Milwaukee Public Library Green Roof


Elevation	Site Plan	First Floor	Groundbreaking	Progress

Architect \| Apartments \| Development Partners \| Funding Villard Square Branch Wins the 2012 Mayor's Design Award The Mayor’s Design Awards are presented in an ongoing effort to recognize design excellence throughout the city of Milwaukee. Recipients have added value to their neighborhoods by restoring, constructing or enhancing their properties in a way that respects the urban fabric and contributes to the character of their surroundings. This year's Mayor's Design Award ceremony was held Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at UWM's School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Pictured are Milwaukee Public Library Director Paula A. Kiely, Library Business Operations Manger Taj Schoening, Howard Snyder, Ted Matkom and the Engberg Anderson architect team. Villard Square Branch is now open! More photos of the Villard Square Branch Opening The Milwaukee Public Library Villard Square Branch is a mixed-use development that will include a new Milwaukee Public Library branch on the first floor, with 47 apartment homes on three stories above for families where grandparents are the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. The new library will replace an aging, energy-inefficient building located at 3310 W. Villard Ave. The Villard Square branch will cover 12,770 square feet, and will include 50 desktop and laptop computers for users, community meeting and study rooms, children’s and teen areas, and self-checkout stations. An on-site parking lot for 32 cars is part of the library plan. The library address will be 5190 N. 35th St. Architect Engberg Anderson is the interior architect for the new library. Apartments The apartments will be marketed to grandparents who are raising their school-age grandchildren. Residential units will include central air conditioning, in-unit washers and dryers, and study spaces. Other amenities include a movie theater, a rooftop patio and playground, exercise studio, business center, a counseling lounge, and underground parking. The address for the apartments will be 3427 W. Villard Ave. Development Partners The development partners are Gorman & Company and the Northwest Side Community Development Corp. (NWSCDC), a 501(c)(3) community development corporation. The NWSCDC fostered support for this mixed-use project, partnering with City elected officials, the Milwaukee Public Library, the City’s Department of City Development, and Gorman & Company to bring the project to fruition. Funding This project represents an investment of over $11 million in the Villard Avenue neighborhood. Financing is provided by Boston Capital as a tax credit investor, Harris Bank and IFF as lenders, Tax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP) and ARRA Section 1602 funds from WHEDA, and CDBG grants from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the City of Milwaukee. The City of Milwaukee is committing $1,291,500 to purchase the library space, partnering with the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) to creatively utilize New Market Tax Credits in order to reduce the City’s capital outlay for the project. Villard Square is one of several Milwaukee-area housing developments funded through Low Income Housing Tax Credits that were stalled last year due to the economy. Thanks to the TCAP, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, WHEDA was able to award a $1.29 million loan to cover the gap left by low tax credit prices. In 2009, WHEDA allocated over $7.6 million in tax credits to the development. Help support Milwaukee Public Library Villard Square Branch! You can help support the new MPL Villard Square Branch by clicking on the link below. Your support through the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation will help to provide enhancements to the new library that will encourage and influence library patrons, particularly young people to see the library as a welcoming place for positive activity. If donating online, simply include “Villard” under the special instructions. Thank you! Double your gift - Milwaukee Public Library Foundation has received funds to match dollar for dollar donations supporting the new library up to a total of $100,000. Donate Now!