Developer says plans for 3727 Sunnyside Ave. nearing completion
A new three-story, nine-unit apartment building will be going up later this year at 3727 Sunnyside Ave. in Brookfield after village trustees voted unanimously to award developer Michael Gatto two zoning variations that previously had been recommended by the Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission.
It will be Gatto’s fourth apartment building to break ground in downtown Brookfield since 2017.
“I’ve engaged the architect and civil engineer, so we should be ready to submit [final plans], barring any unforeseen circumstance by the end of April or early May,” said Gatto, who added he’s already secured financing for the development. “As soon as we get our building permits we’ll be ready to go.”
The variations approved for the project included providing relief from a provision requiring 80-percent build-to-zone coverage along the principal street frontage. By granting the variation, the village is allowing Gatto to step back the Sunnyside Avenue face so that it is not one sheer wall across at least 80 percent of the front yard.
The resulting T-shaped plan, with the top of the T facing north, allows for more green space in front of the building. The development will house six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments.
Trustees also awarded Gatto a variation allowing two of the development’s 10 onsite parking spaces in a side yard. Those two spots, including one handicapped parking space, are along the south lot line toward the rear of the property adjacent to an alley that provides direct access.
Grand Blvd. building goes vertical
Another of Gatto’s developments, a mixed-use commercial/apartment building at 3704 Grand Blvd., is now making visible progress after the COVID-19 pandemic and then poor weather stalled construction during 2020 and early 2021.
The development, which has frontages along both Grand Boulevard and Sunnyside Avenue, will house 17 one-bedroom apartments and a ground-floor commercial storefront facing Grand Boulevard.
It will also feature a green roof and rooftop terrace for tenants, which required the building to be framed in steel.
Construction broke ground in October 2020 after winning approval from the village board in December 2018. Because of the green roof/terrace the building was more complicated to design than Gatto’s other, more straightforward apartment buildings in Brookfield.
Gatto said he purchased the steel in mid-2020, a purchase he initially thought he’d regret as the pandemic played havoc with construction projects. But after seeing steel prices skyrocket last year, it turned out to be a good decision.
“Thank God, because prices went up 80, 100 percent depending on the day,” Gatto said. “I first thought it was a mistake, but now it’s one of the biggest wins on the project.”
The steel framing for the three-story building is now complete, said Gatto. Work last week was concentrated on tying the development into the existing storm sewer system.
“Things should pick up pace once we go vertical with the wood [framing],” Gatto said.
