Apartments and a possible restaurant could be coming soon to South Milwaukee's former Bucyrus campus, new plans show
The proposed mixed-use development on South Milwaukee’s former Bucyrus campus has changed.
South Milwaukee’s Plan Commission reviewed plans in August to create apartments and a restaurant/food space at 1100 Milwaukee Ave
Original plans called for construction of a new building in addition to renovating the existing three buildings, called Technical, Corporate and Heritage. When proposed, then-Mayor Erik Brooks called the project “a really interesting remix and redo.”
The Commission reviewed updated plans on Feb. 22 and voted to recommend the Common Council schedule a public hearing to consider the proposed zoning amendment for the project. Commissioners also directed city staff to draft a development agreement with Milwaukee-based development company Scott Crawford, Inc.
Both elements passed 4-1 with one excused absence.
The updated plans for what documents tentatively title the "Bucyrus Community," remove the new building from the proposal but still include 160 apartments — seven shy of the original proposal — with a mix of 1- and 2-bedroom units. Removal of the building brought the project cost down from about $46 million to $35.7 million.
Plans indicated the units could include "luxury level finishes such as smart home systems, brushed aluminum fixtures, stainless steel appliances and solid surface countertops." There could also be a fitness center, art alleyways, a dog park and community/media rooms for tenants to utilize, according to plans.
More: Around 200 apartments could be coming to a site near downtown Milwaukee's Park East strip
Plans still include 5,800 square-feet of commercial space for a “food provider” in the Heritage Building. Plans hinted at a restaurant or a microbrewery.
The housing is planned as a mix of 67 affordable housing units and 93 market-rate apartments. Scott Crawford, Inc. is anticipating the combined annual income of residents living in the complex to be over $10 million, which would "strengthen the employment and economic base of the city," documents said.
When the project originally came up, developer Que El-Amin said he would be pursuing non-competitive tax credits through the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
Scott Crawford is also looking for tax incremental financing for 85%-90% of the increment over a 22-year period as a "PAYGO" arrangement, according to city documents. Under a PAYGO, a developer pays the upfront development costs and is reimbursed annually for eligible costs as the value of the property increases.
Scott Crawford is anticipating a return of $12.9 million tax incremental financing (TIF) rebate over 22 years, though that is dependent on how much increment the development generates, said Patrick Brever, assistant city administrator and economic development director for South Milwaukee.
Increment generated from South Milwaukee's TID-5 will help Scott Crawford pay off an $8.1 million private loan for the development. The firm is putting up $6.3 million of its own money for the project.
The firm estimates over 260 construction jobs will be needed to build the project and “dozens of permanent jobs” will be created, per proposal documents.
Construction and manufacturing equipment manufacturer Caterpillar consolidated north of Rawson Avenue in 2018, leaving the Bucyrus campus empty. Reich Brothers purchased the 27-acre campus that same year.
Since then Roadrunner Transportation Services, Steele Solutions, Dawn Equipment and Badger Industries have moved in.
Contact Erik S. Hanley at (262) 875-9467 or erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page and follow him on Twitter at @ES_Hanley.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: South Milwaukee Bucyrus campus could get apartments, new restaurant
