A 103-year-old former elementary school building in West Allis could be converted into affordable housing units under a new proposal from an Illinois developer.
Longfellow Elementary School, located at 2211 S. 60th St., closed this summer under a consolidation plan. Now, the West Allis–West Milwaukee School District is looking to sell the property for redevelopment.
Following a request for proposals, the district is moving forward with a plan from Illinois-based developer
Housing For All to create a 50-unit affordable housing development on the 2.5-acre site.
The school, built in 1920, will be preserved and converted into 14 housing units. Two townhome style buildings would be constructed on the property with a total of 36 units.
The school's play area will be preserved for public use, city documents say.
City documents say that the developer plans to apply for low-income housing tax credits that the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority will award in 2024. The tax credits mean there would be income caps ranging from 30% to 60% of the area’s median income for residents renting the apartments.
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One of the new buildings to be built on the school property. Rendering from City of West Allis[/caption]