Elizabeth Sili of Wisconsin Management Company has been inundated with applications from people interested in moving into the new four-story, 203-unit apartment building she manages in a Brookfield office park. And she knows why.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get into beautiful, affordable housing in the city of Brookfield,” Sili, the property manager at The Flats at Bishop’s Woods, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel during a walk-through for media and local officials at the apartment on Sept. 24.
The Flats at Bishop’s Woods, 350 Bishops Way, is the city’s first entirely affordable apartment development that got a million-dollar boost from a state loan program and housing tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
Those who earn between 50% and 70% of Waukesha County’s median income can qualify to rent 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom apartments at costs lower than the average Brookfield rent.
The building is marketed as a luxury affordable housing community with its upscale finishes, stainless appliances and other amenities, according to Kevin McDonell, regional project partner for the developer Lincoln Avenue Communities.
“The amenities are as good as any high-end luxury apartment you’re going to see,” McDonell said.
It’s also known as workforce housing. The Flats were built with the hope that teachers, restaurant workers and others who work in Brookfield but commute due to high housing costs in the city, can find housing, McDonell said.
Sili and her colleagues at the property management company are now processing tenant applications, with hopes to move the first renters into the building Oct. 24.
Apartments are all affordable, and cost depends on how much someone makes compared to area’s median income
People who qualify to rent at The Flats must make between 50% to 70% of the area’s median income. The median household income in Waukesha County is $103,032, according to the U.S. Census data.
Depending on the tenant’s income, rent ranges from $966 to $1,381 for a 1-bedroom, $1,163 to $1,661 for a 2-bedroom, and $1,332 to $1,908 for a 3-bedroom apartment.
At a minimum, a person making $23,184 annually could qualify for a 1-bedroom apartment, although there are a limited number of these units still available, Sili said.
Eight two-bedroom apartments on the ground level are targeted toward residents who work from home or are business owners, according to Andi Simmons, director of business with Wisconsin Management.
These “live-work” units will be leased to business owners who can operate their business out of the second bedroom and can provide customers with street access to the business space if needed, Simmons said.
There are also units set aside for veterans and others for individuals with disabilities, Sili said.
Community amenities at The Flats
The Flats is smoke-free and pet-friendly. It has an on-site leasing and management office, and on-site and emergency maintenance.
Residents can use the community room and its kitchenette, the outdoor playground and the grilling patio and tables. Those who work from home or are students can use the public Zoom and conference rooms. There are bike racks and underground parking available, and a fitness center with weights.
The Flats fills an affordable housing need in Waukesha County
The Flats fills a need in Brookfield and Waukesha County that many other communities around the state and country also require: more affordable housing.
Very little affordable rental housing has been built in Waukesha County in the last decade, and high housing costs have risen faster than people’s incomes, a 2023 Wisconsin Policy Forum study found.
The Flats’ residents will include people who live in Brookfield and want to downsize their homes, or who are getting priced out of the market, said Kyle Brasser, regional development partner with Lincoln Avenue Communities.
Those who work in Brookfield but currently commute there, or those who want to work in Brookfield but can’t find an affordable place to live, are also target tenants.
The Flats didn’t fly through the approval process
The Flats didn’t get built without pushback in Brookfield.
During a January 2023 meeting at which Brookfield’s Common Council ultimately approved the development, Ald. Kris Seals opposed the project, saying that other apartment developments in the city, such as the upscale The Ruby at Brookfield Square, should already be considered an affordable housing option.
“If you can’t afford those units, then you live in Wauwatosa or West Allis until you can afford to move into Brookfield,” Seals said.
That prompted a reminder from City Attorney Jenna Merten that such comments that discriminate based on lawful source of income are illegal under the Fair Housing Act. At a later meeting, it led Ald. Mike Hallquist to make a motion for Seals’s censure, which failed and was followed by cheering support by Seals’ supporters.
Both Seals and Hallquist were among the Brookfield elected officials who got a tour of The Flats at the walk-through event with local media, including the Journal Sentinel, Sept. 24.
“I liked it, it’s nice. I think the bedrooms are small, but of course, you’re paying for what you’re getting,” Seals told a Journal Sentinel reporter. “That happens everywhere, right?”
When the reporter asked whether his stance on affordable housing in Brookfield has changed, Seals declined to comment.
“I don’t want to answer that question. We’ll leave that open.” Seals said. “I have a lot of thoughts, but I have a lot of discussions that I have to have with the council.”
How to apply to live at The Flats at Bishops Woods
The management team is now taking applications for the units.
Call 262-316-6448, visit www.lifeatbishopswoods.com or email flatsatbishopswoods@wimci.com for more information.
(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)
Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at bfogarty@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Once-disputed Brookfield affordable housing complex is now inundated with tenant interest
Reporting by Bridget Fogarty, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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