Forest Edge Apartments addresses a range of housing needs in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.
Located next to tribal land, the development provides housing for members of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and workers in the Northwoods tourism industry while bolstering tribal businesses—the county’s largest employers. Eight units also are supported by Section 811 vouchers to assist residents with disabilities.
PROJECT DETAILS
DEVELOPERS: Lincoln Avenue Communities, Cinnaire Solutions, and Quasar Development Group
ARCHITECT: Knothe & Bruce Architects
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Northcentral Construction
MAJOR FUNDERS: Cinnaire Equity Partners; Cinnaire Lending; Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority; Wisconsin Department of Administration; Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago; Merchants Bank of Indiana; Merchants Capital; Couillard Solar Foundation; Focus on Energy; Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation
Developed by Lincoln Avenue Communities, Cinnaire Solutions, and Quasar Development Group, Forest Edge features 40 two- and three-bedroom townhomes. The design was important to serve larger families and provide a setting similar to single-family homes with individual entrances and attached garages.
“Forest Edge is a catalyst for positive change in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. By delivering luxury affordable homes where they’re most needed, it supports the local tourism economy, reduces long commutes, and advances sustainability through smart site selection and renewable energy,” says Kevin McDonell, vice president and regional project partner at Lincoln Avenue Communities.
Dan Dumas • Northwoods Mediaworks
The project opened this year following five years of work that began as the COVID-19 pandemic was taking hold and overcoming numerous challenges along the way, including working on a site that had no existing water or sewer systems. That meant the developers had to install a new well and septic system to serve the community.
The team also assembled 13 funding sources for the $15.3 million development, including federal energy tax credits and the program’s low-income communities bonus credit to add a substantial solar array that helps offset electricity usage and reduce operational costs.
