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Council moves Argus Apartments affordable‑housing loan discussion to closed session after developer presentation
Summary
Northpointe Development presented a revised plan for the 60‑unit Argus Apartments affordable workforce housing project; council questioned supportive‑service staffing, internet commitments and amenity access and then voted unanimously to go into closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) to negotiate terms.
Sean O’Brien, representing Northpointe Development, presented a revised proposal for the Argus Apartments: a roughly 60‑unit mixed‑use, workforce‑affordable building that the developer said would include a roughly 5,000 sq. ft. plaza, underground parking, a community room, exercise facilities and on‑site package/mail and rental offices. O’Brien said the project intends a 30‑ to 40‑year affordability commitment, free in‑unit internet for 30 years, and a service‑coordination plan built around Lutheran Social Services (LSS) with roughly four hours per week of on‑site service coordination budgeted at about $13,000 per year; the developer said expanding to 16 hours per week would increase project costs substantially.
Council members pressed the developer on supportive‑services staffing levels and whether the city should require a licensed social worker as the service coordinator. Alders referenced input from local social‑service professionals who recommended a licensed social worker for complex cases and asked the developer to follow up on whether LSS could meet that standard or whether a different vendor or staffing model would be required.
City staff advised the council that additional review and red‑lining of the developer’s proposed contract language remained necessary and that staff would likely share subsequent drafts with the developer before scheduling further action. Because negotiations over the purchase, investment of public funds and loan terms were ongoing and involved competitive or bargaining reasons, Alder Tucker Long moved, with Alder Helmke seconding, to convene in closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e); the roll call recorded every member present voting "Aye." The council reconvened in open session at 9:01 p.m.; staff said negotiations would continue and a resolution is expected in the next one to two months.
No final loan or ordinance was approved in open session on Sept. 22; further negotiation and staff redlines were requested.
