Tosa approves $58M in city funds for 900 Mayfair apartments, but not without pushback

Barrett Lo Visionary Development's 918-apartment Mayfair project requires $58 million in city financing. Wauwatosa city officials on Sept. 12 approved the tax incremental district that'll make that happen.

Wauwatosa's Financial Affairs Committee voted, 7-1, in favor of the TID that allows the development's property tax revenue to fund the three-phase development. Now, the TID has to pass the full Common Council.

The city estimates that the project will create $111.6 million of additional property tax base.

The committee publicly discussed the project and its developer, Barrett Lo, for the first time Tuesday night. Both city officials and Wauwatosa residents expressed their disappointment that the apartments won't be an affordable housing option, something Tosa's 2023 housing study said the city needs.

City officials, residents question using city finances for luxury housing

Ann Heidkamp spoke on behalf of the city's Joint Housing Coalition to express disappointment that the city-owned property won't be used for affordable, accessible housing, "despite the fact that you are considering a TID to the tune of almost $60 million," she said.

"We understand there's all kinds of financial constrictions at this point, but this is too big of an opportunity to lose to include affordable housing in this project," Heidkamp, who's also a member of Tosa's community land trust formation committee, said.

Wauwatosa resident Ursula Twombly voiced similar concerns, telling the committee that while Mayfair is a "wonderful location" for housing, she can't support a TID of this size to build luxury housing.

"For years, we've asked for affordable, accessible housing, and you as city leaders have openly supported creating these types of housing," Twombly said. "Yet now that this Mayfair project is here, and we have this incredible opportunity to show that Wauwatosa is serious about providing housing alternatives and standing by its commitments, you all stand down."

Ald. Joseph Makhlouf also said city funds should instead be used to fund affordable and accessible housing "to some degree."

The lack of affordable housing options, combined with months of closed sessions discussing the project, "is a misuse of taxpayer funding and a betrayal of taxpayer trust," Makhlouf said.

However, Mayor Dennis McBride said "there's nothing behind closed doors here," and that all closed sessions have been for "negotiating reasons."

"(Committee meetings are) when you talk about development projects," said McBride. "I don't see how that is not doing the will of the people."

The committee went into closed session to negotiate details of Barrett Lo's development later that meeting. It did not reconvene.

Units will be sized affordably, Barrett Lo says

Financial affairs committee member Ald. Margaret Arney, who cast the singular vote against the TID, told Barrett Lo that she "would love to have our city employees be able to live" at the new development.

The average rent for a 920-square-foot apartment in Wauwatosa is $1,431, according to apartment-search site RentCafe, which comes down to $1.55 per square foot.

Units in the proposed Mayfair project will run $2.50 to $2.75 per square foot, said Barrett Lo's Richard Barrett.

"That's our best effort at trying to make the units as affordable as we possibly can in a luxury building," he said.

Some units will be sized at 570 square feet, which helps them sell at a more affordable price, Barrett said.

"Electricians, plumbers, paramedics; those are the people that can live in this building," Barrett said, "because we're sizing it in a way that is affordable to them."

Negotiation topics, like unit pricing and where to create additional green space, were then discussed in closed session.

More: Sikh Religious Society proposes new, 20,000-square-foot place of worship in Brookfield

More: A church-turned-bank in Tosa was eyed for multifamily housing. Now, it's back on the market.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tosa officials vote in favor of TID to fund Mayfair apartments