Walker’s Point buildings to become condos, retail space
Two historic Walker’s Point buildings are to be converted into a small number of condominiums, along with streetlevel retail space.
The Sofi Lofts development is planned for two adjacent buildings, at 145 and 149-153 S. First St., and for a vacant lot at 155 S. First St., according to new plans filed with the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals.
Those plans call for what appear to be two condos in the upper floors of the two-story and three-story buildings.
Sofi also plans to create 4,000 square feet of first-floor retail space.
The two buildings combined have around 12,000 square feet, according to city assessment records.
A 935-square-foot garage built on the vacant lot would provide parking for the condo owners.
The project’s renovation and construction costs are estimated at $1.5 million.
Sofi is being proposed by LAS Investments LLC, which bought the properties in April 2018 for $1.2 million.
LAS Investments is owned by Lacey Sadoff, president of Badger Liquor.
Neither she nor project architect Nick Carnahan, of Galbraith Carnahan Architects, have responded to questions about the proposed development.
Both buildings are over 110 years old and “require extensive rehabilitation due to years of neglect by prior ownership,” according to the new zoning board filing.
LAS Investments is seeking three variances from the zoning board.
One would allow Sofi Lofts to not have any site landscaping.
The other variances would allow for no off-street parking spaces for retail customers, and no bike storage spaces.
“The resulting lot will accommodate access and parking for the residential units proposed, but cannot provide sufficient area for required off street parking for the proposed retail units,” the zoning board filing said.
“In addition, the dimensional limitations of the lot preclude compliance with required landscaping and bicycle parking and stowage,” it said.
The board could rule on those variance requests at its Feb. 6 meeting.