West Allis CDA approves TIF District No. 22 to back two new apartment buildings

The Community Development Authority of the City of West Allis on Tuesday approved creation of Tax Incremental Financing District No. 22, an overlay to portions of existing TIF 15, to support two new apartment buildings in the Mitchell/66 & Lapham area.

Patrick Schloss, executive director of the CDA, opened a public hearing and described the proposed overlay as covering roughly two parcels — about 2.5 acres — carved from the existing TIF. "The proposed project is 117 new apartment units," Schloss said, describing two buildings (66 units on one parcel, 51 on the other), a community center and roughly 2,000 square feet of street-level retail at the corner of 66 and Lapham. He said the total project cost is about $31 million and estimated assessed value is roughly $23.8 million.

Schloss told the authority the overlay is intended to extend the tax-increment clock for the newly developed parcels so the project can attract sufficient private equity. "The TIF request is around $5.6 million" in present value, he said, adding that staff modeled about $10.5 million in nominal increment over the 22-year projection. Staff also described potential public improvements in the budget, including a pedestrian/bike connection toward the Hank Aaron Trail and half‑mile housing and economic-development improvements.

Board members questioned whether robust rental-market performance could shorten the TIF’s life. Schloss said higher occupancy and rising rents would reduce the time needed for the increment to pay down the incentive. He pointed to nearby projects that staff said are nearly fully leased and noted that market strength influences the statutory time window for TIFs.

Members also pressed staff on budget line items and public improvements. Staff said approximately $600,000 was being budgeted toward a path and about $250,000 toward street improvements; staff said the broader TIF budget, when all pieces were included, totaled roughly $12.9 million. On affordability, Schloss said most units are studios or one‑bedrooms (roughly 600–725 sq ft) with average rents in the $1,500–$1,590 range; he said some renters at about 80% of county median income would meet HUD definitions of affordability, but the project does not include designated affordable‑housing set‑asides.

After the public hearing closed, the authority moved and approved a resolution establishing the district boundaries and approving the project plan. Roll-call votes recorded Richard Badger (Aye), Wayne Clark (Yes), Mike Suter (Yes), Tom Medley (Yes), Oliver Weigel (Aye) and Jerry Mader (Yes). The resolution passed.

The vote authorizes staff to continue negotiations on a development agreement. Schloss told the authority the development agreement and contract details will return to a future meeting for further review, and the city council will consider the project plan and boundaries at a forthcoming meeting.