Milwaukee east side apartment building wins zoning OK over opposition from some neighbors

An apartment planned for Milwaukee's east side that is opposed by some neighborhood residents is being recommended for approval by city officials.

The five-story, 55-unit apartment building would be developed by Klein Development Inc. and Jeno Cataldo at the northeast corner of N. Oakland Ave. and E. Locust St.

A two-story building, at 2900 N. Oakland Ave., which houses a Cousins Subs, would be razed to make way for the $12.5 million development.

The Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee voted 5-0 Tuesday to recommend approval for the development, which needs full council approval.

The monthly rents would range from around $900 to $2,000, with units ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments. The building would feature 59 indoor parking spaces and 6,500 square feet of street-level retail space, including a new Cousins Subs.

Some neighborhood residents are worried about the development's impact on traffic east of Oakland Ave., as well as its effects on the storm water sewer system.

Most of the area traffic, however, runs west of Oakland Ave. on Locust St., according to the Department of Public Works. The sewer system has capacity to accommodate the new building, department officials said.

Opponents also say the building is too large for a street that has mainly two-story commercial buildings, and would set the stage for additional high-density developments on N. Oakland Ave.

The corner lot is a good location for a high-density building, said project supporter Ald. Nik Kovac, whose district includes the site.

The proposed apartment building is supported by other neighborhood residents, Kovac said.

In other action, the committee recommended the sale of an east side city-owned lot for a new building with 1,500 square feet of street-level commercial space and three apartments on the second story.

The 3,500-square-foot lot, at 1697 N. Marshall St., would be sold to developer Scott Genke for $105,000.

The site is at the southwest corner of N. Marshall and E. Brady streets. It is just east of the former Pecoraro's Food Market, 827-829 E. Brady St., which last year was converted into street-level commercial space and three apartments.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com, and followed on Twitter and Facebook.