The city of Waukesha voted to move forward with a 228-unit housing project from Milwaukee-based developer
Mandel Group for a prominent site just north of the city's downtown and adjacent to the new Waukesha City Hall.
The Mandel proposal for the five-acre site at 130-318 Delafield St. is one of several projects that have been pitched for the site that city officials called blighted.
In two four-story buildings, Mandel is planning to build 228 apartment units, some with private entries, as well as amenities like a fitness center and courtyard, among others.
Last week, the Common Council voted to pursue development agreements and sell the city-owned parcels to the developer. In 2019, the city purchased the project site, which currently is used as a parking lot, with the intent of finding a developer for it.
"We saw an opportunity to make a difference to those properties, increase our tax base, add some residential housing and make those properties contributing to the neighborhood in a way they haven't been in the past," said community development director Jennifer Andrews at the council meeting.
The council chose the Mandel proposal over a 104-unit housing proposal from Pewaukee-based Bielinski Homes.
Before that, the city was working with Minneapolis-based developer Sherman Associates on a 105-unit housing project, but that project did not come together due to a gap in financing, according to Andrews.
Mandel's proposal, still in early stages, will need to go through another approval process when the firm has further developed its plans.
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A preliminary map of Mandel Group's proposal. Map from City of Waukesha[/caption]
