North Avenue Site Selected for Student Housing
October 1, 2008
After an open and lengthy review process and considering the substantial amount of input received at three public neighborhood meetings held in early September, the UWM Real Estate Foundation (UWMREF) has selected the site proposed by Mandel Group, Inc. for its student residence hall development. The selected site is located at the northwest corner of East North Avenue and North Cambridge Avenue. The UWMREF received extensive input from UWM students, faculty and staff. The neighborhood meetings coordinated by Alderman Nik Kovac provided valuable public comment to assist UWMREF in its decision.
The selected site best meets the needs of students and will provide sufficient space for a creative design solution incorporating many green and sustainable building features. The UWMREF is excited with the quality of living environment attainable at the Mandel site. The UWMREF is particularly pleased with the response shown by the Mandel Group to criteria outlined by the Milwaukee River Work Group (MRWG). The initial design proposed by Mandel Group was modified several times in order to achieve full compliance with viewshed and setback goals requested by the MRWG. Additionally, the development’s location offers the opportunity to enhance the living/learning experience with student stewardship of the river and the environment.
Students living in university residence halls are in a supervised living situation and must adhere to the University’s code of conduct. Residence Hall living greatly increases the opportunity for academic success of incoming students. Students will also go through a detailed orientation which will include a briefing on how to help make this neighborhood safe and secure. The University will continue to discuss our neighborhood safety program with our neighbors to develop further enhancements to the program.
The UWMREF and Mandel Group will continue its communication with the neighborhood and the Milwaukee River Work Group throughout the planning and development process. The Foundation, in conjunction with the UWM Housing and the Student Housing Administrative Council (SHAC), has suggested many opportunities to establish environmental awareness programs within the new residence hall, involving the student body and neighborhood residents.
The development will create hundreds of construction jobs and result in the cleanup of a former brownfield site. Retail space at the base of the building will activate North Avenue and provide an incentive to reinvest in surrounding properties.
The UWMREF strongly believes in the positive impact this development will have on the neighborhood. We would like to thank Alderman Nik Kovac for organizing a collaborative process to receive neighborhood input in this process and all eight development teams for their participation. In particular, we would like to thank the other two finalist teams lead by Phelan Development and Boulder Venture for offering their high quality proposals for consideration.