MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The Milwaukee Common Council voted unanimously Friday to create a tax incremental financing district that will help fund 94 new affordable homes in the Amani neighborhood.

Tax Incremental District No. 136, known as the Amani Homeownership Initiative, includes 358 parcels in an area generally bounded by West Burleigh Street, North 26th Street, North 18th Street and West Meinecke Avenue.

The Community Development Alliance submitted the plan after working with the Dominican Center and neighborhood organization Amani United to gather residents' input on housing needs and preferences.

"We're thankful for the Common Council's support, especially for the leadership of Alderwoman Coggs, Alderman Jackson and Alderman Russell Stamper, who sponsored the tax incremental district legislation," said Teig Whaley-Smith, chief alliance officer for the Community Development Alliance.

Britney Roberson said the council's approval represents another step toward expanding affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the neighborhood.

"It's another step toward creating new affordable opportunities for families to put down roots, build generational wealth, and help shape Amani's future through homeownership and rentals," Roberson said.

Map of the project boundaries and home sites Athena Communications, LLC

Elizabeth Brown, president of Amani United, said the project will allow residents to invest in their neighborhood.

"This is a big step toward the residents of Amani investing in their own community as well as elevating it," Brown said.

The Emem Group plans to build 40 of the homes. As a condition of receiving $1.2 million in state-issued low-income housing tax credits, the company must rent those homes for 15 years to households earning no more than 50% of the area's median income. The homes would then be sold at affordable prices.

The Milwaukee Community Land Trust also plans to convert a small number of the newly constructed homes to its land trust model.

"This project is the result of years of planning, engaging, and listening to the community," Emem Group President and CEO Michael Emem said. "With this TIF approval, we are one step closer to beginning construction late this fall."

Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity plans to build and sell 50 new homes in the neighborhood, creating additional opportunities for first-time homebuyers.

"As housing costs rise, local renters are finding it harder than ever to invest in their first home," Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity CEO Brian Sonderman said. "Approval of the Amani TID is an important step toward breaking down those barriers."

The Amani district is the Community Development Alliance's third housing-focused TID in three years. A district approved in 2024 helped fund 74 homes in the Midtown neighborhood, which were completed earlier this year. Another district approved in 2025 is expected to support 59 homes in the Harambee neighborhood over the next two years.

Tax incremental financing allows Milwaukee to provide upfront funding that is repaid through additional property tax revenue generated by improvements within the district. Once the project costs are repaid, the district closes and the property tax revenue is distributed to taxing authorities, including the city, county and school district.

State law allows up to 27 years for a TID's costs to be repaid. Milwaukee officials said the city's average repayment period is about 18 years.

Earlier this year, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation committed $3 million over three years to the project. The company is working with local nonprofit organizations toward a goal of supporting the construction of 500 affordable Milwaukee homes by 2030.