From:	Mary Dettmann <famdett@wi.rr.com>
Sent:	Thursday, July 14, 2016 9:11 PM
To:	Lee, Chris; Marcoux, Rocky; Mayor Tom Barrett; Bauman, Robert
Subject:	Reject new Development at 1550 Prospect-Goll Mansion

Honorable Members of the Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development 
Committee,

As very concerned life-long Milwaukee citizens, we are writing to oppose the 
extremely inappropriate proposed development for 1550 North Prospect-the 
site of the historic Goll Mansion.  The proposed development is in stark 
contrast to the mission of the ZND Committee.

Your mandate, according to the Milwaukee Zoning Code of Ordinances, 
section 295-103, states that the purposes of the ordinance are to "maintain 
safe pedestrian and vehicular circulation... prevent and control erosion, 
sedimentation, and other pollution...enhance streetscape and pedestrian 
environment... maintain a compatible scale of development... and encourage 
reinvestment in established urban neighborhoods while protecting their 
unique characteristics..."
This proposed project violates every one of these principal mandates.

Specifically:

1. The proposed building is too big for the lot. It is almost three times the 
size of what the lot is currently zoned. It is more than three times the City’s 
zoning standard for a lot of this size.  In addition, the setbacks are 
extremely small and disrespect neighboring buildings and the uniqueness of 
the neighborhood in general.  

2.  The proposed development does not include a turnaround 
driveway.  Most deliveries and more importantly moving vans (which will be 
nearly a constant need given a 200 unit apartment building) will need to 
park in Prospect Avenue and will block parking lanes, bike lanes and/or a 
traffic lane to accommodate safe loading/unloading.  This will also directly 
affect the efficient operation of the new Streetcar. The Streetcar will run on 
Prospect Avenue and the gigantic development may impede and add 
congestion in terms of vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

3.  The development  provides only 2 exterior surface parking spaces for 
guests which is grossly inadequate for a 200 unit building. Parking is already 
an issue for buildings along the street and some of those residents currently 
lease space from the Goll Mansion property owners. This  totals 25-30 
spaces.  These people will need to relocate.  1522 On the Lake 
Condominiums provides 12 surface parking guest spaces and has less than 
half of the units of this proposed development.  In addition, 1522 has a 
turnaround driveway — again a consideration for neighborhood safety and 
respectability of space. 1522 has more than 1.5 parking spaces per unit 
which is far greater than the new development which proposes less than 1 
per unit.

4.  Nearly 50% of the proposed building footprint would be east of the crest 
of the bluff.  The location and shape of the bluff would be significantly 
altered.  The building, pushed so far out over the bluff, would destroy the 
pleasant eastern sight line that has been created by existing buildings.  In 
addition, there would be significant risks to the stability of the bluff and 
surrounding buildings by stuffing this massive structure onto this small lot. 
The bluff is too fragile to be put in such jeopardy.

5.  The Prospect Avenue neighborhood offers a unique living experience 
along Milwaukee's lakefront.  It is a tree lined avenue with access to the 
lakeshore parklands, providing for a great deal of urban and outdoor living 
experiences.  Other neighborhoods in our City such as The Third Ward have 
a density more suited to this proposed development.  It is important to 
maintain diverse types of residential neighborhoods for current and future 
investment in our City.

We are excited to see the growth and change Milwaukee has experienced in 
the last several years. Building such as Northwestern Mutual, Marquette 
University, Bucks Arena and many others add to the beauty and progress of 
the city. The developer has not been able to articulate how the historic Goll 
Mansion will be preserved and maintained. The large monstrosity will be 
tacked on to the mansion, not integrated. You and past leaders have always 
had the vision to maintain the beauty of the lakefront which includes the 
bluff. To even think of putting that in jeopardy is a tragedy. We are excited 
for the new streetcar and other appropriate development in our 
neighborhood. 

Rejecting this proposal is vital to maintaining the beauty and integrity of 
Prospect Avenue and the lake bluff and park.

We trust in your ability to see the inappropriateness of the oversized 
massive proposed development. 


Mary Ertl Dettmann-President  1522 On The Lake Condominiums Association
Delbert Dettmann-former Real Estate Specialist for Department of City 
Development, City of Milwaukee