Zoning plan seeks move of mansion
Goll property on east side would make way for high-rise
A Madison apartment operator is seeking a zoning change for a $55 million, 26-story apartment high-rise overlooking Lake Michigan that would be built at the site of a historic mansion on Milwaukee’s east side.
The zoning proposal was filed on behalf of DCH Properties LLC, an affiliate of Palisade Property Management LLC, for the Goll Mansion site, 1550 N. Prospect Ave.
The 9,000-square-foot Goll Mansion building, now used for offices, would be moved to make way for the 202-unit apartment development, according to plans filed with the Department of City Development.
The $55 million project would need Common Council approval.
And the council review would occur only if the proposal to move the former mansion first receives Historic Preservation Commission approval, according to department officials.
Brothers Jeff and Chris Houden, who own Palisade, couldn’t be immediately reached Thursday for comment.
Their plans show a building that would
have seven levels of parking, including three levels underground. The apartments would be floors five through 26.
The building would include a rooftop terrace and 2,000 square feet of street-level commercial space.
Most of the apartments would be evenly split between one- and two-bedroom units, with a small number of three-bedroom units.
Earlier plan opposed
New Land Enterprises LLP in 2008 received city zoning approval to develop a 26-story condominium tower directly behind the Goll Mansion, with the tower attached to that building.
New Land planned to renovate the office building into a street-level lobby entrance to the tower, along with two guest suites and a ballroom for condominium residents on the mansion’s upper floors.
That 35-unit project, named Transera, did not obtain financing.
Associated Bank acquired the property in 2010 after New Land apparently was unable to repay a bank loan.
Associated Bank sold the property in 2013 to an investors group that includes William Nasgovitz, president of investment management firm Heartland Advisors Inc.
New opposition
Palisade’s new proposal could bring opposition from residents of a neighboring condo tower at 1522 N. Prospect Ave. Those condo owners opposed New Land’s plan, saying the high-rise would not be compatible with the mansion, built in 1898.
Neighboring residents also said Transera would affect their views of Lake Michigan, saying the Goll Mansion’s historic status led them to believe a highrise would not be developed on the site.
The Palisade building would have a height of 280 feet, compared to 327 feet for Transera, according to the plans.
The proposal for the Goll property surfaces at the same time another larger mixed-use building is being proposed for a nearby site.
James Wiechmann wants to develop a 13-story building with 153 apartments, offices and streetlevel retail space at 18321840 N. Farwell Ave. His partners include Tim Gokhman, of New Land Enterprises.