Tomorrow marks a pivotal moment for affordable housing in Wisconsin, as the grand opening of The Corliss is set to take place at 145 E. Becher St. At 11:30 a.m. tommorow, The Corliss will welcome elected officials, project partners, and members of the community to witness the debut of what’s being deemed the largest private affordable housing development in the state’s history, with media invited to cover the event.
Boasting 576 affordable apartments spread across eight buildings, The Corliss showcases an impressive 144 units specially designed for senior residents, and this is substantial because it represents a significant commitment to inclusive housing, with units reserved exclusively for households earning no more than 80% of the area’s median income. According to a press release by the City of Milwaukee, previously, the site was dotted with vacant structures alongside a decommissioned landfill, but now been transformed into a vibrant residential area as a testament to local government and private partners’ collaboration.
In a revival of spaces long forsaken to disuse, Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic highlighted the impact of community engagement in shaping The Corliss’ final design, which includes a public multi-modal path and specific accommodations for seniors, as well as the expected economic invigoration to local businesses due to the influx of residents. “The City supported this project in the form of a $9.2 million Tax Incremental Financing district, $835,000 from the Housing Trust Fund, and RACM provided a brownfield loan for $1.25 million,” Dimitrijevic mentioned in a statement detailed by the City of Milwaukee press release, expressing gratitude to all contributors…