Politics & Government

Troubled Condo Project Dealt Another Setback

Development at 8435 S. Chicago Road has struggled since inception.

A potential buyer of a foreclosed, unfinished condominium project at 8435 S. Chicago Road wants to change the development from condos to apartments. 

But the plan hit a roadblock Tuesday in an all-too-familiar sign for the Ashbury Woods Condominium Development, which has struggled since its inception in 1997. 

Oak Creek Plan Commission members strongly opposed the condos becoming rental units, saying it's unfair to the surrounding neighborhood and too big of a deviation from the original plan.

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The commission includes two aldermen and Mayor Dick Bolender. The mayor was among the most vocal in opposing the change, saying the neighborhood fought against the project in the first place and certainly would not support apartments.

"Neighborhoods have a right to have what they want around them, to a degree," Bolender said. "It's going from condos to apartments. The neighborhood wasn't really that nuts about it to begin with. They fought very hard and were very steadfast in their beliefs. I'm sorry, but I'm going to stick up for the neighborhood."

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The commission unanimously recommended the Common Council, which gets the final say, deny the proposal. A formal public hearing will be held at a future date. 

The potential buyer, Art Sawall, told the commission the condominium market is so bad that the best chance the development has to succeed is if the units are instead rented as apartments. Virtually nothing else about the plan would change from what was previously agreed upon, he said.

"By creating a nice project like this, I think it would enhance the entire area," Sawall said.

Sawall also said he eventually hopes to change the development back to condominiums, but it was impossible to predict when the market would turn around.

The history of Ashbury Woods goes all the way back to 1997, when the council and developer agreed to conditions and restrictions. 

Construction was delayed until 2004, but even though it finally got started, only two 8-family buildings were completed. Plans had called for 15 eight-family buildings, plus six 4-family buildings.

Sawall has an offer to purchase Ashbury Woods from M&I Bank, which took over ownership after the foreclosure, but that is in limbo depending on the Common Council's decision. 

The council could take the proposal up as soon as Tuesday.


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