New proposal would bring 92 apartments and commercial space to former Bucyrus campus in South Milwaukee
A new proposal has been submitted to turn the remainder of South Milwaukee’s former Bucyrus campus into apartments and commercial space.
Milwaukee-based Scott Crawford, Inc. submitted plans in August 2021 for 1100 Milwaukee Ave. for about 160 apartments, a restaurant, green space and more. That proposal eventually fell through.
Now, Scott Crawford has partnered with J. Jeffers Co. for a new proposal for the same space. South Milwaukee’s plan commission unanimously recommended the common council schedule a public hearing for Jan. 3, 2023 regarding a rezoning request. The council will review the project on Dec. 6 and consider scheduling the public hearing.
The proposal includes 92 mixed-income apartment and loft-style units. Plans show a mix of 33 one-bedroom units each approximately 688 square feet for $1,250 per month, 40 two-bedroom units offering approximately 900 square feet for $1,600 per month and 19 three-bedroom units with 1,300 square feet of space for $2,150 per month in the Technical and Corporate buildings already on-site.
Units could include smart home systems, solid surface countertops, stainless steel appliances and more. Amenities such as media rooms and a fitness suite are planned. Additional greenspace, two art alleyways and permeable pavement are also part of the submitted plans.
The Corporate building would lose its drive-thru canopy, but new windows would be added to accommodate the residential units. Parking is planned directly in front of the building along Milwaukee Avenue in a surface lot.
The Technical building will also house apartments along with most of the amenities for residents. Parking for this building will be along the train line in the interior of the campus with secondary parking being the lot aligning with Milwaukee Avenue and the alley.
The Heritage building could see a vast transformation with aluminum windows replacing some of the brick to facilitate commercial use. The primary entrance would be the alley parallel to Milwaukee Avenue with parking in the east lot. The entire first floor, which includes a cafeteria, would be occupied by a yet unnamed commercial tenant requiring 50 parking spaces. The second floor could include two commercial tenants and more could be forthcoming, according to planning documents.
The project is estimated to cost $36.7 million. A tax incremental financing request of a $1.6 million over 22 years was mentioned in the submittal.
Additionally, the project would seek $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding, which aims to improve the quality of life for those with low to moderate incomes.
Other sources of funding listed include $1.25 million in Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation grants and $1.17 million in an affordable housing grant, to name a few per the plan submittal.
If approved, the developer hopes to start construction in October 2023 and the project is expected to take a full year to complete.
Caterpillar,Inc. consolidated north of Rawson Avenue in 2018 and Reich Brothers purchased the empty 27-acre campus that same year.
Since then many businesses have taken up residence on the former Bucyrus property including Roadrunner Transportation Services, Steele Solutions, Dawn Equipment, Styled Aesthetic and Badger Industries.
More:This South Milwaukee woman has turned her crafting passion into a growing small business
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like/follow his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Apartments, commercial space planned for South Milwaukee Bucyrus land
