Milwaukee’s Zoning Overhaul: Boosting Affordable Housing Inventory
Mayor Johnson’s Vision: 1 Million Milwaukee Residents and Zoning Changes
According to journal sentinel, Milwaukee is on the brink of potential zoning changes aimed at fostering the development of small apartment buildings and apartments within commercial zones, a move anticipated to bolster the city’s inventory of affordable housing. Spearheaded by Mayor Cavalier Johnson’s vision to swell Milwaukee’s population to 1 million, these revisions require the nod from the Common Council and the Mayor himself. The proposed alterations align with a broader trend observed across various cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, and San Francisco, which have already tweaked their zoning regulations to incentivize housing projects, particularly those catering to the “missing middle” demographic – residences larger than single-family homes but smaller than typical market-rate apartment complexes.
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Navigating Development Challenges: A Developer’s Perspective on Milwaukee’s Zoning Changes
Montavius Jones, a Milwaukee developer, underscored the challenges faced by small developers in navigating the bureaucratic intricacies of the development process. While the pending zoning changes mark a positive stride, they alone may not suffice in overcoming the financial hurdles encountered by emerging developers. However, proponents like Angie Tabrizi of Moxie Development Collective LLC remain optimistic, believing that easing zoning restrictions can pave the way for innovative solutions to housing shortages. Despite potential opposition reminiscent of cases in Neenah and Brookfield, where housing projects encountered resistance from locals, advocates emphasize the urgency of addressing the pressing affordable housing crisis plaguing Milwaukee and beyond.