Shorewood Tells Low Income Families: Get Lost

Old-fashioned local politics backroom deals may not be so old-fashioned after all. In this small Milwaukee suburb, village officials are unaccountably moving ahead with a redevelopment project that is markedly inferior to a competing proposal ‒and doing so with little public input or explanation.

The result will be loss of public parking and rental units that benefit Shorewood's struggling low-income workers and their families . . . the people who fill the low-paid jobs that the Village's more privileged residents rely on.

The issue is how to reconfigure one of two existing parking lots. The Village chose a developer without affordable housing experience who would only create 19 units, will remove public parking in Shorewood’s most densely populated block, and require a $2.7 million gift from the Village. In addition, Spoerl Commercial is getting a free ride from state public funding sources, and has confessed to having no money in the deal.

Well-connected residents apparently pushed the Village to dump a competing affordable housing deal next to the public library by a different developer which would’ve created 53 units, preserved public parking access, and required just an $800,000 contribution from the Village.

Affordable Shorewood, a local advocacy group, believes discussions surrounding the library site have occurred largely outside formal public meetings. Community speculation has suggested that some officials view affordable housing as incompatible with the “iconic” character of Shorewood’s Village Center ‒ a classic example of “Not In My Back Yard.”

Village administrative rules require developers “to provide public outreach to neighborhoods and impacted stakeholders prior to the review of their application by the CDA and Village Board at each application phase.” But Spoerl Commercial failed to dialogue with neighbors, those who use the parking lot, and small businesses. The only effort specifically aimed at nearby renters was a small yard sign posted at the development site. Comments by Village officials acknowledged this failure, yet nothing was done.

Lower-income residents and small business owners of the North Oakland neighborhood would surely have complained about less parking in a neighborhood which already has a documented shortage of 378 parking spots. But they were never given the opportunity. The lot has only 2 disabled parking spots in a neighborhood of more than 540 residents.

In selling the land to Spoerl Development, The Village trustees intentionally voted down an appraisal of the North Oakland parking lot. When compared to similar deals, the lot is worth about $1 million more than Spoerl paid. 

Jay Sorensen, a volunteer advocate with Affordable Shorewood, said local officials and housing agencies have rebuffed efforts to expand discussion of the project proposals.

“In the rush to add some sort of affordable housing, Shorewood trustees and WHEDA have intentionally ignored the voices of the very residents they claim to help,” Sorensen said. “The decision by the majority of trustees to eliminate public parking seems intended to discourage certain people from living here, such as the elderly, disabled, and working people who need cars. One trustee said on the record, ‘They can move someplace else.’ This is governance with contempt for the governed.”

About Affordable Shorewood: Affordable Shorewood is a grassroots organization of renters, homeowners, families, businesses, and landlords who want Shorewood to remain affordable and livable for all. Committed to preserving Shorewood’s small-town character, the group believes village trustees should prioritize the needs of current residents in all planning decisions. We support affordable housing development that takes a balanced approach to public benefits, neighborhoods and village finances.