MILWAUKEE – Following unanimous approval from the Milwaukee Common Council, Mayor Cavalier Johnson signed File #220656, a resolution selecting the development teams for the Homes MKE initiative that will renovate vacant City-owned residential properties in Milwaukee.
The resolution also authorizes the property sales to the selected development teams, as well as the housing rehabilitation and workforce subsidies that will be deployed to carry out this new initiative and help build stronger neighborhoods throughout the city.
“Growing up in Milwaukee, I experienced the effects of housing insecurity like many residents and families currently are. This is personal for me, so I am proud to work with the Milwaukee Common Council and our development partners to deploy the Homes MKE initiative and revitalize vacant residential properties into renovated homes,” said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. “This is the power of partnerships on full display. Together, we are building stronger neighborhoods, promoting homeownership, and working to ensure every Milwaukeean has access to the quality, affordable housing they need.”
The selected development teams are a mix of emerging developers, for-profit developers, and non-profit developers. They include: Acts Community Development, Advanced Investors, FIT Investment Group, LLC/Westcare Wisconsin, Inc., Maures Development Group, One 5 Olive/Milwaukee Community Land Trust, Rico Love Foundation LLC/Mayfield Properties, Strong Blocks, CME Development, LLC, Even Life, Inc., Ezekiel Community Development, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Servant Manor, T.A.S. Solutions, LLC, Walnut Way Conservation Corp./Silicon Pastures II, LLC, and Walters Renovations, LLC.
Through a competitive RFP process, these development teams were selected to work with the Department of City Development (DCD) and community partners to renovate vacant City-owned residential properties in Milwaukee. DCD will now execute development agreements with the selected teams and begin implementation of Homes MKE.
In 2021, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and members of the Milwaukee Common Council allocated $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to DCD for the Homes MKE program. This effort will renovate vacant houses in the City’s inventory of tax-foreclosed residential properties and return them to productive use.
The goals of Homes MKE are to:
- Sell, renovate and reoccupy a minimum of 150 vacant foreclosed City-owned houses;
- Prioritize the development of the houses to provide homeownership opportunities for City residents;
- Coordinate redevelopment efforts that result in a positive impact for the surrounding neighborhood;
- Provide construction and job opportunities;
- Provide development opportunities for emerging developers; and
- Collaborate with local residents to provide housing and resource opportunities in neighborhoods where Homes MKE properties are located.
Stay up-to-date on Homes MKE at milwaukee.gov/homes.mke.
