By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
HOWARD – The Howard Commons apartment complex now under construction provided a glimpse of what the project has to offer for prospective tenants at an open house Thursday, June 14.
Located between the YMCA and Meadowbrook Park, the first two apartment buildings are now being constructed with a third planned in the future.
“We have three buildings projected, so the first two come online late summer and fall and the third building will come online either late next year or the following (year after),” said Erik Goerke, CEO/owner of Alliance Management, which has an agreement with the village to manage and market Howard Commons.
Howard Commons is being promoted as “soon to be one of the best luxury communities in northeast Wisconsin” with “an amazing mix of community amenities and interior finishes.”
Though work remains to be done before the first tenants move in, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom corner apartment on the ground floor was set up to view for those on hand for the open house.
“We opened a show unit, so that people could get kind of a taste for… the appliances, the cabinets, how everything’s coming together,” Goerke said.
Goerke said the first building will be the largest of the three and have 84 units with one- and two-bedroom apartments of varying sizes.
He noted the second building would have another 40 units with the third planned for 45-49 units.
Depending on the type and size of the units, Goerke said the monthly rent will range from $875 to around $1,600, plus utilities, with six- and 12-month leases available.
“We have gas-forced air and every unit has central air, instead of window air conditioners,” he said. “Everyone has separate water to keep the utility costs lower. When it’s combined, tenants end up paying more, because everyone consumes more.”
Goerke said the construction plans call for the completion of the first unit Aug. 13 with additional units completed every two weeks thereafter.
“We have several signed leases, and we have a bunch of applications we’re going through,” he said.
Goerke said changes being made to the project while construction has been going on include noise reduction.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep sound down to make the experience a lot better for tenants that live here,” he said.
Once the buildings are completed, Goerke said the Howard Commons will have a full-time lease agent as well as a full-time maintenance person on site.
Along with the apartment units, the complex includes common area amenities such as a fitness center, clubroom, clubhouse patio with grills and fire pits, a game room with a pool table, underground parking and storage units.