From: Ellen Driscoll Sent: Friday, July 15, 2016 1:20 PM To: Lee, Chris Cc: Marcoux, Rocky; ribauma@milwaukee.gov; Mayor Tom Barrett; Douglas Hagerman; Mary Dettman Subject: 1550 develpment proposal Honorable Members of the Zoning and Neighborhood Develpment Committe, c/o Chris Lee I am writing to express my concern re the proposed development at 1550 N. Prospect, the Goll Mansion site. I realize this property is prime for development, and in fact I would look forward to someone returning the Historic Goll Mansion to it's legacy. But the current proposal is too large and it does not fit the property; my primary concerns are to ensure the grace and anbiance of my Prospect Avenue neighborhood, to avoid increasing density on Prospect Ave, and to maintain the integrity of the bluff and the park-like setting of lake path. Reguarding the east side of the property, I am concerned about what the construction will do to the bluff and to the 100 yr old retaining wall on the 1550 property, and indirectly influencing erosion on either side. The pile driving 25 ft from adjacent buildings and construction on the bluff is likely to have a damaging effect. We at 1522 have already had to address erosion issues on our northern edge of bluff property. Per the Natural Areas Coordinator for the County Parks, we would be held responsible for any bluff drift or erosion that occurs on our property as well. This 27 story building will have it's full weight positioned about 40 ft directly over the top of the bluff. Significant work has been needed in past years, to stabilize the bluff in Juneau Park and to stabilize the Landmark building due to bluff drift. I would hope that any project interfacing with the bluff would be required to undergo close scrutiny. I would support the recommendation given by DCD committee members, that the develper would need to do a bluff study before approving this building as it is proposed. As I walk the Oak Leaf Trail from St. John’s to White Manor, most of the distance is flanked by green space. It is a lovely break from the city skyline, and is widely used. Only 3 of the 15 residential buildings have the heavy high-rise part of the building extend past the bluff. Of these 1) Harborside is 14 stories, and you can see from the path that they removed the retaining wall as well, or had to reinforce it heavily with concrete 2) The Jewish Home is 12 stories. Their efforts to re-establish the original state of the bluff have been mostly unsuccessful. 3) Lake Bluff is 5 stories, and stabilization of the bluff there is accomplished aethetically by lake path access. The other buildings interfacing the bluff are either positioned on top of the bluff or as in our case as well, have only their parking or terraces extending past the bluff edge. In fact, when our building was in planning, it was originally to be positioned at the back of the lot; but the city insisted we change our design so the terrace and parking was at the back. In summer, but especially in winter, navigating Prospect can be troublesome. Lanes are frequently blocked by moving vans, UPS trucks, contractor vehicles, DPW and waste management trucks. Once a snowstorm steals a parking lane, it gets even worse. Finding on-street parking for guests is difficult; we ourselves hold a day pass for street parking to allow our guests to park in our indoor spot, as our 12 guest spots are sometimes filled. I do not understand how the developer feels his current small access drive and parking spaces are adequate for a new development. When the developer was asked by DCD to do a contingency study on the bluff and traffic issues in order to gain approval by their committee, he refused, citing delay would influence his rental cycle. I feel this proposed development in it's current form is being pushed forward with financial gains as it's primary goal, and is not in the best interest of our neighborhood. I respectfully request you deny approval for it in it's current form. Thank you, Ellen Driscoll, 1522 resident