Council approves 50-unit affordable housing project at Grand/Grama after traffic and parking objections

The Wausau Common Council voted 8-2 Tuesday to approve a purchase-and-development agreement with 700 Grama Apartments LLC for a 50-unit affordable multifamily housing project at properties on Grand and Grama avenues and to vacate portions of right-of-way required for the development.

The measures included a contract to allow sale and development of the parcels and a final resolution approving the vacating and discontinuance of certain right-of-way covering multiple addresses on Grand and Grama avenues. Alder Hanke moved the development agreement; Alder Rasmussen seconded. The development agreement passed by an 8-2 roll call. A separate motion to vacate affected right-of-way also passed 8-2.

The project prompted extended debate on parking, construction logistics and traffic safety at a busy intersection. Alder Larson said he would not support the items and argued the site lacks adequate parking, saying, “I don't believe there's gonna be enough parking here.” Larson noted the developer's parking plan described about 44 spaces “downstairs” and 30 elsewhere — a total the alder said he believes is insufficient for a 50-unit building, adding that typical demand could be “a car and a half per unit.” He also warned of construction impacts on traffic at a busy corner.

Alder Rasmussen urged support for the project, saying the city needs more affordable units and that the developer had spent “two years to get the federal tax credits that they've been awarded for this project, and those are project and site specific,” meaning the project could not readily be moved to another parcel. Alder Martens, whose district sits across Grand Avenue, said planning staff had worked to mitigate traffic impacts and said the location's proximity to Hammond Park and transit made it a suitable site. Alder Killian said she had received substantial constituent opposition to the location and could not support the items for safety and traffic reasons.

Council members who spoke in favor emphasized the city's need for lower-cost housing and the multi-year effort to secure project financing and approvals. Supporters said staff and the developer had planned for traffic and construction staging and expressed confidence the impacts would be manageable on a temporary basis.

The council also approved a related final resolution to vacate and discontinue specific segments of right-of-way at addresses tied to the project; that item had been recommended by infrastructure committees and passed by the same 8-2 margin.

The measures will allow the developer to move forward with site preparation, permits and construction under the terms of the development agreement and the vacating resolution. The development's financing and any required building permits remain subject to applicable administrative review and approvals.