Memo to Shorewood: Experienced developers deliver success.

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀.

This an excerpt of a letter sent to Shorewood Village Trustees by Bill Meier, an apartment resident on North Oakland Avenue who parks in the lot. The full 5-page document is available at this link as a PDF: storage.googleapis.com/mailerlite-uploads-prod/1862766/LIfl3xgyUMuOpP1pDEbmYl9mMx5vlj3OsZ74P6Gf.pdf

If Shorewood wants successful affordable housing, it must work with an experienced developer.

I am not opposed to affordable housing. I am writing to you as a resident who has abundant operating experience in the development of major affordable housing projects in Milwaukee.

I have lived in Shorewood most of my life and have parked in the 4450 N. Oakland lot for many years. I was astonished to learn that the Village was planning to develop the lot without providing accommodations for the tenants currently renting spaces there. I was particularly concerned because two of the spaces are designated handicapped parking spaces.

This prompted me to look more closely at the situation. What I discovered is troubling. From what appears to be a lack of adequate due diligence by the Village to the apparent lack of experience of the proposed developer, it seems the Village may be taking a significant risk with taxpayer dollars. If affordable housing is not developed and managed properly, it can lead to serious problems for both tenants and the surrounding community.

The full 5-page document is available at this link as a PDF: storage.googleapis.com/mailerlite-uploads-prod/1862766/LIfl3xgyUMuOpP1pDEbmYl9mMx5vlj3OsZ74P6Gf.pdf