Milwaukee County supervisors debate proposal to site senior housing at McGovern Park; referral and rejection motions fail

Milwaukee County supervisors spent more than two hours on June 26 debating a proposed ground lease term sheet that would allow Jewish Family Services Inc. (JFS) to develop a mixed-use senior community center and affordable senior housing at McGovern Park.

The measure — introduced as Item 8 and reported out of committee with no recommendation after a tie vote — prompted repeated concerns from supervisors representing nearby neighborhoods and repeated calls from residents who oppose housing development on parkland. Supporters said the proposal would deliver a new senior center and affordable senior housing without requiring the county to fund full capital replacement.

The debate focused on three central facts presented during the meeting: the McGovern Senior Center has about $2 million in deferred maintenance; the county’s senior center network faces roughly $20 million in deferred maintenance overall; and the administration says a $2 million low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) commitment tied to this project must be made within 30 days or those funds could be redirected to other projects. Several speakers repeatedly framed the question as whether the county should accept a partnership that replaces a deteriorating building and provides housing, or protect parkland from development.

Opponents, led vocally by…