Former YWCA Site Targeted For Affordable Housing

On Tuesday, March 31, 2009, the Waukesha Freeman carried a front page story entitled "Former YWCA site to be redeveloped." I would provide a link to the article, except the Freeman chooses to restrict online viewing of its recent news reports to only those who subscribe to the print edition. Because of that restriction, let me quote a few items in the article.

" Eleven to 16 owner-occupied, work force housing units may be built on the site. Waukesha Community Development Director Steve Crandell said work force housing consists of housing stock from $150,000 and $200,000. He said a portion of the homes will be work force housing."

Note that while the article seems to focus on "affordable" and "workforce" housing, the paragraph above says "may be built" and "a portion of the homes". I wonder how many of the 11 - 16 sites will be affordable housing.

"Crandell said the former YWCA property will be plotted and then requests for proposals will be sent to developers for the project. The Waukesha Redevelopment Authority, Waukesha Plan Commission and the city’s common council will review the plans."

I wonder again which developers will get the RFPs. Will Habitat for Humanity be considered as a developer? Will the Waukesha Community Land Development Association trust fund be permitted to aquire the land prior to development so that the units will be affordable in the future? What criteria will be used to review the plans?

On the surface, redevelopment of the YWCA site into workforce housing seems exciting and necessary in Waukesha. However, as always, the devil is in the details. As reported, there are still many questions to be answered.