Senior Apartment Development Proposed For Waukesha

WAUKESHA, WI—The Waukesha Redevelopment Authority will meet at 6 p.m. Monday to make a recommendation to the Common Council on the selection of a developer for the 3.38-acre site on Delafield Street.

According to online city documents, the two proposals are:

Sherman Associates is proposing the Delafield redevelopment site for an active lifestyle senior housing community. According to the developer's proposal, the proximity to Waukesha’s historic downtown and Riverwalk area "make this an ideal location for empty nesters, retirees, and downsizers looking to enjoy all that this community has to offer."

Sherman Associates' concept includes 100 units constructed in a 4-story building with underground parking.

Amenities would include a pool, outdoor patio and grill space, a pickleball court, clubroom, family room, community garden, and more. Units would include luxury finishes, solid surface countertops, in-unit washer and dryers, and professionally designed interiors.

The Alexander Company's proposal entails 70 independent and assisted living housing units and 21 memory care units. The site could likely support additional units if a need is indicated in a follow-up market analysis.

"The intention would be to build the independent and assisted living units in such a way that they can serve both groups simultaneously. This has proved popular and successfully allows seniors to age in place as they require additional services and avoid living situation disruptions. Importantly, this concept also eases the transition for senior couples who may have differing needs upon move-in, or develop differing needs over time," the proposal said.

The developer will include features such as a range of dining options, variety of outdoor recreational spaces, and flexible programming space for fitness and social activities. The site will have ample parking for residents and visitors both underground and via a surface lot, the documents said.

Current estimates for a total project cost are at $27 million.

The developer anticipates that this project, like most urban infill projects, will require some amount of TIF assistance, according to city documents. Tax increment financing (TIF) is a public financing method that is used as a subsidy for redevelopment.