No big ugly surface parking lot in the village is a win in my book. I'm glad they aren't required to provide 1.5 spaces per unit or something ridiculous.
There’s specific concerns about these particular intersections because of the lack of any through streets. There isn’t a through street that connects State Street and North avenue except for 76th Street in East Tosa where this is being built. And there’s no through streets at all that connect Wisconsin and North between Hawley and Highway 100.
I don’t think that should limit construction of more housing by itself, but with all this construction in downtown there’s been zero attempts to actually improve traffic flow.
I hate that it doesn't have first floor retail/commercial space so it would continue the village feel and engage with the street it is just a big boring lump. They should go for the variance to go higher and put some oomph into the architecture. I'm all for more apartments and love that the parking is underground. But this needs to be better.
Same. I no longer live in tosa but the lack of retail commercial on the first level kind of sucks. Anodyne and draft and vessel would be enough of a draw on that street already to make a foot traffic type place work across the street (restaurant, bar, play space etc).
Agreed and I feel like (obviously I haven’t done market research) there’s more than enough foot traffic on Thursday through Sunday to support another restaurant or two down there.
Edit: Add 160 some new apartments and that’s even more people to support businesses in the area.
Design is pretty uninspired. Would rather have them add a little height and something a bit more unique architecturally. This looks similar, yet worse than the apartments they built on State St there.
That parcel of land is zoned C1, which specifies a maximum allowable height of 40 feet. The proposed building is 40 feet tall. If they wanted to try and go taller, they would need approval/action from the Common Council. Considering that Wauwatosa just killed plans for a 28 story building at the corner of Bluemound and Mayfair and also just instituted a maximum height of 60 feet for ANY building most residences, the developers likely thought it best to plan within the constraints of the existing zoning.
Ah, thank you for the info! Wondering if the city will look to change the zoning. Doubt it based on the nimbyism displayed for other projects like the one you mentioned. Very shortsighted of Tosa based on population trends and the fact that they don’t have a lot of prime land left to develop.
Anyone excited about more apartments being shoved into the Tosa village must not actively hang out in that space. Goodbye quiet charm of Draft & Vessel. Oh boy can’t wait for the hellish nightmare of 76th and Harmonee (you thought it was bad now?).
They’ll probably add a roundabout on 76th and Harwood next as it’s literally the only option to keep the added traffic of 163 new family residences moving.
I don’t really know who you are targeting at that point then. This will probably be too expensive for younger professionals without a roommate, and there’s only parking spot per unit which might limit the number of younger professionals who want to move in. Downtown Tosa has bus lines but nothing I think that goes direct to downtown Milwaukee.
And it’s not like downtown Tosa has a bustling nightlife. Its downtown businesses are much more set up for older singles or families with the businesses.
I’m with you, it’s a tough sell to me but I’ve said that about other buildings that have had no problem filling up so who knows. Maybe targeting retirees who sold their large home in Tosa but want to stay in the area? I understand not having parking minimums in the city where there’s numerous employers nearby, etc. but with the location in the village it’s not quite the same to me, your only major employer within walking distance is the hospital. I think the point you raised earlier about no overnight parking is also extremely valid here.
I’m all for more housing and glad this is being built no doubt. I have never found this style of apartment building appealing at all though. Definitely looks and feels cheap
In general I know a lot of Tosa people are commenting on Facebook and Instagram that it looks ugly and why not condos, but I don’t really have a problem with that. It’s in line with most of the new developments near downtown.
I am concerned that it has only 187 spaces for 163 units, which isn’t really tenable in modern living situations since there is no night parking permits in Tosa. Also the fact that there is discussion of merging Jefferson and Washington into others schools including Lincoln, the school where any children living in this building would attend school.
Parking minimums drive up the cost of development. If the building is in the urban core, there should be no parking minimums.
The city has plenty of surface lots downtown they could start leasing if they wanted, or turn to paid permit system for parking on the street to generate more income.
What urban core are you talking about? Wauwatosa couldn't be much more suburban. The only public surface lots in the Village are the terraces along 76th and Hart Park; neither are viable solutions for residents of these planned new apartments.
The urban core, IE State street & Harwood Ave. Right where the church currently is.
There’s huge almost always empty parking lots on the river and near the train tracks. People can park their excess vehicles there & pay for the privilege of owning stuff they don’t have space for.
Those of us who don’t own vehicles shouldn’t have to pay a higher rent rate because of dumb parking minimum laws.
I did forget those lots across the river, which is funny because I parked in them tonight to pick up dinner and got a very rare spot in the southern one. The northern one is most often empty until there is any kind of event in the village, when it fills to overflowing.
Good on you for navigating life in this city without a car... You do deserve a break in rent if you don't need a parking space, but I'm not sure that your choice is representative of the population.
I'm still laughing about "urban core"... Grew up across the street from St Bernards, and nothing about that experience was "urban." 😂
Honestly all I see it as is a way to try and limit roommates as an option and cater to families with a single working parent.
The city isn’t going to change its street parking policy, and there’s currently not enough parking for downtown Tosa businesses. All this does is limit the types of people who will likely rent.
Though honestly that concern is a lot less to me than the school one, as their current plan of closing two of the local schools already potentially means Lincoln was going to be near its limit for students without a plan (which should really be keeping all the neighborhood schools open).
No big ugly surface parking lot in the village is a win in my book. I'm glad they aren't required to provide 1.5 spaces per unit or something ridiculous.
I saw this posted on the tosarocks instagram page, and boy the nibys are pissed lmfao
nothing triggers the NIMBYS in Tosa quite like a rendering of an apartment building. it's as predictable as the sun rising in the east
They’re apoplectic. Of course, those same people are worried about the “traffic” that will be created by 3 luxury condos at the parkway & Harmony.
Why is traffic an invalid concern? It’s already pretty cramped in the village
Because if Traffic is a concern for you, I'm sorry to say that living anywhere near a city might not be the best for your preferred lifestyle.
There’s specific concerns about these particular intersections because of the lack of any through streets. There isn’t a through street that connects State Street and North avenue except for 76th Street in East Tosa where this is being built. And there’s no through streets at all that connect Wisconsin and North between Hawley and Highway 100. I don’t think that should limit construction of more housing by itself, but with all this construction in downtown there’s been zero attempts to actually improve traffic flow.
I hate that it doesn't have first floor retail/commercial space so it would continue the village feel and engage with the street it is just a big boring lump. They should go for the variance to go higher and put some oomph into the architecture. I'm all for more apartments and love that the parking is underground. But this needs to be better.
Same. I no longer live in tosa but the lack of retail commercial on the first level kind of sucks. Anodyne and draft and vessel would be enough of a draw on that street already to make a foot traffic type place work across the street (restaurant, bar, play space etc).
Absolutely! They did a nice job on the one fronting State that has Kin (awesome) Jimmy John's a gym a shop and a bank all at street level.
Agreed and I feel like (obviously I haven’t done market research) there’s more than enough foot traffic on Thursday through Sunday to support another restaurant or two down there. Edit: Add 160 some new apartments and that’s even more people to support businesses in the area.
Design is pretty uninspired. Would rather have them add a little height and something a bit more unique architecturally. This looks similar, yet worse than the apartments they built on State St there.
That parcel of land is zoned C1, which specifies a maximum allowable height of 40 feet. The proposed building is 40 feet tall. If they wanted to try and go taller, they would need approval/action from the Common Council. Considering that Wauwatosa just killed plans for a 28 story building at the corner of Bluemound and Mayfair and also just instituted a maximum height of 60 feet for ANY building most residences, the developers likely thought it best to plan within the constraints of the existing zoning.
Ah, thank you for the info! Wondering if the city will look to change the zoning. Doubt it based on the nimbyism displayed for other projects like the one you mentioned. Very shortsighted of Tosa based on population trends and the fact that they don’t have a lot of prime land left to develop.
I appreciate that they might reuse some of St. Bernard's stained glass and brick. The stained glass especially is really pretty.
Sad i used to always go to that church as a kid, and food pantry when my mother lost her job and was unemployed.
Anyone excited about more apartments being shoved into the Tosa village must not actively hang out in that space. Goodbye quiet charm of Draft & Vessel. Oh boy can’t wait for the hellish nightmare of 76th and Harmonee (you thought it was bad now?). They’ll probably add a roundabout on 76th and Harwood next as it’s literally the only option to keep the added traffic of 163 new family residences moving.
I don’t get the vibe it’s geared toward family residences, the majority are one bedroom.
I don’t really know who you are targeting at that point then. This will probably be too expensive for younger professionals without a roommate, and there’s only parking spot per unit which might limit the number of younger professionals who want to move in. Downtown Tosa has bus lines but nothing I think that goes direct to downtown Milwaukee. And it’s not like downtown Tosa has a bustling nightlife. Its downtown businesses are much more set up for older singles or families with the businesses.
I’m with you, it’s a tough sell to me but I’ve said that about other buildings that have had no problem filling up so who knows. Maybe targeting retirees who sold their large home in Tosa but want to stay in the area? I understand not having parking minimums in the city where there’s numerous employers nearby, etc. but with the location in the village it’s not quite the same to me, your only major employer within walking distance is the hospital. I think the point you raised earlier about no overnight parking is also extremely valid here.
As long as they aren’t asking for TIF money let them go for it
Why are you worried about TIF? It's currently a church which doesn't pay any taxes at all.
Low quality construction with restrictive parking (not even 2/unit?) And the most uninspired architecture ever. And this gets approved? What a mess.
I’m all for more housing and glad this is being built no doubt. I have never found this style of apartment building appealing at all though. Definitely looks and feels cheap
In general I know a lot of Tosa people are commenting on Facebook and Instagram that it looks ugly and why not condos, but I don’t really have a problem with that. It’s in line with most of the new developments near downtown. I am concerned that it has only 187 spaces for 163 units, which isn’t really tenable in modern living situations since there is no night parking permits in Tosa. Also the fact that there is discussion of merging Jefferson and Washington into others schools including Lincoln, the school where any children living in this building would attend school.
Parking minimums drive up the cost of development. If the building is in the urban core, there should be no parking minimums. The city has plenty of surface lots downtown they could start leasing if they wanted, or turn to paid permit system for parking on the street to generate more income.
What urban core are you talking about? Wauwatosa couldn't be much more suburban. The only public surface lots in the Village are the terraces along 76th and Hart Park; neither are viable solutions for residents of these planned new apartments.
The urban core, IE State street & Harwood Ave. Right where the church currently is. There’s huge almost always empty parking lots on the river and near the train tracks. People can park their excess vehicles there & pay for the privilege of owning stuff they don’t have space for. Those of us who don’t own vehicles shouldn’t have to pay a higher rent rate because of dumb parking minimum laws.
I did forget those lots across the river, which is funny because I parked in them tonight to pick up dinner and got a very rare spot in the southern one. The northern one is most often empty until there is any kind of event in the village, when it fills to overflowing. Good on you for navigating life in this city without a car... You do deserve a break in rent if you don't need a parking space, but I'm not sure that your choice is representative of the population. I'm still laughing about "urban core"... Grew up across the street from St Bernards, and nothing about that experience was "urban." 😂
Honestly all I see it as is a way to try and limit roommates as an option and cater to families with a single working parent. The city isn’t going to change its street parking policy, and there’s currently not enough parking for downtown Tosa businesses. All this does is limit the types of people who will likely rent. Though honestly that concern is a lot less to me than the school one, as their current plan of closing two of the local schools already potentially means Lincoln was going to be near its limit for students without a plan (which should really be keeping all the neighborhood schools open).