City of Milwaukee - File #: 260029

• File #: 260029
• Version: 1
• Type: Plan Commission Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 5/6/2026
• In control: CITY PLAN COMMISSION
• Final action: 7/20/2026
• Title: Resolution approving the request for a deviation from the performance standards established by the Midtown Center Development Incentive Zone (DIZ) Overlay to allow an indoor self-storage facility as a permitted use within a portion of the former Walmart building at 5825 West Hope Avenue, located on the east side of North 60th Street, north of West Capitol Drive, in the 2nd Aldermanic District.
• Sponsors: THE CHAIR

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
7/20/2026	0	CITY PLAN COMMISSION	SUBSTITUTED; Minutes note: Items 4 and 5 were taken together. Ms. Fonseca presented. The applicant submitted revised narratives and exhibits dated July 1, 2026 that remove the data processing/computer services/computational research facility use from the proposal, and limit the deviation request to the self-service storage facility use within the rear portion of the building. The proposed modifications to the building and site would support the use that is subject to the deviation request. Chair Bloomington stated that the commission would consider the revised files (Proposed Substitute A) and past public testimony. She added that new public testimony would not be taken. Appearing: Lafayette Crump, DCD Commissioner Trent Overhue, AFS (applicant) DCD Commissioner Crump said that the revised development at the rear of the building was for self-service storage facility use, and the remainder of the site, including housing and library components, would commence as planned. Ms. Fonseca gave a presentation on details of the files. Mr. Overhue said that the self-service storage facility use would pose minimal impacts, the front-facing portion of the property would be activated for community-serving uses, and he has incorporated parking adjustments. Ald. Mark Chambers, Jr., 2nd aldermanic district, was in support of the revised proposal and commented on misinformation that was shared regarding the proposal, the Capitol Library, and importance of activating the site. There was inquiry and discussion on a review of a traffic impact study, storm water management, future review of alternations to the site or building facade for the community-serving uses, plans for the community-serving spaces, housing unit mix for the previously approved residential development, and interior and exterior renderings that were included in the exhibits. Staff recommended conditional approval of the updated resolution - Proposed Substitute A for file number 260029. Member Gonzalez moved approval conditionally, seconded by member Smith, of Proposed Substitute A. (Prevailed 6-0) Conditions (260029): 1. Commercial alteration and occupancy permits for the self-service storage facility use will not be issued by the Department of Neighborhood Services until the following items occur: a. The portion of the site where the housing development is proposed has been conveyed to the ownership group that will construct the City Plan Commission-approved housing development and construction permits have been applied for by Gorman & Company to the City of Milwaukee for residential construction. b. There is a binding lease or lease option for the approximately 51,000 sf of leasable space facing W. Hope Ave. for community-serving uses with the City of Milwaukee or other community serving entities that will activate the front-facing portion of the property or, in the event that the community-serving entities are no longer interested in leasing the space, with retail functions that align with the Midtown Center performance standards.	Pass	6:0
7/20/2026	1	CITY PLAN COMMISSION	APPROVED CONDITIONALLY; Minutes note: File reflecting Proposed Substitute A, labeled as Substitute 1.	Pass	6:0
6/29/2026	0	CITY PLAN COMMISSION	HELD IN COMMITTEE; Minutes note: Items 6 and 7 were considered together. Appearing: Lafayette Crump, DCD Commissioner Trent Overhue, AFS (applicant) Commissioner Crump gave opening remarks regarding the vacancy at the former Walmart building and the request for two rear uses for an indoor self-storage facility and a data processing facility, emphasizing it is not a large AI center, would be about 100' by 200', and use minimal water or power. Ms. Fonseca presented files 260029 and 260030 in detail as contained in the full CPC staff report, explaining AFS would reserve the northern portions of the site for a housing development and a potential library, and place the indoor self-storage and data processing/computational research facility uses in the south (rear) portion of the building. Both rear uses need a DIZ deviation but meet design standards. Staff recommended conditional approval. Mr. Overhue said the uses would help activate the site, noted 24/7 staffing and a biomedical research focus for the data processing/computational research facility, and clarified water usage and noise regulations that were the subject of concerns raised by the public. Commissioners asked questions regarding Mr. Overhue’s experience with these types of uses and the unnamed operator of the computational research facility, which is under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. said that the uses were a necessary compromise to fund the housing and the library components and that he had canvassed and engaged residents in the area. Public testimony in opposition (39) — Cordell Mason, Yasmeen Davis, Daniel Benilez-Rivera, Steve O'Connell, Nathan Cole, Samantha Doucus, Joshua Taylor, Blue Pelikan, Warren Enström, Ald. Peter Burgelis, Erin Trad, Stacy Smiter, Brian Dean, Raegan Flikkema, Benjamin Dufresne, Dujon Johnson, Mabel Lamb, Fionna McKenna, Arria Chinn, Sarah Grzezinski, Landon Zimmerman, Khani Solochek, Rachel Stiles, Danell Cross, Melody McCurtis, David Ashley, Isadora Persik, Julia Alberth, Shanarda Wilbourn, Kiante Shields, Hayden Hardwood, Amy Donahue, Dr. Deborah Pasha, Marty Wall, Dr. Cassandra Bowers, Dr. Melita Tyler, Jamila Mitchell, Sheleah Wilson, and Jenica DeWaide. Speakers included residents, Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) Milwaukee, Milwaukee Democratic Socials of American (DSA), and Sherman Park and Metcalfe Park groups. Public testimony in support (6) — Jeremy Moore, Gloria Gonzalez, Tina Ojeda, Shayna Howard, Janice West, and Babett Jeanes. Those in opposition testified on their environmental, process, and equity concerns. They said AFS lacked transparency and data on operations and environmental impacts on the new proposed facilities. They shared concerns that the proposed new uses would worsen and/or exacerbate current issues at Midtown – flooding, Capitol Drive traffic, noise traveling upward, power grid strain, higher electric bills, and use of water among other things. Some who testified expressed concern that the plan requires the two deviation uses in order for the housing and the library components to occur, cited inconsistent defense-versus-biomedical messaging and a secretive operator for the computational research facility, called the community meetings inadequate based on setting and lack of information, and believed the proposals as targeting Black, Brown, and low-income neighborhoods for out-of-state profit while creating few local jobs. They requested a 24-month moratorium pending legislation to regulate data centers, a full environmental review, and water and power benchmarking. Ald. Burgelis, 11th aldermanic district, questioned and requested clarity regarding enforcement of noise requirements for the data processing/computational research facility should a sound study fail. Ms. Fonseca said DNS would withhold permits, including occupancy, if conditions cannot be met. John Cunningham, DNS, added that the City inspects sites throughout the constriction process, and enforcement can occur in several ways, including withholding the certificate of occupancy, issuing orders, referring the matter to court, and revoking permits. Those in support testified that the project would end blight and revitalize Midtown, calling the server room small and environmental impacts minimal. Commissioner Crump said the focus should be use, size, and impact; that the facility is very small; enforcement exists; the proposed housing needs to break ground by July 31st ; and the indoor storage and data facility would be contingent upon the housing and civic components moving forward. Ald. Chambers, Jr. said the project was needed to avoid the continuing vacancy of the site and that there was a lot of misinformation regarding the proposal. There was discussion regarding an environmental study and benchmark reporting requirements, existing data center facilities within the City, pending data center legislation, AFS’s data processing/computational research facility operations elsewhere and locally, community engagement, and the west parking lot buffers and parking, and landscaping. Mark Larson, architect, said landscaping was submitted and a two-way lot could be explored. Ald. Sharlen Moore, 10th aldermanic district, testified with concerns over the engagement to-date for the future library and opposed losing Capitol Library from her district. There was discussion regarding exploration of a moratorium, decision to relocate the Capitol Library to the Midtown corridor, and the July 31st WHEDA low income housing tax credit deadline. Commissioner Smith moved conditional approval based on staff conditions 1-12 plus additional conditions for water benchmarking, public environmental reports, landscaping and parking review, and a City-run independent study of similar AFS facilities (developer-funded, firm undisclosed to AFS, including solar review, permits withheld until complete). The motion failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Smith moved to hold for a third-party review and solar assessment, seconded by vice-chair Nemec. The motion failed with a 2-4-1 vote. (yes: Nemec, Smith; no: Washington, Crane, Moody, Gonzalez; abstain: Bloomingdale). Commissioner Moody moved to hold the file, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez. (Prevailed 7-0)	Pass	7:0
5/6/2026	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

Number

260029

Version

SUBSTITUTE 1

Reference

Sponsor

THE CHAIR

Title

Resolution approving the request for a deviation from the performance standards established by the Midtown Center Development Incentive Zone (DIZ) Overlay to allow an indoor self-storage facility as a permitted use within a portion of the former Walmart building at 5825 West Hope Avenue, located on the east side of North 60th Street, north of West Capitol Drive, in the 2nd Aldermanic District.

Analysis

Body

Requestor

City Plan Commission

Drafter

City Clerk's Office

Chris Lee

7/20/2026