In your internet column dated October 24, you directly or indirectly raised five questions regarding the UWM Real Estate Foundation student housing project located on North Avenue at the intersection of Commerce Street in the City of Milwaukee. I would like to take this opportunity to respond to these issues in the order in which they appeared in the column.
#1: Little or no public review.
Response: There have been numerous public reviews of this project including:
– Three public meetings in the neighborhood
– Planning Commission Hearing
– Two Redevelopment Authority Hearings
– Common Council Zoning and Development Committee Hearing
– Full Common Council
– County Board of Supervisors Parks, Energy and Environment Committee
– Full County Board of Supervisors
In addition, for the past five years, Milwaukee County has pursued a land swap to complete its bicycle trail, long before anyone proposed that the UWM Real Estate Foundation build a residence hall on the site. Public review and input have been sought throughout the process. In fact, a Federal Court agreed and dismissed a lawsuit based on these issues.
#2: Governor’s contributors chosen for the job.
Response: This project was developed by the largest builder of public and private student housing in the Country, Capstone Development. They brought in firms from around the country for their expertise in student housing and partnered with local companies to undertake this project. The companies were chosen by Capstone Development in consultation with, and subject to the approval of the UWM Real Estate Foundation, due to their strengths in their respective fields with no input from the Governor’s Office or the Department of Administration.
#3: Improper use of tax dollars.
Response: There are no tax dollars involved in this project. There is no liability for the repayment of funds used to build the facility. There is no lease obligation on behalf of the State. It is financed entirely by private funding.
#4: Project will receive every public sector advantage.
Response: This project is treated no differently than any other not-for-profit project in the State of Wisconsin.
#5: Early entry agreement which allowed construction to start before final approval of the land swap was imprudent.
Response: The UWM Real Estate Foundation, the County Parks Department and the State DNR have done an exhaustive review of all of the criteria that must be met for the land swap transaction to take place. Upon completion of the review, in consultation with the Parks Department and the DNR, the UWM Real Estate Foundation has every confidence that this project meets every criterion to the letter of the law. With this information in hand, and with knowledge that any delay in the commencement of the project would delay UWM student use of the facility for one full year, the UWM Real Estate Foundation made the determination that it was a prudent business decision to move forward under the terms of the early right of entry agreement.
I hope you will post both this letter and the attached memo on your website so that your readers might receive a balanced view of this very important project.
Sincerely,
David Gilbert
Executive Director
UWM Foundation, Inc
