Mill Apartments project in Middleton is ahead of schedule, developer says; 52 units with affordability commitments

Madison Development Corporation told the Middleton Workforce Housing Committee that its Mill Apartments project — funded in part by a $3 million Department of Administration community development block grant (disaster recovery) — is ahead of schedule and expected to be occupied in late summer.

“Right now, we are ahead of schedule, and we hope to complete the project and have it occupied by August or September 2024,” the MDC presenter said. MDC and the city signed the project contract on Oct. 28, 2022; construction began July 1, 2023, and the developer held a July 12, 2023 groundbreaking with city officials and neighbors.

MDC described the site as immediately adjacent to a Metro Market parking lot, Guard Park condominiums and Brookdale assisted living. The building is four stories with underground parking, a community room, exercise room and small office space for telework; the developer emphasized interior finishes such as LVP flooring and granite countertops.

Affordability commitments are central to the CDBG-DR award. The presenter said the grant required at least 30 units to be restricted to households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI), and the project “will have at least 30 units under 80% of the AMI, likely 39 units.” She provided a tentative unit mix and rent estimates based on 2023 rent charts: a studio at 50% AMI was quoted at about $998 per month; a one-bedroom at 50% AMI about $1,140; and one-bedroom market-rate at about $1,720.

On accessibility, MDC said the building is universally designed for level entry and circulation; roll-in showers and other accessible features will be concentrated in specified units, particularly on the first floor, and the developer said it will follow rules to ensure accessible options are available.

MDC advised residents interested in units to sign up for the developer’s email list. The presenter said lease-up typically starts roughly three months before move-in; MDC expects to begin lease-up in May and encouraged prospective tenants to have applications and documentation ready when units are posted. The developer described tenant selection as first acceptable application under fair-housing rules and noted applicants must provide proof of income and meet ordinary screening criteria.

Committee members, including Alder Gerardo who noted the site is in District 6, thanked the developer and asked for a future site tour. After public comment the chair closed the public hearing and the committee moved on to other agenda items.

What’s next: MDC plans lease-up in May; the committee did not take formal action on the project during this meeting. The committee will continue to monitor permitting, lease-up notices and any follow-up reports to the Department of Administration.