Story
Hill Gardens may be too pricey for park land, De
Bruin says
Feb.
21, 2005
-- It would be "hard to justify" buying
the Story Hill Gardens site for county park land
if the purchase price is more than $200,000, according
to County Supervisor Lynne De Bruin.
That
is the amount General Capital Group, of Mequon,
which holds an option to purchase the property,
says it has bid on the site, De Bruin said.
"While
land value is always subjective and many feel all
park land is priceless, it is hard to justify spending
such a dramatically high amount to convert this
property to park land," De Bruin wrote in a
letter to Story Hill Neighborhood Association President
Sandy Rusch Walton. "If we purchase this property
in the $200,000+ range, this would be the most expensive
County park land ever purchased."
Another
$100,000 or so would be needed to raze the greenhouse
and remove asbestos on the site, she said.
De
Bruin's letter also addresses other county concerns
regarding General Capital's proposal, including
water flow and construction impacts on the park.
To read the entire letter, click here.
Neighborhood
residents expressed interest in converting the property
to park land as an alternative to General Capital's
proposal to build 17 condominium townhomes on the
site. General Capital has since reduced its proposal
to 13 town homes. Ald. Michael Murphy has scheduled
a neighborhood meeting to discuss the matter for
6 p.m. Feb. 21 at Hawley Rd. School, 1601 N. Hawley
Rd.
The
property is now being held in a Circuit Court receivership,
which the owners of the former greenhouse business
sought because of financial difficulties.
De
Bruin, in her letter, said the county corporation's
office would seek to confirm General Capital's bid
price.
The
Parks People would be willing to help in fund raising
if the neighborhood is committed to buying the site
for park land, she said.
"The
Park People feel that a fundraising goal of $250,000
to $350,000 is possible," she wrote. "Further,
if General Capital's purchase price is less than
the estimates they provided, then the fundraising
goal could be adjusted downward."
She
added, however, that the county generally pays about
$7,000 to $10,000 per acre.
"At
1.1 acres, the greenhouse property would be worth
just over $10,000," she wrote.
General
Capital to try again with Story Hill Townhomes
Feb.
11, 2005 -- The firm proposing a condominium
development for the Story Hill Gardens site on Bluemound
Rd. has reduced from 17 to 13 the number of units
planned for the site, according to Ald. Michael
Murphy.
Murphy
has scheduled a neighborhood meeting Feb. 21 to
discuss the revised plans. The meeting will be at
6 p.m. Neeskara Elementary School, 1601 N. Hawley
Rd. The only entrance that will be open is Door
No. 3 located on the lowest level nearest the parking
lot.
Story Hill Gardens site
The
17-unit proposal originally put forward by General
Capital Group, of Mequon, was received poorly by
neighborhood residents at an earlier meeting. The
neighbors said the project proposed for 5033 W.
Bluemound Rd. was too dense and did not blend in
well with the architectural diversity of the neighborhood.
Those
attending the meeting asked for more detailed drawings
showing how the development would fit in the neighborhood,
and how it would blend in -- or not -- with Mitchell
Blvd. Park, which surrounds the site on the west
and south.
County
eyes Story Hill Gardens for Mitchell Blvd. Park
addition
Feb.
2, 2005 -- The county Parks Department
is interested in obtaining the Story Hill Gardens
site if Story Hill neighborhood residents are willing
to help raise funds for the acquisition, according
to County Supervisor Lynne De Bruin.
"I
talked to the Parks People. The Parks People would
be delighted to add that property to the parks system,"
she said. County Parks Director Sue Black also "would
like to add that property to the parks system,"
De Bruin said.
The
Parks People already have pledged support and assistance
in fund-raising, she said.
Ald.
Michael Murphy, in a separate interview, said he
would be willing to consider that option if the
county can raise the money for the site.
Whether
the proposal moves forward depends in part, De Bruin
said, on the price of the property and whether the
city is willing to have it removed from the tax
rolls.
Story
Hill Gardens, 5033 W. Bluemound Rd., borders the
park on two sides. The greenhouse business itself
is in receivership, and a proposal to build high-density
townhouse condos on the site fell flat with neighbors.
"We'd
be an alternative to that development," De
Bruin said.
County
staff reviewing the condo proposal were concerned
the development could increase runoff problems for
both the park and neighbors immediately east of
the park.
"The
last thing we want is any more water problems, whereas
if you make it parkland, you have not only not made
it worse, you could make it better than it currently
is," De Bruin said.
Tthe
county would not be interested in using the greenhouses
as county facilities, she said.
"If
that rumor is out there, the answer is 'no.' "
she said.
Developers
propose 17 townhouses for Story Hill Gardens site
Jan.
17, 2005 -- Ald. Michael Murphy will hold
a neighborhood meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan.
20, to discuss a Mequon developer's proposal to
build 17 townhouses at the former Story Hill Gardens.
The
meeting will be at Neeskara Elementary School, 1601
N. Hawley Rd.
The
Story Hill Gardens property at 5033 W. Bluemound
Rd. is just over one acre in size. Story Hill Gardens
is now in receivership in state court due to financial
difficulties.
The
General Capital Group has proposed building the
townhouses on the site, Ald. Michael Murphy said.
"As
this property is currently zoned by the city as
RS5, only single-family homes may be built,"
Murphy said in a letter to neighborhood residents.
"A zoning change from the City of Milwaukee
would be required to permit this type of development."
General
Capital representatitves will attend the meeting
Thursday to answer questions and address concerns,
he said.
