The City of Milwaukee took ownership of the former Esperanza Unida auto lot and building at 1313 and 1329 W. National Ave. in August 2017 after the organization had not paid about $75,000 in property taxes.
More than a year later, the Common Council has signed off on an exclusive right to negotiate with Rule Enterprises LLC, one of two entities to respond to a second RFP.
Developer Brandon Rule is proposing to demolish the existing structures and construct an affordable housing development on the site. The project has a $17 million preliminary budget and one of the primary funding sources is Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority low-income housing tax credits. Applications for the program are due by mid-December, with an announcement expected in 2019.
