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New dorm project down to three finalists
UWM Real Estate Foundation will choose one option, submit proposal to city
By Kevin Lessmiller
The UWM Real Estate Foundation specified certain criteria for a new residence hall, which would be open for student housing in fall 2010, including the capacity to house 500-700 UWM students.
3rd District Alderman Nik Kovac held three public meetings last week to hear proposed plans for a new University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee residence hall from three local development firms.
The meetings were held in an effort to hear the community’s voice on the matter. UWM will select a finalist within a few weeks, and proceed to submit the final proposal to the City of Milwaukee.
The UWM Real Estate Foundation specified certain criteria for a new residence hall, which would be open for student housing in fall 2010, including the capacity to house 500-700 UWM students.
On Wednesday Sept. 3, the Mandel Group, Inc. presented its proposal for the “Hometown” site, located at North and Cambridge Avenues. An old Hometown gas station, along with a parking lot, currently occupies the site.
The Mandel proposal featured a “U”-shaped dormitory building, with a grassy commons area in the middle. The “U” would be comprised of one larger building, approximately 60’ high, and two smaller, shorter buildings, both of which would feature eco-friendly green roofs.
The “Hometown” site is on the banks of the Milwaukee River. If a dormitory was built there it would be facing UWM’s RiverView residence halls across the river. Environmental concerns, as well as neighborhood relations, tax base issues, and future use of the site, were raised by attendees.
“We have an asset in our midst that we are working very hard to protect,” said Sura Faraj, concerned about over 1,000 students living on the riverbank.
Thursday Sept. 4 saw the Phelan Development and Towne Investment’s proposal for a new UWM dormitory. This “L”-shaped proposed structure would be built at Farwell Ave and Royal Place, if chosen by the UWM Real Estate Foundation.
The proposed site is currently occupied only by a parking lot and a small office building, which would be removed if the proposal is accepted. The residence hall building would be 11 stories high and feature 175 student suites. All together, nearly 700 students would live in the complex.
All three meetings had UWM representatives present to answer questions from the public. The UWM Real Estate Foundation’s final choice will not be solely based on public response, but will help inform the site selection.
The Post regrets being unable to attend the Tuesday Sept. 2 meeting, in which Boulder Venture presented its plan for a dorm site on the Prospect Mall parking lot.
> Comments
Daniel Ginsberg-Jaeckle on Sep 08, 2008 at 10:46 AM:
Gentrification: the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents.
That's our concern with UWM building in Riverwest.
Pheng on Sep 09, 2008 at 02:33 AM:
These buildings are not called dorms or dormitories. They are called Residence Halls.
Daniel, on Sep 10, 2008 at 03:57 PM:
Isn't you (and most of the progressive students of Milwaukee) living in Riverwest a prime example of gentrification? If I am not mistaken, aren't most of you guys from the Milwaukee, or St. Paul suburbs. And didn't you also grow up in middle class families, who's strict rules made you feel the need to rebel and become socialists living (and gentrifying) in Riverwest? Feel free to shed a little light on this. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Or just grow up...
Hypocrite.