Milwaukee receives $30 million to redevelop Westlawn Public Housing

Millions of dollars will come into the Westlawn Neighborhood in Milwaukee.

These are apartments operated by the City's Housing Authority.

Westlawn gardens has updated style apartments.

Just across the street from Westlawn Gardens is the Westlawn Housing Development which has 394 units the city describes as distressed.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Nani Coloretti announced Milwaukee was one of five communities that received a combined $150 million to redevelop severely distressed public housing and revitalize the surrounding neighborhoods.

The City of Milwaukee and the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee were awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant to redevelop the Westlawn Public Housing development and revitalize the surrounding Westlawn neighborhood. 

 Most of the money $22 million will be used to build the new units.

The rest of the money will be split between educational programs and help with foreclosures.

The Transformation Plan includes the redevelopment of 708 new mixed-income housing units, including 394 replacement units, both on the Westlawn site and in the surrounding neighborhood. 

In addition, the plan includes strategic investments to improve the entire neighborhood by reducing the negative effects of foreclosures, improving access to retail and transportation, and strengthening families’ health and employment.

HUD is awarding Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Implementation Grants to city and housing authority partnerships in Atlanta, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Sacramento, California; in order to begin the process of transforming, rehabilitating and preserving public housing.  

 “The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is responsible for transforming what were once vacant lots, crumbling parks and storefronts and distressed housing into vibrant communities,” said Castro. “It has become one of our nation’s most important tools in the fight to ensure that every family – no matter where they live – has the resources and strong foundation to succeed.”

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