Work starts on a big downtown Milwaukee apartment project. But one across the street remains on hold.
Site work has started on a downtown Milwaukee apartment development with nearly 200 units.
But the long-delayed expansion of another apartment community just across the street from that project remains on hold.
Chicago-based LG Development Group LLC is doing site preparation work on a 1.3-acre vacant lot an LG Development affiliate owns at 1333-1339 N. Milwaukee St.
The firm plans to begin construction of a six-story, 197-unit apartment community within a couple months, said Daniel Haughney, chief investment officer.
The project is to be completed by early 2025, Haughney told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It will be among the larger apartment communities under construction in the downtown area.
Other projects underway include the 75-unit Street Car Flats, 828 N. Broadway; the 130-unit RiverWalk Lofts, 740 N. Plankinton Ave.; the 251-unit Nova, 1237 N. Van Buren St.; the 333 N. Water high-rise with 305 units, and The Couture, a 322-unit high-rise at 909 E. Michigan St.
Meanwhile, one development that was supposed to start construction no later than a year ago remains unbuilt.
There's no word yet on when Weidner Investment Services Inc., based in Kirkland, Washington, plans to begin expanding Avenir apartments, located immediately northwest of the LG Group site.
That project was to begin in 2020 on a site formerly owned by Milwaukee County between North Jefferson, North Milwaukee and East Lyon streets and East Ogden Avenue. Plans call for two phases with 82 and 63 apartments.
Weidner delayed the work because of the COVID-19 pandemic's economic effects.
The firm was supposed to begin construction no later than April 2022, with completion by November 2023, under an agreement with county officials.
"There's no doubt we are going to move forward on the project," Kevin Colard, Weidner's chief investment officer, told members of the County Board's Economic and Community Development Committee in March 2021.
Weidner executives didn't respond to the Journal Sentinel's question about the project's status.
The firm still plans to do the project, and wants the start and finish deadlines extended, said Aaron Hertzberg, director of the county Department of Administrative Services.
"Weidner has failed to adhere to the terms of our agreement," Hertzberg said. "We are negotiating a resolution that would ensure accountability and create a path to completing the project."
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Work starts on big Milwaukee apartment site. Its neighbor is on hold.
