From:	Bohl, James
Sent:	Monday, December 08, 2014 12:39 PM
To:	h giese
Cc:	Lee, Chris
Subject:	RE: File 140276  Resolution modifying the Pilot Program for sale of 
vacant, City-owned residential lots for $1 in the 15th Aldermanic 
District. 

Will ensure this is entered into the record, Mr. Giese.

Thanks, jb

From: h giese [mailto:hgiese@ameritech.net]  
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2014 12:06 PM 
To: Bohl, James; Perez, Jose; Kovac, Nik; Wade, Willie; Bauman, Robert 
Cc: Stamper II, Russell; Mayor Tom Barrett; aasewadvisors@yahoogroups.com 
Subject: File 140276 Resolution modifying the Pilot Program for sale of vacant, City-owned residential 
lots for $1 in the 15th Aldermanic District. 

Dear Chairman Bohl:

I am the lobbyist for the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc. I am not 
sure that I will be able to attend the ZND meeting on 12/9 and thus I am submitting 
these comments on the above resolution. I have called the sponsor, Ald. Stamper, to 
relay these concerns.

Of particular concern to the AASEW is that this vacant lot purchase program excludes 
non-resident property owners from participation. There is little doubt that some of our 
challenged aldermanic districts such as the 15th could use more investment in their 
housing stock. So why would the City exclude non-resident investment owners 
who have already taken on that challenge from making further investments by agreeing 
to take on the job of maintaining vacant lots next door to their properties?

There are a number of problems with this proposal:

1) Foremost is the fact that this proposal discriminates against tenants. I have a non-
resident client in the 15th district who owns a duplex, the second house from the corner. 
The corner lot is city-owned and is a magnet for junk, trash and an abandoned vehicle. 
The tenants of this owner must put up with these eyesores. Under this Resolution, the 
neighboring owner is not allowed to take over responsibility of fencing in and 
maintaining this vacant lot, perhaps creating a play area for children of the tenants.

2) Ald. Stamper may be justifiably concerned that some non-resident landlords are not 
good operators but surely a listing of bad landlords would include many who are City 
residents. A much better qualification test for this vacant lot program would be to 
approve only neighboring owners who are current on  taxes for all City properties they 
own and who do not have uncorrected building code violations.

3) If the property is owned by an LLC with a Milwaukee place of business (but with the 
member of the LLC living outside the City) does the LLC qualify as a resident? Another 
client of mine is a larger operator who maintains his business office in the 15th district. 
He lived on the northwest side and only recently moved out of the City. He employs a 
number of inner city residents to maintain his properties.
His properties are titled in the names of various LLC's with a Milwaukee registered 
office. Why should his Milwaukee-based companies not be allowed to take part in this 
program?

4) By excluding non-resident owners this program will result in more vacant 
properties remaining in City ownership with the resultant high costs of maintenance by 
City workers. 

A copy of this email is being sent to Ald. Stamper and the Mayor's office.
We thank the committee for taking note of our concerns.

--Heiner Giese


Atty Heiner Giese 
1216 N. Prospect Ave.               
Milwaukee, WI. 53202-3061 
Tel. 414-276-7988 Fax: 414-276-8342