again be moving forward with a mixed-use development along Kinnickinnic Avenue in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood, a project that had faced stiff opposition from some residents and the local alderman.
Lurie, president of Milwaukee-based F Street Group, on Wednesday filed an application to change the zoning for a number of parcels on the 2700 block of South Kinnickinnic Avenue and South Herman Street.
The application provides little detail, other than to say the proposed change in zoning is related to a two-building, “five-story mixed-use residential apartment development.” It identifies eight parcels that make up the project area. Another three parcels have been crossed out in read and labeled, “no longer included in project boundaries.”
About a year ago, Lurie, working with Milwaukee-based architecture firm Rinka, presented plans to neighborhood residents that included as many as 230 residential units and 27,000 square feet of retail space over two six-story buildings. The plans drew stiff opposition from some residents.
As a result, the project team came back a few months later with scaled-back plans intending to address some of the residents’ concerns. The height of the buildings was decreased by more than 20 feet with the removal of the sixth floors, and the number of residential units was reduced by about 10% to around 200 dwellings total.
The plans still faced criticism, including from Alderman Tony Zielinski, who represents the area where the buildings would be developed.
Lurie did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Zielinski also could not be reached for comment.
Bay View has seen lots of development activity in recent years, especially for multi-family projects. Recent projects include the 291-unit Stitchweld at 2141 S. Robinson Ave. and Vue at the former Faust Music store site at 2204 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Construction of a $21 million mixed-use development at the corner of South Kinnickinnic Avenue and East Bay Street is also underway.
“We’ve got one of the best communities in the city of Milwaukee. We don’t have to be beggars,” Zielinski told BizTimes back in December.
