Milwaukee Can't Require Affordable Housing in Privately Financed Developments

State law required an affordable housing plan making its way through the Milwaukee City Council to be drastically reduced in scope.

1 minute read

December 14, 2017, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Milwaukee

Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock

The city of Milwaukee is moving forward with an amended inclusionary zoning plan that would require city-financed project.

"The proposal would require developers building city-financed apartment buildings with 20 or more units to set aside 20 percent of all new units for residents making less than 60 percent of the county’s median income for a period of 30 years," reports Jeramey Jannene. "An earlier version of the plan impacted both public and privately financed projects."

The decision to only require affordable housing in city-financed projects responds to concerns about state law and a precedent setting decision by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court.

The proposed inclusionary zoning law, as currently written, would "cover part or all of the neighborhoods of East Town, Westown, the Lower East Side, The Brewery, Historic Third Ward and Walker’s Point."

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 in Urban Milwaukee

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

Close-up of rear car bumper in traffic on freeway.

Research Shows More Roads = More Driving

A national study shows, once again, that increasing road supply induces additional vehicle travel, particularly over the long run.

March 23, 2025 - Road Capacity as a Fundamental Determinant of Vehicle Travel

Cars parked and plugged in at an EV charging lot in Santa Monica, California surrounded by palm trees.

EV Chargers Now Outnumber Gas Pumps by Nearly 50% in California

Fast chargers still lag behind amidst rapid growth.

3 hours ago - Inside EVs

Construction workers on a suspended platform are installing thermal insulation on the facade of a modern apartment building, improving energy efficiency and reducing heat loss during cold weather.

Affordable Housing Renovations Halt Mid-Air Amidst DOGE Clawbacks

HUD may rescind over a billion dollars earmarked for green building upgrades.

4 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Sign above entrance of United States Department of Transportation.

Has Anyone at USDOT Read Donald Shoup?

USDOT employees, who are required to go back to the office, will receive free parking at the agency’s D.C. offices — flying in the face of a growing research body that calls for pricing parking at its real value.

5 hours ago - Streetsblog USA