Deconstruction underway in Bay View for largest private affordable housing development in Wisconsin

 

BAY VIEW, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The deconstruction for what will become the largest private affordable housing development in Wisconsin is now underway on Milwaukee's south side.

Located by 147 E. Becher St. in Bay View at the former Filer & Stowell complex factory, the 10-acre site is set to turn into eight five-story buildings for families and seniors.

The $200 million project is led by Kenosha-based Bear Development, who said they plan to have 576 units. Of those, 144 are designed for older tenants. 

According to S.R. Mills, the CEO of Bear Real Estate Group, the average rent will be what he calls the "60% area median income," but at minimum, a few hundred dollars cheaper than equivalent market rate development.

“So, we’re looking at rents from $700 to $800 to $1700, in that range, from one bedroom to two bedrooms and kind of everything in between," Mills said. “Especially in neighborhoods that have been somewhat gentrified, like Bay View, we want to make sure we keep options for people so they can live where they grew up, age in place, and it just creates a balanced community."

Plus, they're able to focus on deconstruction, not demolition, and put a spotlight on sustainability.

"Instead of having a wrecking ball come in and level the buildings and take them to the dump, we’re deconstructing it brick by brick, and lumber and steel, so we can reuse much of that in the new facilities," Mills said. “It really makes for a unique development where you can take some of those 150-year-old bricks and reuse them in a new way that still has some of that historic charm.”

Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic, who has continuously supported the proposal, said Bay View has "increased its value in assessments more than pretty much any other neighborhood in Milwaukee other than downtown."

“What that means is sometimes it can be out of reach for those that wish to live in the neighborhood, and we want to make sure it’s inclusive and accessible to everyone," Dimitrijevic said. "We're actually bringing a lot of life, and hopefully families, community, and density, to a thriving area."

She added that the larger apartments that can fit families will "fill a need in the community."

“One of the things we wanted to see was inclusive housing for all, so this is a step forward in what neighbors were envisioning," Dimitrijevic said. “It's one thing to see something go down, but to see something go up will be truly phenomenal for the neighborhood.”

Deconstruction is expected to last until March.

The first building is planned to go up in 2025 with the entire project being completed in 2026.