Empty Lot Near Milton Junction Eyed for Townhome-Style Apartments

Eric Stockman and his wife, Katie, own several area properties. In March, they renovated the church behind this lot at 44 Second St. in Milton into a multi-use martial arts studio, youth center and daycare.

On Oct. 3, the Milton City Council approved a tax incremental finance agreement for the proposed apartment project, and Stockman said further approvals will soon come before the city’s plan commission. He said the plan is to soon hire an architect and to hopefully start construction in 2024.

He said the vision is for the apartments to be townhome-style with three bedrooms and a garage.

“It’s in a residential area and we want it to feel more like a house rather than an apartment,” he said.

He said the initial vision was for the lot now eyed for apartments, to be a parking lot for the martial arts studio, youth center and daycare. Later, that shifted to considering it as a site for new housing.

The city’s 2015 Comprehensive Plan lists both the church and the adjacent empty lot as top TIF priorities because of their proximity to downtown’s Junction Square.

“The city should work to redevelop these and the other labeled sites in order to generate additional increment for downtown redevelopment,” is what is listed in the comprehensive plan.

Stockman said Milton needs housing, but the site is limited, only large enough for a four-unit apartment building.

He said they have in the past bought older, historic buildings in the two Milton downtowns, renovating and cleaning up the facades and finding new businesses to put in them. This will be the first time they have built on empty ground.

Katie Stockman said this is a good area for housing, near downtown and schools.

“We are planning for families to live here who have kids who are school age,” she said.

Stockman said Milton has great schools and is also a small city with a tight-knit community and safe neighborhoods.

“I always tell people, you walk down the street in Milton and people smile and say hi to you,” he said.

They chose a townhouse style because there aren’t many places in Milton like that, they said.

Katie said in a growing community like Milton townhomes just makes sense.

“With interest rates like they are, first-time homebuyers or younger families can’t afford to just build their first house, so they need a place to rent,” she said. “It’s more affordable for families that are trying to start out, but aren’t quite ready to make the leap to first time-home buying.”

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