East Siders Raise Stink Over Rented Mansions

East side residents living near two mansions that have been rented out to visitors for short-term stays told city officials on Wednesday night they are frustrated more isn’t being done to stop the practice.

But Art Dalhberg, commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood Services, and Ald. Nik Kovac, who represents the area, said they are doing everything they can under existing law.

“We are throwing everything we have at this,” Dahlberg told about 50 residents and members of the Historic Water Tower Neighborhood. The group met at a community room at Lake Park.

Residents told Dahlberg and Kovac that visitors driving vehicles from different states often start showing up at the two homes beginning Thursday and staying through the weekend. Early last month, a group in Milwaukee for a national age-group triathlon championship rented out one of the homes.

The city has ordered Jason Hernandez, owner of Autopilot Management, to stop renting out the homes. But his attorney, Alan Marcuvitz, formally appealed the orders, which puts any enforcement action on hold until an appeal is heard.

That appeal is expected to come before the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals next month. The case ultimately could end up in Circuit Court.

Kovac called the appeal a “ridiculous delay tactic” and vowed the city would find a way to shut Hernandez down.

“I was not happy that someone could thumb their nose at a clear violation of law,” Kovac told the group.

The city regards the use of the large homes at 2950 N. Shepard Ave. and 2628 E. Newberry Blvd., in one of Milwaukee’s pricier neighborhoods, as hotels. Residents say rentals are still occurring, despite zoning laws that mandate only single-family homes.

Both homes are large and can accommodate as many as 20 people. Both were marketed on vacation rental websites.

Hernandez and Marcuvitz say the homes are residential rentals in which guests are offered short-term leases. Hernandez also has said he regards the rentals as an exercise of his personal freedom.

According to city records, Hernandez’s father, Luis, owns the Shepard Ave. home. Jason Hernandez is leasing the Newberry home from the current owner, who now lives in Washington state.

Dahlberg said DNS inspectors had conducted at least 25 different inspections since neighbors learned Hernandez was marketing the homes to short-term renters. He said Hernandez was running a business.

“They get motivated when you take that away from them,” Dahlberg said.

Dahlberg said his department was gathering evidence and, should the city prevail before the Board of Zoning Appeals, can issue citations based on previous evidence of rentals. Hernandez would have the right to appeal the case in court.

Both Dahlberg and Kovac urged residents to fill out neighborhood impact statements that detail why they are unhappy with the current situation. And they urged residents to attend the Board of Zoning Appeals hearing on Oct. 10.

“You have to demonstrate that this is not compatible in your neighborhood,” Dahlberg said.

Some residents suggested the possibility of hiring their own lawyer to defend their interests. In addition, the board of the Historic Water Tower Neighborhood passed a motion formally opposing the rentals and supporting the city’s efforts to end the practice.