$59 million mixed-use development on Milwaukee north side seeks $750,000 city loan as it prepares to begin work

The transformation of a large, historic Milwaukee central city industrial site into affordable housing and other new uses is seeking additional public financing.

Known as The Community Within The Corridor, the $59 million project will redevelop around 7 acres bordered by West Center, West Hadley and North 33rd streets, and Union Pacific railroad tracks. It was once home to Briggs & Stratton Corp.

Six buildings, ranging from one to three stories and totaling 380,000 square feet, will be converted into 197 apartments, 23,000 square feet of commercial space and 40,000 square feet of recreational and community space.

The financing includes $3.15 million in city cash provided by annual payments of the development's new property tax revenue for around 20 years. The Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett approved that plan in July.

Now, the development is seeking $750,000 from the city Redevelopment Authority's revolving loan fund for environmental cleanups tied to commercial developments.

The loan fund is financed with grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The authority board is to review the loan request at its Oct. 15 meeting.

The loan would pay for such activities as removing asbestos and lead paint, according to an authority hearing notice.

Also, contaminated soil would be removed in two courtyard areas to rebuild a parking lot and build a ramp into basement areas that will be converted into underground parking, the notice said.

The Community Within The Corridor is being developed by Que El-Amin, who operates Scott Crawford Inc., and Brian Roers, co-owner of Roers Cos., one of the Minneapolis area's largest development firms.

Renovations are to begin by November, with the first batch of apartments ready by spring 2022.

Federal and state affordable housing and historic preservation tax credits together account for $37.1 million of the development's $59 million financing package.

Other financing includes a $15.5 million bank loan, $2.1 million in a deferred development fee and a $1 million federal housing grant, according to the Department of City Development.

The nearly 200 apartments will range from efficiencies to four-bedroom units.

The Community Within The Corridor will include a large recreation center, with basketball courts and other amenities for residents, which also will host community events. Outdoor recreation uses will include a small skateboard park and a putting green.

The commercial space will include a child care center, grocery, laundromat and job training center.

The buildings date to 1906, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society. They housed Briggs & Stratton operations before closing in the mid-1980s.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.