From: Cindy Thomason Sent: Monday, July 18, 2016 2:55 PM To: Lee, Chris Cc: Marcoux, Rocky; Bauman, Robert; Mayor Tom Barrett; doughagerman@gmail.com; famdett@wi.rr.com Subject: Proposed multi-family residential development at 1550 North Prospect Ave Dear Honorable Members of the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee, I would like to respectfully request that the Committee's reject the change in zoning to a new Detailed Planning Development for a multi-family residential development at 1550 North Prospect Ave. There are numerous reasons for this rejection which I will detail below. Density - The building is simply too big for the lot, drastically exceeding the City's density standard. The DCD has offered no good reason why these City's standards should be exceeded to such an extent. - My current residence, the 1522 N Prospect building, allowed open space on both the north and south sides of the building out of respect for neighbors as well as to keep the open character of the neighborhood. However, the proposed building includes extremely small setbacks of only 3.4 feet from the lot line of the 1522 building. This building would be jammed right up to property boundaries. - Because of the combination of the small lot, the space needed for the mansion and the massive size of proposed building, a situation is created where the building needs to be built far out over the bluff. - The proposed building has grossly inadequate surface parking for visitors and deliveries, only 2 spaces for the 200 units and 360 bedrooms. In contrast, the 1522 building has 12 surface spaces for half as many units. Furthermore, there is not even room for a turnaround drive. Chaos in our neighborhood - As mentioned above, proposal does not include nor is there space for a turnaround drive. Every visiting car or truck that turns into driveway will have to back out across the sidewalk and onto Prospect Ave. (Of course, residents will be able to open the garage doors and enter the parking structure.) - The number of parking spaces with the proposed building appears to be inadequate for number of residents and visitors which would create excessive demand for street parking in a neighborhood where street parking is already challenging. If the street car is built, this situation would be exacerbated since it would eliminate a lane of parking. The parking issue would affect not just those living adjacent to the proposed building but to all of those living in the neighborhood who themselves utilize street parking as well as their visitors who rely on street parking. - The proposed building no space for semi moving trucks to park and unload. They would need to park in front of the building most likely blocking a lane of traffic on Prospect. - These issues all deserve careful attention with respect to preserving the character and livability of the neighborhood, both of which impact property values. However, the DCD and DPW seem not to have taken these issues seriously. Safety issues regarding the bluff - Approximately 40-50% of the proposed building would be past the crest of the bluff and would need to be built on pilings. At the east edge, the foot of the building is over 30 vertical feet below top of the bluff. The location and shape of the bluff would be significantly altered with sole goal of allowing a larger building to be built on a lot that is too small. - No engineering or geological study has been offered by the developer nor has DCD required one. The weight on the bluff poses a hazard for the surrounding buildings. - Massive amounts of pile driving will be needed and damage to the surrounding buildings is likely. Monitoring of those buildings as well as financial assurances to cover damage should be required of the developer. The contractor's liability insurance is wholly inadequate to protect the neighbors from the damage to their homes. DCD has not even considered these issues. - The proposed building is pushed so far out over the bluff that it destroys the pleasant sight line that has been created by the existing buildings. Whereas other buildings have been placed close to Prospect Avenue for the benefit of all neighbors and visitors to the area, this building appears to be pushed as far as possible toward the lake front. (For example, the 1522 developer put a large second floor terrace on the east side of the building rather than putting the building over the bluff.) This also impacts the bluff bike trail, a feature which draws many visitors to the area both from within and outside of Milwaukee including outside of the state. City image - The city wishes to make urban living appealing to young professionals as well as Baby Boomers and others. Treating those who have invested in city real estate so cavalierly will make the city less attractive and potentially reduce the tax base - The residents of 1522 pay $1.25 million annually in property taxes and don't deserve to be treated this way, with a behemoth right on their property line, with traffic nightmares on their street and with likely damage to the surrounding properties caused by the reckless plan to build a huge building past the crest of the bluff. Inconsistency with zoning ordinance - Milwaukee Zoning Code of Ordinances, section 295-103, states that the purposes of the code of ordinances is to "..maintain safe pedestrian and vehicular circulation…prevent and control erosion, sedimentation and other pollution…enhance the streetscape and pedestrian environment…maintain a compatible scale of development…and encourage reinvestment in established urban neighborhoods while protecting their unique characteristics…". The proposed project violates every one of these principles and therefore should be rejected. Everyone who visits me loves the neighborhood with its openness and mix of historical buildings and residential units. And I love living in such a neighborhood. I appreciate your attention to this letter and hope that you will seriously consider all of these concerns when making decisions regarding the proposed residential development at 1550 North Prospect Ave. Sincerely, Cynthia Thomason 1522 North Prospect Ave, Unit 703 Milwaukee, WI 53202 414-220-4232 (Please note this property is owned in conjunction with my recently deceased husband, Charles Q Hart-Slater whose name has not yet been removed from the deed. Were he still alive, he would echo my sentiments.)