Two firms are vying to build multi-family housing at the former St. Francis City Hall site.
The first, Northbrook, Ill.-based Brinshore Development is proposing an $8.5 million, 37-unit townhome project that will include two- and three-bedroom units, a community room, computer room, laundry, fitness center and management offices.
Brinshore will market the property to working families and families with veterans, according to documents submitted to the city.
If chosen, Brinshore would complete construction by January 2019, according to the company’s proposal.
Kenosha-based Bear Development LLC is proposing 60 units of affordable, multi-family homes. Bear’s plan is for one, three- to four-story building on the 1.5-acre site. The apartments would be a mix of one, two and three bedrooms ranging in size from 725 to 1,400 square feet, according to documents filed with the city.
If Bear is chosen, the project would be complete by Sept. 2017.
Both firms responded to a request for proposal the city issued in November, to purchase and redevelop the former city hall property at 4235 S. Nicholson Ave. The city will demolish the building in February.
The Bear proposal pointed to the company’s Layton Square project in Cudahy, which includes 57 “work-force” rate apartments, as an example of the type of work the firm can do on city-owned land.
Bear is currently working with the city of St. Francis on a plan to build 315 luxury apartments on 11 acres between the Park Shore condominium development at South Lake Drive and East Howard Avenue, and The Landing condos at South Lake Drive and East Denton Avenue.
Brinshore has done work in the city of Milwaukee, including Century City Lofts, Lindsay NSP in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood and Milwaukee Prosperity in the Harambee neighborhood.
The St. Francis plan commission will review the proposals Jan. 13.