Tosa Plan Commission endorses apartment plan

Neighbors object to 18-story tower for senior renters

A proposed 18-story Wauwatosa apartment tower for seniors is being recommended for approval by the city Plan Commission.

The commission, on separate 6-0 votes, at its Monday night meeting endorsed a zoning change and preliminary plans for the 169-unit building, which would be part of St. Camillus Health System Inc.’s ongoing expansion.

The next step is an Oct. 17 Common Council public hearing on the zoning change, said Tammy Szudy, Wauwatosa principal planner.

The council’s Community Affairs Committee would review both the proposed zoning change and preliminary plans at its Oct. 31 meeting, Szudy said Tuesday. That could lead to a full council review at its Nov. 7 meeting, she said.

The unanimous commission votes came despite objections from nearby residents.

Homeowners just north of the 23-acre St. Camillus campus, 10100 W. Blue Mound Road, have raised concerns about how the building’s height fits in the neighborhood.

Residents also are worried about the impact of more traffic in their neighborhood.

The tower would offer luxury apartments for seniors who can live independently. St. Camillus hopes to begin construction in 2018, and open the building in spring 2020.

It would be built just east of St. Camillus’ main 10-story building. The four-story Court East building would be demolished to make way for the new development, with its residents moving to a new assisted living center that’s under construction.

That 72-unit assisted living facility is to be completed by November. New housing for Jesuit priests and Camillian Order members also is under construction.

St. Camillus, a nonprofit operator, has more than 500 residents in four buildings that include nearly 500 independent and assistedliving apartments, as well as a 67-bed shortterm skilled nursing facility.