In the case of the stretch between the far east Madison stop, and the Sun Prairie depot, one set is probably all that would be required, because I would imaging a train an hour would suffice. In the city of Madison though, I'm not so sure that same idea would cut it.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=778298

Wisconsin School of Business’ Grainger Hall addition almost done
By ERICA PEREZ
eperez@journalsentinel.com
Posted: July 30, 2008

Madison - Graduate students attending the Wisconsin School of Business this fall will find the digs decidedly roomier, with more space for career specializations.

Construction of the $40.5 million addition to Grainger Hall is nearly complete, with finishing touches scheduled to happen by the time students start arriving in mid-August.

The new wing is part of what the University of Wisconsin-Madison says is the biggest building boom on campus since the 1960s.

The 131,416-square-foot, four-story addition was funded in part by a $20 million gift from the Grainger Foundation in Lake Forest, Ill. — directed by alumni David and Juli Grainger.

In addition to that gift, the project was financed by $10.5 million in other gifts and $10 million in state borrowing.

The addition occupies the corner of Park St. and University Ave., projecting the school’s crest outward in a location that once housed a bank.

Inside, the new wing has segregated areas for each of the 12 career specializations that students studying for their MBA degrees choose in addition to their general management core classes — from applied security analysis to arts administration. Students can use the centers to hold meetings, take classes or study with others in their specialization.

Business School Dean Michael Knetter said the graduate school was “functioning” in the original Grainger Hall, which opened in 1993, but that building didn’t offer the right kind of space.

“You want good space for the students that are in the specialization, and you want a place for alumni and business to come,” he said.
Enterprise MBAs

The addition also gives more room and accommodations for the school’s growing Wisconsin Enterprise MBA programs — the evening MBA and Executive MBA for working professionals.

While enrollment in the full-time MBA program has remained stable since 2006, the Enterprise MBA programs have grown 55% over the same time period. The programs expect to enroll 294 students in 2008, compared to 190 in 2006.

A plenary room doubles as the “living room” for the wing and includes a fireplace for chats with business leaders or professors.

Knetter hopes the new, bigger cafeteria and dining room will encourage students to spend more time in the building for meals and study time — which, he said, would mean more time collaborating in teams and networking.

The added wing also will free up more space in the main part of Grainger Hall for undergraduates.

An $85 million gift received from 13 alumni last fall will help pay for added faculty and students.

Other construction at UW-Madison includes:

• The first phase of the $144 million Interdisciplinary Research Complex in the 750 block of Highland Ave., adjacent to UW Hospital and Clinics, is slated to open in the fall. The project will include laboratories, offices, an imaging center and animal quarters.

• The retail and housing portions of the University Square redevelopment, a public-private partnership that will create a $190 million, 12-story, mixed-use building at Lake St. and University Ave., will open this fall. The university’s $57 million wing is slated to open in January 2009. The campus portion will house student services including University Health Services and offices for the registrar, bursar, financial services and a student activity center.

• The renovation of Chadbourne Hall, a student residence at 420 N. Park St., was completed earlier this summer.

• A $17.5 million renovation of Sterling Hall for the departments of astronomy and physics likely will begin in the fall and be completed by April 2010.

• An $8.8 million renovation of a warehouse east of the Kohl Center will create instructional labs and studio space for the art program and should be finished in December.

• A $33.4 million expansion and renovation of the Education Building will begin in September and finish by September 2010.

• A $117 million project that will create a new biochemistry building begins in the fall. The school plans to demolish a 1956 wing of the biochemistry complex, construct an eight-story tower and renovate the original Biochemistry Building. The school will also renovate the adjacent Agricultural Journalism Building and connect it to the new tower.

• A $2.5 million, gift-funded renovation of the Washburn Observatory has begun and should be complete by May 2009. It will house the Letters and Science Honors Program.

• Groundbreaking was held this spring for the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery and the Morgridge Institute for Research, the public-private initiative designed to promote interdisciplinary research. The institute is set to open in late 2010.

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/bym/img/jul08/grainger2_80308_big.jpg

Another clunker from Zimmerman Group. The streetscaping mitigates its oafishness somewhat.

I miss the Bucky Badger clock.

How unfortunate that the "biggest building boom on campus since the 1960s" has to coincide with one of the dullest periods in the history of university architecture.

I don't mind Grainger. It's not pretty, but it's not ugly or flashy either; exacty the way a business building shoud be.

I actually think some of the new buildings on campus are pretty spiffy. University Square is looking way better than I expected it to, the Institute for Discovery is going to be awesome, and the Biochemistry addition doesn't look bad either (I've included a pic below).

http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/highlights/images/Biochem2010__hl.jpg

I'll agree that the new Smith and Ogg halls are hideous though. I'm really disappointed in the University for those.

Not bad, although I thought it was supposed to be 8 stories. What does the "1956 wing" look like that this building will be replacing?

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/bym/img/jul08/grainger2_80308_big.jpg

That building has "class" written all over it.

Not bad, although I thought it was supposed to be 8 stories. What does the "1956 wing" look like that this building will be replacing?

http://wwwprod.biochem.wisc.edu/biochem/tour/1956/images/biochem_56.jpg

Good riddance. That building is hideous.

Oh no, that is a beautifully built building. What a shame. It's understandable in Madison because the land is so tight, but still...

The 333 Washington Av. part of Capital West looks just about finished
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/6827/hpim4369hc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

good news for the east side

East Side Site For Start-ups\ Uw-owned Incubator Seen As Catalyst On E. Washington
Wisconsin State Journal :: LOCAL :: A5
Monday, August 4, 2008
By DEAN MOSIMAN and PATRICIA SIMMS Wisconsin State Journal

The University Research Park, a 260-acre suburban oasis for start-ups on Madison's West Side, will be trying to attract young student and faculty entrepreneurs with an edgy new urban incubator in an abandoned industrial building on the near East Side.

The 6,000-square-foot incubator in the former Marquip Inc. offices and factory building at 1245 E. Washington Ave. will offer 10 suites to high-tech entrepreneurs in a Downtown setting, UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley said.

"It's just exactly the kind of space a young entrepreneur is looking for," Wiley said. "Nearby is a stimulating night life, museums, restaurants, plenty of condos and apartment space, good parking - and it's easy to get to. It's just got everything going for it."

The effort, believed to be the university's first investment on the East Side, is seen as a catalyst in revitalizing the worn East Washington corridor. "We have been waiting for a spark in the East Washington corridor for a couple of years now," said Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. "This could be the small spark that ignites economic development in that corridor."

full length story- http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2008/08/04/0808040015.php

Here are some pictures of Sequoia Commons. I couldn't find any of the model condos. I must have forgotten to take my camera that day.
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/3897/hpim4504bf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6605/hpim4505pl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/9515/hpim4508jx3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1582/hpim4510pw7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

That's a nice looking development!

I'm back in Oshkosh for awhile since I graduated and the job hunt isn't going so well. How is the new university square looking? Has a grocery store opened there yet?

I dont' have a real recent (in the last month of it). It is a big building. I think a Walgreens is open in it do not know about a grocery store haven't been downtown except for a meal and a show at the overature center since very early in the month.

I'm back in Oshkosh for awhile since I graduated and the job hunt isn't going so well. How is the new university square looking? Has a grocery store opened there yet?

The building is absolutely beautiful and my favorite modern building in Madison on so many levels. It does have a Walgreens and a sportswear store, with plenty of empty storefronts to spare. With the amount of people walking University Ave and the perpendicular pedestrian walkway, those additional spaces will fill in no time.

I drove by there today and they also have a university food court there also.

Please take some pictures. I'm eager to see it.

Here are some of University Square I took today
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2505/hpim4543tc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3843/hpim4562rj2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4615/hpim4563hw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7449/hpim4589qb6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/6900/hpim4548dk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks for the pictures! Very nice looking building. And to think, what used to be there was a hideous one-story blue-tin-roof mall. Hopefully Vilas Hall will eventually get torn down and they can extend the "University Square Mall" a bit closer to park street... it looks awkward now being so close to to another building.

Thanks, atrain. It looks really good. The lower floors are transparent and interact well with street level. Modern and classy.

A well-rounded University Square -- almost

...

Encompassing 3.4 acres of land bordered by University Avenue, Lake Street, West Johnson Street and the newly created East Campus Mall, University Square is a $190 million development with a combined 1.1 million square feet of office, commercial and residential space.

More than a decade in the making, the project was developed in a unique public-private partnership that includes Rice, the University of Wisconsin and Steve Brown Apartments. It combines UW offices, private-sector apartments and some 130,000 square feet of retail space in a single L-shaped, 12-story building.

The Lucky Apartments are now open, as is the second-floor food court. Walgreens and Name of the Game, which sells sports merchandise, are open on the first floor. The UW will begin moving into its new office spaces in December.

Backed with some $12 million in public funding, the project aims to turn the blighted, 1970s-era University Square retail strip into what the owners see as an shopping and eating destination for both students and the general public.

...

UNIVERSITY SQUARE BUSINESSES

Here are retail tenants who have signed leases:
Walgreens*
Name of the Game* -- sports merchandise
Cuppy's Coffee
VICI Beauty School
VICI Capilli Salon & Spa
Pitaya -- women's casual apparel

In the food court:
Sbarro* -- pizza and Italian cuisine
Quizno's* -- subs, salads
Stir Fry 88* -- Chinese cuisine
Nori Japan* -- Japanese cuisine
Bubble Island
Varsity Grill
Fattoush -- Mediterranean cuisine

* -- open for business



Full Article (http://www.madison.com/tct/news/CTstaging/302250)

http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/tct/2008/08/26/82390.jpg

I can't describe what an improvement, and what a presence this project is for that area.

Apparently the Roundy's grocery store fell through, and plans for an urban Target were possible but never materialized. Curt Brink's big sports bar also fell through. I hope we get out of this economic slump, it's becoming really noticeable...

Apparently the Roundy's grocery store fell through, and plans for an urban Target were possible but never materialized. Curt Brink's big sports bar also fell through. I hope we get out of this economic slump, it's becoming really noticeable...

What surprises me is how surprised people were when yet another Brink project fell through, or never materialized, or was just a pipe-dream (see http://archipelagovillage.com/index.php).

About the only thing most people can affiliate the guy with is his pretentious club for east-side wannabe yuppies (few and far between) that doesn't even server food (unless you want cheese & crackers). Folks, there are plenty of actually cool bars on the east side, where cocktails don't cost a small fortune and don't feel like a hotel lobby.

Sorry, I'm just sick of this guy trying to draw attention to himself with over-the-top proposals that never fly, just for the media exposure her receives from it.

And upon a little investigation, his bio from The Madison Club (another bottled-up rant waiting to burst out in itself) reads like a shortlist of overstated achievement. I could dress up my resume to sound just as impressive, if I really tried. I get that the guy has more money than I ever will, but you can't buy friends, which I haven't met any of his yet (I suspect there aren't many), and the guys I do know with Brink-like success don't dip it in so much pretention.

Curt Brink is the Owner of Decision Analyst Group, LLC, a real estate development and consulting company, as well as Curt Vaughn Brink Experience, a development company for coffee and wine entertainment shops. Mr. Brink also serves on the Board of Directors for the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin; the Grant Writing Committee for the Madison Community Foundation; the Madison Housing Committee; the Executive Committee for Smart Growth and the Madison Streetcar Study Committee. Mr. Brink and his wife, Elizabeth, have been members of the Madison Club since 2001.

Yeah, I (and many others) were actually all for the Archipelago Village, but now I see how laughably insane it was. It would have completely ruined what makes Madison what it is, too. People would have absolutely hated it.

Can anone confirm the construction status of the Aloft Hotel/Fratellos project on John Nolen? The water location is good, but visibility from John Nolen is minimal. Supple states that Fratellos is set to open Spring of '09.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/Untitled-2copy.jpg

http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/attachments/6875262f-f8d4-4f0c-971f-5edd4974f5c5.pdf

As far as I know, it has not even started.

Central Library project moving forward...

This spring, developer Terrence Wall proposed demolishing the dated library on the 200 block of West Mifflin Street and replacing it with a $45 million, nine-story, glass and stone structure with ground-floor retail, a three-story library and private offices above it.

"It's meeting a long-term commitment," Cieslewicz said. "I'm encouraged by the movement we've seen in the last six months or so. I want to show the city's commitment is real."

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/303174
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/83239.jpg

COULD SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO DEVELOPERS THAT PEOPLE ARE SICK OF SEEING THOSE ROUND TOWERS/UFO LANDING PADS-THEY'RE SO SUBURBIAN AND CLICHE

Do any of you know what is going up at the construction site accross University Ave from University Square? They've been working for a while now to demo a building, and now it looks like they are getting ready to build something new.

Do any of you know what is going up at the construction site accross University Ave from University Square? They've been working for a while now to demo a building, and now it looks like they are getting ready to build something new.

Chazen Museum of Art
Continuum Architects + Planners and Machado & Silvetti of Boston have formed an association to design the new $38 million expansion to the Chazen Museum of Art. Situated in the heart of the University's East Campus, the new museum addition doubles the size of the existing Chazen Museum.http://www.continuumarchitects.com/htmdocs/portfolio/portfolio_item.php?id=100

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/Chazen.jpg

Thanks looksee. I'm not a huge fan of the building; seems like that wouldn't be a good spot at all for a 2 story building. It would have been nicer to see a taller building with offices/classrooms above the museum instead. I think years down the road this will stick out like a sore thumb in that area of campus.

That whole stretch of U. Ave. is incoherent.
Thank goodness for the new U-Square complex -- at least adds a taste of urbanity to the place.

Thanks looksee. I'm not a huge fan of the building; seems like that wouldn't be a good spot at all for a 2 story building. It would have been nicer to see a taller building with offices/classrooms above the museum instead. I think years down the road this will stick out like a sore thumb in that area of campus.

Actually, as part of the campus master plan, the entire stretch of bars, stores, etc on that side of University Ave will be torn down in several years as part of rebuilding the new "Arts district" of the campus, with new music and art buildings on that site and two new humanities buildings replacing the current one. By around 2018, that entire stretch of University Ave will look completely different, although we will lose some retail on an already practically retail-less major street. The area I want to see some high-rise development on is that god-forbidden parking lot and overgrowth where Gorham turns into University! That land has to be more valuable than a parking lot...

As for the museum expansion, I really like it. Itreally adds to the new mall that is being created from the new Ogg dorms to the lake. Nothing is more appropriate for a mall like that than a museum with a modern, innovative design.

Actually, as part of the campus master plan, the entire stretch of bars, stores, etc on that side of University Ave will be torn down in several years as part of rebuilding the new "Arts district" of the campus, with new music and art buildings on that site and two new humanities buildings replacing the current one.

That's a bit of a shame, because my favorite resturant in Madison - Caspian Cafe - is one of those stores. I'm afraid the gentleman who runs that resturant may retire if forced to move out, and I would lose my only access to Iranian food in Madison.

As far as I know, it has not even started.

I looked at it while driving by on Saturday. It's absolutely dead, and there is still a "land for sale/lease" sign out front.

That's a bit of a shame, because my favorite resturant in Madison - Caspian Cafe - is one of those stores. I'm afraid the gentleman who runs that resturant may retire if forced to move out, and I would lose my only access to Iranian food in Madison.

Actually, I should have been a little more clear. I was only talking about the much smaller, much more rundown stretch just further down University and on the other side of Lake St. I don't remember exactly what is all there, but I know there is a two-story bar (Brothers?) and some Veteran Affairs office. You can see it here in the picture someone just posted:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/2505/hpim4543tc7.jpg

I think it will be great for the area, as those two-story buildings look a bit awkward sitting across from that 12-story giant.

Plan for US Bank Plaza advances

http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/top/305046

$82M South Campus Union designs unveiled
Building to include bowling alley, theater, coffee house, pub

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/305008

"The South Campus Union was designed with extensive student input. Some of the features of the new building include outdoor terraces, a bowling alley, a climbing wall, a 350-seat theater, a coffee house, space for student organizations, many food options, meeting rooms, and an entertainment venue featuring a pub and live performance space.

After many workshops, focus groups and student surveys over the last three years, Union Director Mark Guthier said it was decided that there would be five important elements that would define the exterior materials and architectural style of the South Campus Union. Those elements included: that the building be warm and textured; that it be humanly scaled, yet monumental in its design; that it be organic, timeless and enduring; that it be playful and fun, unlike other academic buildings on campus; and that it be welcoming."

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/84711.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/84712.jpg
lightrail included?

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/84713.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/84716.jpg

UW School of Music gets $20 million to build new performance venues

Two anonymous donors have given $20 million to the UW-Madison School of Music to build a new performance center on the northwest corner of University Avenue and Lake Street, a few blocks north of the Kohl Center.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/305076

With regards to the new downtown library...

"Authorized the city to issue requests for proposals for a new public library downtown at 201 W. Mifflin St. that include sale of the land to a private developer."


and

Reston Heights Apartments OK'd


Despite concerns from new owners of nearby single family homes, the commission approved plans from developer Kevin Metcalfe for 158 units in five large apartment buildings, including a pair of three-story structures.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/84790.jpg

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/305057

UW School of Music gets $20 million to build new performance venues

Two anonymous donors have given $20 million to the UW-Madison School of Music to build a new performance center on the northwest corner of University Avenue and Lake Street, a few blocks north of the Kohl Center.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/305076

Weird, that is just exactly what I was talking about. Didn't know it was anywhere close to happening.

Only in Madison can new projects continue to unfold while the rest of the country is in such economic turmoil. Must have something to do with the color blue.



The venerable Edgewater Hotel in Downtown Madison may be refurbished, expanded and offer more public access, becoming perhaps a "Union Terrace for adults."

Robert Dunn, president of the Hammes Co., a prominent international developer with Wisconsin roots, is buying the art deco-style hotel — host to notables from Elvis Presley to George Bush Sr. — with an intent of returning the property to its former glory and more.

"It's a unique piece of property in the market," said Dunn, whose company has handled projects from Lambeau Field to Beijing Olympic National Stadium and is the nation's largest health-care facility developer. "This is an opportunity for it to be something much more than it is today."

Continued... (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/305413)



http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/wsj/2008/09/17/85047.jpg

I've never noticed this building before, but will have to check it out. It sounds like they are going to make the lakefront more publicly accessible, which is great considering there are few places to view Lake Mendota from the Isthmus.

I lived about a block from that hotel and it definitely needs remodeling. I've rowed past it on several occasions and it is a pretty bad eyesore from the lake and has very little lake access anyway. From the article it sounds like they are going to increase the lake access and make it quite the nice place.

It would be nice to have some sort of lake walk along that shore. Lake Mendota is much bigger than Monona, and would definitely draw the crowds. How nice would it be if this building was linked to the union via a lake walk?

I had a prom dinner at the Edgewater back before some of you probably even hit puberty, or were even born, haha. It's a Madison landmark, and I hope something wonderful happens. So much falls through though, to counter the comment about Madison being an exception to the supposed national crisis. Really, the list of dead (or dying) projects is longer than those still alive, by far.

Good news. I used to live very close to the Edgewater, as well. There was an aging, wooden building just to the northeast of the Edgewater on the lake front that I visited from time to time. I used to sit on the rooftop. Do you guys know if it's still there?

If they could create a lakewalk connecting the Union to James Madison Park that would be nice.

Both of these items courtesy of the "no shit" folder:

Study: Downtown Madison could support $100 million, 400-room hotel
QUINN CRAUGH
608-252-6120
qcraugh@madison.com
Downtown Madison could support a $100 million, 400-room hotel, a consultant told city officials Monday.

more:
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/308248


I would have taken the $40,000 and could have told them as much.

and...


Market woes cause developer to pare down Bassett Neighborhood plans

Mike Ivey — 10/06/2008 10:00 pm

A downturn in the housing market has Urban Land Interests shifting gears on a key parcel in the Bassett Neighborhood, a block from Monona Bay.

The Madison developer had initially envisioned a nine-story residential tower for the 1.6 acre site overlooking the lake and five blocks from the Capitol Square. Instead, it is now looking at a pair of lower-rise office buildings.

more:
http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/308249


What? You mean downtown Madison is already over developed with overpriced, mediocre quality housing?

Does anyone know what's going in along Gorham street between the State Capitol and James Madison Park?

Does anyone know what's going in along Gorham street between the State Capitol and James Madison Park?

4 story apt building-70 units-44 underground stalls
aestically similar to the capitol west condos

http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/planning/projects/reports/301nhs_site2.pdf

Even though I worked at one of the companies that made Overture happen at the time it was going up, I had no idea that it potentially could have been built on E. Washington. Oh how glorious that would have been....

http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/ivey/311730

I posted this over in the rail forum, but thought it should go here as well:
-----
Wisconsin State Journal - MON., NOV 3, 2008 - 10:32 AM - Jason Stein

A proposed high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee is poised to benefit from a new federal law that calls for expanding passenger rail service around the country as a response to higher gas prices, state and federal officials said.

The planned service has two obstacles remaining at the federal level and likely wouldn't be running before fall 2012 at the earliest. But so far the chances look better than ever for passenger rail to return to Madison for the first time in 37 years, said Bruce Speight, an advocate with the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, which supports the plan.


With ridership on passenger trains increasing along with gas prices, Congress and President Bush in October authorized $12.9 billion in spending over five years to pay for maintaining and expanding Amtrak train service around the country.

...

The service between the Dane County airport and downtown Chicago would take about two and a half hours one-way and would cost around $44 for a one-way, non-discounted fare, Wade said.

Full Article (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/wonder/312577)

I posted this over in the rail forum, but thought it should go here as well:
-----
Wisconsin State Journal - MON., NOV 3, 2008 - 10:32 AM - Jason Stein

A proposed high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee is poised to benefit from a new federal law that calls for expanding passenger rail service around the country as a response to higher gas prices, state and federal officials said.

The planned service has two obstacles remaining at the federal level and likely wouldn't be running before fall 2012 at the earliest. But so far the chances look better than ever for passenger rail to return to Madison for the first time in 37 years, said Bruce Speight, an advocate with the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, which supports the plan.


With ridership on passenger trains increasing along with gas prices, Congress and President Bush in October authorized $12.9 billion in spending over five years to pay for maintaining and expanding Amtrak train service around the country.

...

The service between the Dane County airport and downtown Chicago would take about two and a half hours one-way and would cost around $44 for a one-way, non-discounted fare, Wade said.

Full Article (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/wonder/312577)

To get my family of 4 to Chicago and back will cost me $352 + tax and fees, nevermind food and accommodations (if necessary). No thanks. I can drive down, eat, stay in a hotel, and take in some sights for that much.

To get my family of 4 to Chicago and back will cost me $352 + tax and fees, nevermind food and accommodations (if necessary). No thanks. I can drive down, eat, stay in a hotel, and take in some sights for that much.

Everyone doesn't have a family of 4 to worry about.

Everyone doesn't have a family of 4 to worry about.

Thanks Captain Obvious. But, umm, a lot of us do. Rule us out. Who's going to make up for this lost ridership? Are you going to fork over $80+ for a roundtrip fare with limited departures?

Thanks Captain Obvious. But, umm, a lot of us do. Rule us out. Who's going to make up for this lost ridership? Are you going to fork over $80+ for a roundtrip fare with limited departures?

It's not lost ridership if you were never going to ride it to begin with. The system won't be sized to carry every trip between the two points, it's to offer another option. If I was staying in Downtown Chicago for a couple days, I certainly wouldn't drive. The hassle factor of driving, plus $30+ dollars a day to park, and then the wasted time and gas make the train a no brainer for me and many others.

^^ exactly, the idea is for having multimodes...if you dont want to take the train then dont, but some of us DO...besides, since some of us do, that takes the some of us off the roads that YOU use, shouldnt that make you happy?

ever think of this, some people cant afford or some people down want to own a vehicle that want/need to travel to chicago.

I just don't think the family of four is the target market for such a service, and as you point out, it probably isn't a practical option for most families. However, consider the business traveler going between Madison/Milwaukee/Chicago. Not only do they or their employer not have to pay for gas, not only do they not have to pay for parking, but they have the travel time freed up to do other things than drive if they choose. I suspect this is a far more important market for the service.

Fair enough. Family travel is not the target market. I am however also a businessman. I understand, and am a typical representation of Madison area professionals (and yes, I do some business in Chicago, and Milwaukee). I see no benefit to sending myself, or my employees via. train to Chicago for $80+ round trip (more like $90+ after fees and taxes) when additional transportation services to and from the Chicago station (and the Madison station at Dane County Airport) need to be arranged (more $), which additionally adds a pretty large sum of time to the entire process (more $). The commute does not, will not, and will not ever conclude at 2.5 hours, in any situation. I can however have one of my guys here at the office hop in his car and be in Chicago at the client-site in roughly that time frame. Also understand that while you may think time on the train is freed time, it's in reality unbillable time. Madison is largely in the services business, not the goods and products spectrum. This applies to a large body in town, not just myself. Please look at Madison under a microscope, and not from 10,000 feet. It is not Milwaukee, or Chicago. Not even close. This is Madison. Do you see any trains around here? In fact, I challenge you to find a bus with more than 3 people on it.

Rail does indeed add a level of flexibility, but I predict (based on a lifetime of business experiences in Madison) that it will by in large be more useful to people whose time isn't as valuable. People such as students, those traveling to the city for entertainment, etc.

Now if you want to talk about how awesome I thought Metra was when I was in town for the marathon, I'm all over that. That's a Chicago forum thing though. Everything has it's place. Madison is just a different animal.

A public market is still in play afterall. I would like to see this move forward, as I think it could work (not become another money-pit), depending on location. Downtown or near east side (Brayton lot) seem obvious, but I'm also looking toward Union Corners with interest.

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/313170

I can however have one of my guys here at the office hop in his car and be in Chicago at the client-site in roughly that time frame.
Rail does indeed add a level of flexibility, but I predict (based on a lifetime of business experiences in Madison) that it will by in large be more useful to people whose time isn't as valuable. People such as students, those traveling to the city for entertainment, etc.

What is the mileage that you would have to reimburse that employee? Isn't it something like 51 cents per mile? Round trip from downtown to downtown would be roughly 300 miles, and $150. Add to that $30 parking in Chicago per day, any traffic delays (currently the drive through Rockford is a crawl, leave alone Chicago) and train quickly becomes a viable option. I suspect that if this became a routine travel, the employee would want to spend their time sleeping on the train rather than driving through traffic.

I challenge you to find a bus with more than 3 people on it.

You know, as well as I do, that Madison does have some routes containing buses filled to capacity. Many riders are businessmen or students that don't have cars.

speaking of madisons bus system, i recently moved to minneapolis for college and after riding the buses around the city i am amazed at how packed they were. this got me thinking about madison metro and what needs to be done to improve ridership and service. i my self have seen many metro buses packed with people, but it seems to me that ridership alone isn't keeping metro afloat since didn't the city cut several routes this year? im just wondering what your guys' ideas are about how we could fix madison's bus system

Shuttle buses from suburban park & ride lots to downtown and the Univeristy (no other stops) are essential. There is currently no comfortable way to get from the suburbs to downtown without driving. I believe people would use these shuttles, and downtown traffic would decrease.

I guess there are a few busy routes, but they just eliminated more dead ones. Looks like rates are headed upward again too. I've never met a suit that rides them. This is a car town, whether you want to admit it or not. Look outside of campus for a change (and reality).

Mileage reimbursement is at 48.5 cents. Some of which is a tax deduction. There are more angles to running a business than what you guys realize.

Don't avoid certain facts for the sake of your side of a debate (I thought the election is over). Parking at the station at the Dane County Airport wouldn't be free, and last I checked, parking around the Metra stations was dirt cheap. All of these costs are all more of a wash than I think any of us realize until we sit down and actually do ALL of the math, but the convenienc and flexibility of the car still wins out... just look around.

Two thoughts: First, today, I think we can admit that if the train we built, some people would find it more convenient and others wouldn't. Jason says it wouldn't for those he works with, and that's fine but also isn't a representative sample. Similarly, I and others who believe it would be used aren't exactly bogging the thread down with anything more than speculation. And in fairness, one can park at, for instance, the Cumberland CTA stop all day for $2, and an all day pass is $5, so that's a $23 savings that allows someone to bypass rush-hour traffic if they wish. Anyway, I personally believe many would find it convenient, both to get to Chicago and to get to Milwaukee.

Looking down the road, the facts are that oil demand will increase and supplies won't do so at the same rate. So, maybe someone will develop a super-efficient/alternative fuel car that will allow current development patters to continue. My belief is that part of the solution, and probably a significant part, is going to be mass-transportation. As such, I think SW Wisconsin is well served to be working on alternatives to the car before it gets to be a crisis. Just has having a region that relies too heavily on one industry puts it in a precarious position, having a region that relies too heavily on one mode of transportation is dangerous as well. Gas moving past 5 or more dollars a gallon before we develop a wildly more efficient car is not impossible, and in such a scenario a train that may be an option today could become a necessity for many.

I can just imagine what people will say.... blah, blah, character of the neighborhood, blah, blah... but let's face it, Regent Street is a horrible eyesore, and it fails to live up to the character of the city Madison wants to be.



Apartment/retail complex planned for old Josie's site

Mike Ivey — 11/14/2008 2:21 pm

A Madison developer is proposing a $15 million, six-story apartment building with retail on the first floor at the corner of Regent and Park street, site of the vacant Josie's restaurant.

http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/tct/2008/11/14/91885.jpg

http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/314426


Google streetview link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=regent+street+madison+wi&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=43.069064,-89.401374&spn=0.002806,0.006866&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=43.067658,-89.401614&panoid=2WDOWys5dAOdeb-woT7bkw&cbp=2,33.68925000000007,,0,5

That block would definately be better off with this new building.

It's been kinda quiet in developement news in Madison, so I'm glad this came out.

It certainly is a prominent corner especially for the university. I would hope that is deals with the street level like the new university square seems to do.

speaking of madisons bus system, i recently moved to minneapolis for college and after riding the buses around the city i am amazed at how packed they were. this got me thinking about madison metro and what needs to be done to improve ridership and service. i my self have seen many metro buses packed with people, but it seems to me that ridership alone isn't keeping metro afloat since didn't the city cut several routes this year? im just wondering what your guys' ideas are about how we could fix madison's bus system

Madison's infrastructure and population just isn't up to par to support a really effect bus system. The only areas that really use the buses are the university area and area immediatly around the capital. Other then that, riding the bus from State St. to the west town mall just seems to be a burden... why not drive and have the convenience of getting there much, much quicker?

I've heard people try to convince madison is ripe territory for a light rail line, and I just kind of smirk. yeah, it'd be really cool. but I just can't see it being anything but a massive new cost on the city.

i live 150 miles from madtown, i wouldnt mind if a tenth of a percent came out of my taxes to help fund a madison or milwaukee rail system. because i would use it a couple times of the year...still i would not care

^^ Not to mention that if built, a majority of the funding would come from the federal level. So you would be paying for it :)

Madison's infrastructure and population just isn't up to par to support a really effect bus system. The only areas that really use the buses are the university area and area immediatly around the capital.

Actually in some ways Madison's structure is ideal for mass transit: traffic to and from the east going to downtown or the campus is constricted and funneled by the isthmus, which severely limits automobile capacity; similarly from the south, because of the lakes and the Arboretum; from the west, only surface roads, some of them near, at, or beyond capacity are available because of the great distance from the Beltline. Also, most of the employment centers, even away from the massive University, government, and U.W Hospital complexes, are clearly, if not always compactly, clustered.
Busses running as far west as Hill Farms, to take one instance, are often packed and must rely on "x-tra" doubled runs to absorb overflow.
The problems I perceive with Metro are the quirky, and sometimes downright strange schedules and route patterns, and extremely generous compensations and benefits for drivers (and I rarely if ever feel that way about wage earners -- but Metro drivers drive some of the easiest routes on earth but earn as if they were on the Indy circuit).

Madison's infrastructure and population just isn't up to par to support a really effect bus system. The only areas that really use the buses are the university area and area immediatly around the capital. Other then that, riding the bus from State St. to the west town mall just seems to be a burden... why not drive and have the convenience of getting there much, much quicker?

This is what I'm trying to get at, I think that metro would see an increase in ridership if they could restructure routes to make getting around much more efficient. I am currently going to school in Minneapolis and have been very impressed with the bus system here, you can get almost anywhere fairly easy.

What our bus system needs is more non-stop shuttles to the burbs and park&ride lots. Taking a bus from Sun Prairie to Madison is not an option (partially thanks to Sun Prairie's backwards take on public transportation), and a ride from the AmFam park&Ride lot takes 45 minutes to get downtown.

Sun Prairie's backwards take on public transportation

I'd like to understand what you mean. Sun Prairie is a small town... does it really need public transportation? Unless you mean it needs a park and ride bus to Madison. Then I might be on board... but to say Sun Prairie is "backwards" because there isn't one is well, weird.

Actually in some ways Madison's structure is ideal for mass transit: traffic to and from the east going to downtown or the campus is constricted and funneled by the isthmus, which severely limits automobile capacity; similarly from the south, because of the lakes and the Arboretum; from the west, only surface roads, some of them near, at, or beyond capacity are available because of the great distance from the Beltline. Also, most of the employment centers, even away from the massive University, government, and U.W Hospital complexes, are clearly, if not always compactly, clustered.
Busses running as far west as Hill Farms, to take one instance, are often packed and must rely on "x-tra" doubled runs to absorb overflow.
The problems I perceive with Metro are the quirky, and sometimes downright strange schedules and route patterns, and extremely generous compensations and benefits for drivers (and I rarely if ever feel that way about wage earners -- but Metro drivers drive some of the easiest routes on earth but earn as if they were on the Indy circuit).

Credit the cluster of the massive business centers for being built on the west side. It's a lot worse over there than over here. I never understood that. The interstate and airport are on the east side. There is a lot more flexibility over here. It's more open and closer to transit options, including Amtrak. It's also a good 15-20 minutes closer to the Fox Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago, and MSP by car. I guess the west side is closer to.... Dubuque? Yes, that's it!

I know some of them westsiders are a little turned off by "grittiness" of the east side. Oh, to be a part of high-society. The reactions are priceless when I tell old classmates I went from the west side to the east side after school. "But, why? It's so... dirty."

I've heard from planners of light rail that Madison's isthumus and layout is prefect for light rail. I would think similar properties would relate to the bus system. I'm still not sure about the whole transfer point thing. I went to the westside from Fitchburg and it took about 75 minutes where it would take 15 or 20 driving. The UW Campus and downtown is pretty decent to get to at least from Fitchburg and the southside.

Credit the cluster of the massive business centers for being built on the west side. It's a lot worse over there than over here. I never understood that. The interstate and airport are on the east side. There is a lot more flexibility over here. It's more open and closer to transit options, including Amtrak. It's also a good 15-20 minutes closer to the Fox Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago, and MSP by car. I guess the west side is closer to.... Dubuque? Yes, that's it!.
Good sense and rationality suffered major setbacks in the 1970's and beyond when the far Westside sprawlopolis was created; whatever legitimate legacy of Conservation and good urban leadership Madison may have once possessed was buried under miles of vinyl-sided monotony and office parks of asphalt prairie.
The newer Eastside is fortunate not to have overdosed on this environmental poison.

I'd like to understand what you mean. Sun Prairie is a small town... does it really need public transportation? Unless you mean it needs a park and ride bus to Madison. Then I might be on board... but to say Sun Prairie is "backwards" because there isn't one is well, weird.

I'm not saying that SP needs its own system, but rather that it should accept Madison's invitation to extend a couple lines into SP.

Sun Prairie is the second-largest city in Dane county, and refuses to accept Madison Metro's invitation to extend bus service into town. The cost would be relatively inexpensive (I think Sun Prairie would have to pay $200k a year) and we would get routes going down Main Street to downtown, and probably other routes along major roads. Sun Prairie stands alone in its stubborn refusal of the Madison Metro, as other suburbs have embraced the system. (Fitchburg, Middleton, Monona, and probably others.) Instead we have this silly reduced rate Taxi service which shuttles people around town and goes to East Town a few times a day. I know that Taxi service gets plenty of use, and see enough people walking up and down Main Street (outside of downtown) to know that at least a Main Street line would be well utilized.

Appleton, which is smaller than Madison, extends its bus service into all major towns outside Appleton. (Neenah, Grand Chute, Kaukauna, Kimberly, Menasha all have service).

Credit the cluster of the massive business centers for being built on the west side. It's a lot worse over there than over here. I never understood that. The interstate and airport are on the east side. There is a lot more flexibility over here. It's more open and closer to transit options, including Amtrak. It's also a good 15-20 minutes closer to the Fox Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago, and MSP by car. I guess the west side is closer to.... Dubuque? Yes, that's it!



I wonder if that process was set in motion over 150 years ago. Moving westward from downtown they developed the University, hospitals, and research centers. These are the places where the money was. To the east... factories and warehouses. I think the East side took a fatal blow back then that it has yet to recover from. (Chicago and Milwaukee suffer from the same series of events)

If Madison were rebuilt today, I'm sure the East side would be much more valuable than it is today, because of the late 20th and 21sth century advantages you mentioned above.

After waiting in frustration for years, Madison now has two striking, vastly different proposals for a new Downtown library.

In response to a city request for proposals, T. Wall Properties and Fiore Cos. have offered plans for a library to replace the dated, 43-year-old facility on the 200 block of West Mifflin Street.

Wall is proposing to demolish the existing library and replace it with a $45 million, nine-story glass and stone structure with ground-floor library entrance and retail space, a three-story library and private offices above it. The library section is priced at $17.3 million.

Fiore is proposing is six-story, free-standing glass and brick library at the corner of Henry Street and West Washington Avenue abutting the existing library and next to its existing Network222 office tower.

After the new library is built, Fiore would demolish the old library and build a 380,000-square-foot mixed-use project on that site with retail space, 425 parking spaces and either a hotel or office space.

Continued... (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/316918)


http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/wsj/2008/12/02/93653.jpg

I really like this Fiore proposal. The library would be stand-alone, 6 stories, and would add to the urban canyon feel that is beginning to form on W. Washington. In addition it has a rooftop public area and paves the way for a mixed use project on the current library site. I would definitely take this over the T. Wall plan, although his mixed use library structure would be taller at 9 stories.

http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/wsj/2008/12/02/93653.jpg

I really like this Fiore proposal. The library would be stand-alone, 6 stories, and would add to the urban canyon feel that is beginning to form on W. Washington. In addition it has a rooftop public area and paves the way for a mixed use project on the current library site. I would definitely take this over the T. Wall plan, although his mixed use library structure would be taller at 9 stories.

I'm with you. East Washington would be even better for me, but this is nice. If I know Terrence though, he's happy just to get people talking about possibilities. He doesn't view competition as a bad thing. If not entirely straight forward, his proposal might have been intended just to start getting people to open their eyes to what could be. I mean, it's not that big of a project to him when you start looking at that Tribeca behemoth. So he probably isn't losing any sleep over the thought of losing it.

However, I'm not all that excited about more public spending. Has the city learned anything from the Overture money pit?

fyi, heres the other library proposal for comparison-i still hate the helipad with the halo look

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/936551.jpg

However, I'm not all that excited about more public spending. Has the city learned anything from the Overture money pit?

I must be one of the only people that believes the Overture was a solid LONG term investment for the city. The Overture will still be here 50 years from now, and will have helped shape the culture of Madison and what the city will eventually become.

fyi, heres the other library proposal for comparison-i still hate the helipad with the halo look

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/936551.jpg
That reminds me of the Cathedral Place in Milwaukee.

I must be one of the only people that believes the Overture was a solid LONG term investment for the city. The Overture will still be here 50 years from now, and will have helped shape the culture of Madison and what the city will eventually become.

But will it still be a money pit 50 years from now with the upgrades and repairs in addition to operating costs easily trumping the revenue it generates? I think so.

If it can't make money when it's shiny and new, how can it make money when it's old and irrelevant?

That reminds me of the Cathedral Place in Milwaukee.

I can see that, but Cathedral Place doesn't have that cheap looking crown, and the curve continues down the side of the building instead of dead-ending into a box. I like Cathedral Place, but not so much this new library.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f99/ajknee/DSC02774.jpg

But will it still be a money pit 50 years from now with the upgrades and repairs in addition to operating costs easily trumping the revenue it generates? I think so.

If it can't make money when it's shiny and new, how can it make money when it's old and irrelevant?

From my understanding, they are able to meet maintenance costs, but are having trouble paying off loans taken for initial construction costs. Either way you do have a good argument, but what about the non-financial value it adds to the city? What about the cultural value?

Examples of other "money pits":

http://everystockphoto.s3.amazonaws.com/Statue_Statue_Liberty_234766_l.jpg

http://www.goworldtravel.com/march04/arch.jpg

http://www.scottbeale.com/images/Taj%20Mahal.jpg

Examples of other "money pits":^^



Non sequitur.

(Man, I haven't used that phrase in half a lifetime.:|)

Wow, yeah. We're talking about a theater here, not a symbolic landmark of any real significant stature. Don't the the capitol, Monona Terrace, Camp Randall, etc. already qualify as defining Madison? We need an artistic venue, sure, but not the 9th wonder of the world. How quickly Madison forgets its size.

BTW, Overture laid off 15 people yesterday.

Different scale for sure, but same idea. Appleton's Performing Arts Center has been credited for revitalizing its downtown, and the MAM in Milwaukee speaks for itself. My thought is that the OC could play a similar role in Madison.

Appleton's Performing Arts Center has been credited for revitalizing its downtown, and the MAM in Milwaukee speaks for itself. My thought is that the OC could play a similar role in Madison.

It does not, nor is that necessary (if anything it deadens that block of an otherwise thriving State St.)

I'm afraid you're still coring oranges and squeezing apples, so to speak.:)

I do have a thought of sorts though: Those connecting hallways facing State St. are really a waste of valuable frontage (I don't think any synergy has been achieved by being able to navigate indoors from the concert venues to the Contemporary Art Museum), and I doubt there's any fondness for that near-anonymous exterior . Why not subdivide that space and turn it into income producing commercial rentals? Could bring some life back to that block during business hours too. I don't think there's a need to be a purist about separating crass commerce from Art. There is no art in that exterior.

It does not, nor is that necessary (if anything it deadens that block of an otherwise thriving State St.)

I'm afraid you're still coring oranges and squeezing apples, so to speak.:)

I do have a thought of sorts though: Those connecting hallways facing State St. are really a waste of valuable frontage (I don't think any synergy has been achieved by being able to navigate indoors from the concert venues to the Contemporary Art Museum), and I doubt there's any fondness for that near-anonymous exterior . Why not subdivide that space and turn it into income producing commercial rentals? Could bring some life back to that block during business hours too. I don't think there's a need to be a purist about separating crass commerce from Art. There is no art in that exterior.

Very well said. Something more interactive with the character of State Street would have been more in line with what could have defined Madison.

Again though, I don't think we needed to define Madison. It is defined. It is a small city known all over the world, but not for the arts. Nor does downtown need revitilization. The damn thing is hopping. What it needed was an upgrade to the Civic Center, which it got, but not at such an epic scale.

I actually feel bad for Cesar Pelli. He was limited, and now he's a contributor to the deadening of a section of the liveliest street in Wisconsin.

I am really disappointed with Overture, but I still appreciate it for what it does do right. It is no doubt gorgeous inside and the center for much of the arts in Madison, something Madison really needed. It could have just been handled much, much better... Especially when it comes to design. We gotta give it some time, though. Madison and he area is still growing very quickly, and as it grows the center will only become more and more important to the area.

http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/wsj/2008/12/02/93653.jpg

I really like this Fiore proposal. The library would be stand-alone, 6 stories, and would add to the urban canyon feel that is beginning to form on W. Washington. In addition it has a rooftop public area and paves the way for a mixed use project on the current library site. I would definitely take this over the T. Wall plan, although his mixed use library structure would be taller at 9 stories.

I like this design way, way, way more. The other design feels way too stock and uninspired, using themes and traits you seem in just about every mass development these days, like that hideous blue glass that the halo.

I have to say, I do think the old library site is a much better location, though. To me that spot on W Wash doesn't seem very fitting for a library at all. Ideally it would be some office space with some ground level retail. Perhaps a new library across from the Overture center would even help revitalize that little cul de sac that is full of businesses like a piano store that somehow stay in business.

Does anyone know if anything is ever going to be done with that giant parking lot behind the US Bank building? Isn't that the spot that they were thinking about putting the proposed public market? All I know is that the near east part of E Washington NEEDS some work. That mixed used project it lost a year or two ago really would have helped revived the area.

I have to say, I do think the old library site is a much better location, though. To me that spot on W Wash doesn't seem very fitting for a library at all. Ideally it would be some office space with some ground level retail. Perhaps a new library across from the Overture center would even help revitalize that little cul de sac that is full of businesses like a piano store that somehow stay in business.

Does anyone know if anything is ever going to be done with that giant parking lot behind the US Bank building? Isn't that the spot that they were thinking about putting the proposed public market? All I know is that the near east part of E Washington NEEDS some work. That mixed used project it lost a year or two ago really would have helped revived the area.

I think you are referring to the parking lot one block east of the GEF-1 building. GEF-1 is one block east of the US Bank building. This is called the Brayton Lot.

Correct, it has been proposed as a location for the Public Market. This has been adamantly opposed by Ald. Tim Gruber, District 11 (not his district) who thinks the ramp on S. Pinckney between Doty and Wilson would be a better spot. I think Brayton Lot would be a good spot, as along as other features are added (like apartments and underground parking). I however think Union Corners would be a better spot, since it is vacant. As at least the Brayton Lot is used, and generates revenue. Gruber likes the Brayton lot for the library.

Union Corners isn't even really downtown if I'm thinking of the right spot. Although the area definitely needs to get filled, I don't think it's a good spot for the public market in a city that is trying to establish a more expansive, diverse downtown.

Ideally, the near east side of downtown would have both the public library and the market. It just makes more sense putting the library closer to the Willy/Atwood/Central Park? neighborhoods than the student/professional neighborhoods of West Wash. Plus, as we all know, the east side of downtown needs serious, serious work and these two big projects could really serve as a huge catalyst in aiding all the other projects planned for the area.

Union Corners isn't even really downtown if I'm thinking of the right spot. Although the area definitely needs to get filled, I don't think it's a good spot for the public market in a city that is trying to establish a more expansive, diverse downtown.

Ideally, the near east side of downtown would have both the public library and the market. It just makes more sense putting the library closer to the Willy/Atwood/Central Park? neighborhoods than the student/professional neighborhoods of West Wash. Plus, as we all know, the east side of downtown needs serious, serious work and these two big projects could really serve as a huge catalyst in aiding all the other projects planned for the area.

You're right, Union Corners isn't downtown (corner of Milwaukee Street and E. Washington), and I agree that students aren't the target market, so the near east side is logical. Union Corners is too far to hoof it from the neighborhoods you bring up, but there's neighborhoods over there too. Probably more people in fact. Also I don't recall the Public Market being brought up as a tool to expand and diversify downtown. I do recall 300(market)+50(rural) jobs being brought up to make a major point. Economic Development was also brought up, which is obvious, but more beneficial to economic development to a giant vacant lot (Union Corners) than to an area saturated with state government (Brayton Lot).

Dane County leaders plan to withdraw their federal application for a commuter rail project because a local funding source has yet to materialize.

Dane County Board Chairman Scott McDonell said he will recommend resubmitting the application once the state gives local governments the ability to create regional transportation authorities, which could operate rail and bus systems and raise a sales tax to fund them.

In June, Dane County, Madison and state officials submitted an application with the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts program for a $255 million commuter rail system between Middleton and Sun Prairie that would cost $10 million a year to operate.

Last week, FTA officials indicated the Dane County project wouldn't make the cut of projects submitted this year, McDonell said. The federal agency, which rates projects in several areas, wanted more details in the governance and financing category.

Continued... (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/318765)



What caught my attention were the following lines:

"Rail planners consider withdrawing the application and resubmitting it in the future as a better option than having the application rejected outright."

And:

"David Trowbridge, the Dane County rail project manager, said the prospects for Dane County commuter rail are still strong, especially with President-elect Barack Obama planning to spend billions on transportation projects to bolster the economy. 'We're far more optimistic than we were even a couple months ago," Trowbridge said.'"

^^ well that sucks, quite unfortunate, backwards, etc...

http://www.forbes.com/leadership/2009/01/05/cities-jobs-employment-leadership-careers-cx_tw_0105cities.html

not sure if it applies anymore-also, milwaukee is no. 5!

I was out taking pictures downtown and I found some development going on:
This is a little infill project but it was surprising to me how much of this building you can see from the John Nolen Causeway.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3368/dscf0207yr6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/518/dscf0206xf9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Also there's a whole in the ground for the boutique Hotel being built across from Camp Randall so the demo is done there.

That building does help extend the dense look of the Lake Monona skyline further west. I hope the architectural finishes on the building match the rest of Lake Monona Skyline's beauty.

It was going to be 8 or 9 floors but got scaled back. It's on Madison.com somewhere.

edit: Nevermind. I guess it was something else that got scaled back.
http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/attachments/84fbf004-116f-4a0d-a8a7-7f88cac47795.pdf

Has anyone checked out the new building going up on Johnson just about a block from Grainger Hall? How is it shaping out?

I'm really digging the new Canyon and (main) campus entrance feel you get when University smashes into Johnson in front of the Engineering campus. With the new Union South and (best of all) the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, this look is only going to be enhanced! And to think the how ugly and rural the monstosities these buildings are replacing are...

Has anyone checked out the new building going up on Johnson just about a block from Grainger Hall? How is it shaping out?



A recent picture from WSJ:

http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/wsj/2009/01/10/97222.jpg

Looks like they have completed floor 11 of 14.

Thanks! Not looking too bad... I think it will add to the area. I like how they are making the base that dark color (and probably imposter material) that kind of matches the University buildings fronting nearby University Ave.

Here's a 3D video of the new Union South that will be going up in a few months. Overall, I really like the "prairie style" they are going with, but it will be interesting to see how it interacts with an urban environs, as Wright developed the architecture to flow with the flat prairie. Either way, this should be a vast improvement over the other union and hopefully will actually be taken seriously by students.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDrTmU4mYSA

The final details of the design are still being hammered out so I highly recommend you leave comments detailing what you think or what should be changed. The people in charge are taking all feedback seriously because they are REALLY trying to make this Union a success.

http://unionbuildingproject.wordpress.com/2008/09/15/exterior-elevations/#comments

Not exactly development news, but apparently MTV is having a show soon called "College Life" and the first run of episodes is at UW-Madison. Should be interesting to see how they portray us...

Interesting that they included the train in that rendering. More fuel for the fire to get passenger rail implemented in Madison.

Has anyone seen the cunstruction site to the west of Capital West? Someone told me that a tall hotel is going up there, but I haveen't heard anything else yet.

Interesting that they included the train in that rendering. More fuel for the fire to get passenger rail implemented in Madison.

Has anyone seen the cunstruction site to the west of Capital West? Someone told me that a tall hotel is going up there, but I haveen't heard anything else yet.

How far west? Is it just a block west on W. Wash? It could just be another part of the Capitol West plan.

As for the train, I really hope it gets done. The city really, really wants light rail, for whatever reason. Also for whatever reason, I'm all for it, because it would be awesome. It would allow for MUCH faster transportation between the different sides of campus, and would also let students get off campus, to shop at Hilldale or the mall, and so on. It would really better define the new "East Campus Mall" they are trying to make too, as its campus/downtown stop would essentially be right where that mall begins next to the Kohl Center. Not to mention I believe it would put that crappy, beat up looking railroad that runs parallel to University Ave. to good use.

Has anyone seen the cunstruction site to the west of Capital West? Someone told me that a tall hotel is going up there, but I haveen't heard anything else yet.

151-room Hyatt Place Hotel to open late 2009

https://secure.finishlinestudios.com/v3/clients/capitol_west_com/files/common/news/Buildings.pdf

Can't find a rendering of the hotel, but it should be pretty nice.

The footprint of that construction sight is extremely small and narrow. So even if they can fit 15 rooms per floor, it wil still need to be 10+ stories.

It's 11 stories.

I read an article on it. It is aiming to be a "cutting edge" hotel in a downtown hotel market that, according to analysts, is terrible. The Concourse/The Inn on the Park charge for internet, have crappy TVs, and an outdated look that apparently don't appeal well to the creative class that are often flown to Madison for job interviews. This new hotel has much, much more modern architecture, flan-panel HDTVs, and so on. It will only be a hotel because the owners want to encourage tenants to explore downtown over just saying in one building.

The article also talked about how the Aloft Hotel was a similarly modern hotel that was being designed very specifically for beautiful lake views.

I just found a picture of the hotel (in .pdf form). It's a shame that it won't be fronting W. Washington, but it looks like it will match the condos pretty well at least.

Doyle to announce role for Madison in Chicago Olympic bid
By By The Associated Press

Jan. 15, 2009 2:49 p.m. | Madison - Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle plans to make an announcement Friday related to Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

Doyle and Chicago 2016's operations chief say they will talk about collaborations involving the city of Madison and the surrounding area.

A spokeswoman for the Olympic bid effort says the press conference will show how the Madison area would be affected if Chicago won the bid. She declined to provide details.

There has been speculation that if the Olympics were to be in Chicago in 2016, southern Wisconsin could play a role by hosting events or housing athletes.

A decision on Chicago's bid comes in October. »Read Full Article

I just found a picture of the hotel (in .pdf form). It's a shame that it won't be fronting W. Washington, but it looks like it will match the condos pretty well at least.

Do you know where I can find this PDF?

^^I Concur-pic please

It took a lot of digging for me to find the PDF, and now I actually can't find the link anymore. I did save it though, so here is a snapshot I took:

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1022/picture1ux9.png

It looks like it could have a bit of that all-our-hotels-across-the-entire-country-look-exactly-like-this look, so I hope I'm wrong. It does seem to match the Capitol West development well...

Badger Bus depot might be demolished for redevelopment
DEAN MOSIMAN - WSJ

The owners of the Badger Bus depot Downtown want to demolish it for a major redevelopment of the property.


Jim Meier, an owner of Badger Bus, a family run business established in 1920, would replace the depot at 2 S. Bedford St. with three buildings that would include 12,500 square feet of retail space, 84 luxury apartments and parking for 110 cars, according to documents submitted to the city.


Badger Bus intends to continue inter-city service to Downtown, but instead of having a depot, stops would continue at UW-Madison's Memorial Union and at "on-demand" locations, the documents say.


New service also is planned to a transit hub at the university's new south campus union, the documents say.


It's unclear if Badger Bus intends to build another depot someplace else.

...

The three buildings in the project would range in height to three stories facing West Main Street to five stories facing West Washington Avenue, documents say. The parking would be underground or hidden.


"The streetscapes are activated by the first-floor commercial space and individual townhouse entries," the documents say.

Continued... (http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/433263)



http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/tct/2009/01/16/97691.jpg
(Photo from The Capital Times)

I'm not too familiar with the regional bus options around Madison, but my first reaction to this story was of fear; that downtown would no longer be served by a regional transit option.

I know araman0 also lives in Sun Prairie, so while only a suggestion, and by no means a break in news, I thought this was super interesting. This guy's got a great idea, but like the person who commented on the article, #10 is yuck.

Et Cetera: Dear Great Dane: Come to Sun Prairie -- please?
http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=2114

Yeah, really. I'm all for the smoking ban. I'm back in Oshkosh now and pisses me off having to take a shower and feel all that gross smoked caked in my hair every time I want to go out and do anything.

I've seen much of Sun Prairie. Is it Sprawlopolis?

Yeah, really. I'm all for the smoking ban. I'm back in Oshkosh now and pisses me off having to take a shower and feel all that gross smoked caked in my hair every time I want to go out and do anything.

I've seen much of Sun Prairie. Is it Sprawlopolis?

Yes and no. As one of the fastest growing cities in the state, Sun Prairie does have more than its fair share of sprawl. However, most of the recent sprawl has been in the form of TNDs (traditional neighborhood design) which puts a modern spin to old-school planning and design. In fact, Sun Prairie (and possibly Middleton) are the state leaders in this type of design.

TND's try to incorporate mixed use, mixed income, pedestrian friendly features (driveways and garages in the backs of houses, narrow streets) and plenty of community green/recreation space. Some Sun Prairie examples include Liberty Square (http://www.cityofsunprairie.com/docs/sub.php?department_id=13&category_id=644&sub_id=883), Providence (http://www.cityofsunprairie.com/docs/sub.php?sub_id=1258), Smiths Crossing (http://www.veridianhomes.com/neighborhood_detail.php?neighID=16), most of the new west side developments, and the newly redeveloped Downtown area (http://www.cannerysquare.com/). Most of these developments have taken place over farmland, but whether or not they are truly sprawl is up for debate. At the very least, they are a huge step forward for development in a growing area where new SFHs will always be in demand.


Et Cetera: Dear Great Dane: Come to Sun Prairie -- please?
http://www.sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=2114

I think it would be great to have a new neighbor here in downtown! Cannery Grill has (more than any other single place) put downtown Sun Prairie back on the map, and this place would definitely contribute. It is always exciting down here with new restaurants, stores (Copps!) and other changes happening. Add to that the different festivals that occur every other week and life is good.

However, I don't think the author of the article (or anyone else) should bank on a continued smoking environment in SP, as I believe the whole state will be under a smoking ban in a year. Also from a pure traffic standpoint, there is far more traffic on Madison's east side than in Sun Prairie. Add to that that an East side establishment would allow better access to folks in downtown and the south sides (as well as the Interstate). However, Great Dane could distinguish themselves from the rest by locating to downtown SP, and would definitely be appreciated by me!

Agreed. Though I never did like that term... "traditional". I also don't like "new urbanism". I wish we could come up with something more appropriate. Anyhow, Sun Prairie does indeed sport a LOT of these neighborhoods, but the prices in them are outrageous compared to the sprawly stuff. I chose the sprawly stuff.

Agreed. Though I never did like that term... "traditional". I also don't like "new urbanism". I wish we could come up with something more appropriate. Anyhow, Sun Prairie does indeed sport a LOT of these neighborhoods, but the prices in them are outrageous compared to the sprawly stuff. I chose the sprawly stuff.

The idea is that as these become more commonplace, prices will lower. :cool:

I like the idea of this planned sprawl. I don't mind sprawly architecture and building design, but I hate how it too often randomly cuts through farmland and leaves people with gigantic back and front yards that are empty of ANY trees except one or two saplings. I'm glad to hear that SP is not taking that route, as it is going to be a very sigificant Dane County city soon or later.

Anyone know if there has been any update on the light rail? The prospect of the SP-Middleton connection has me so excited.

I was just reading Madison's plan for the biking tournament during the Olympics. Apparently it would head through downtown then THROUGH THE EAST SIDE. What could they possibly be thinking? They want to make people think that Madison is an endless array of concrete, and check cashing + liquor stores???

Weak...

Apparently it would head through downtown then THROUGH THE EAST SIDE. What could they possibly be thinking? They want to make people think that Madison is an endless array of concrete, and check cashing + liquor stores???

Weak...

Thems fightin' words

Well, sorry. I actually don't know what the East Side is like outside of E. Washington and perhaps Atwood/Willy. But from what I've seen, it certainly isn't something you'd want to show off to the entire world.

I was wrong, apparently, though. It would make loops around the downtown area and then head west out of Madison and then another 25 miles to Blue Mounds.

FYI, it's not a "biking tournament", it's a "bike race". Also, where did you see that? My information has the road race starting in the Blue Mounds area, and ending in Madison, and the mountain bike race being held in the Blue Mounds area as well, all on new, undeveloped singletrack.

PS. I race. So this is near and dear to me.

Oh, you're right about the east side though, and the east side is also very near and dear to me. That's why I pray that when things start picking up again, they start by doing some stuff down E. Wash.

My late college days (like last year), I departed from what had been my usual bar (The Plaza) and starting hanging out at the bars near the Capitol. The entire area there really has an entirely different clientele than the State Street bars, but it is still all so sorely underdeveloped. I know a lot of people don't go downtown because it is student country, but since students are often too lazy to even walk to Frida's, I think the near east side could really be developed into the more distinct professional/grad student-oriented downtown that Madison is sorely missing. For a city of Madison's size and wealth, it is a very perplexing there aren't more downtown restaurants or retail stores aimed at that market. Even a few blocks down E. Wash, everything is so underdeveloped for its proximity to downtown.

If everything goes well and the entire economy doesn't collapse, it should be real neat watching this area grow and develop. Between Central Park, Light Rail, Midwest High Speed Rail, and just the natural development on what is probably undervalued land, the area could really develop into something special. Along with Regent Street , it is the top area set for a boom.

Edit: I just googled and found out the Central Park plan has been scaled down almost in half. That sucks. Perhaps we should just wait.

^^^^

this is evidenced by the vitality of willy street. being a young professional, i'm too old for the state st scene but to young for the tornado room. mickey's and the crystal are fun, but i miss big city bars/clubs from my detroit days. the madison retail/bar scene is missing a huge demographic that lives downtown but on the east side. that huge warehouse where the madison transit shop/storage is would be a great incubator for a large mixed use project. once central park comes online the ingersoll/baldwin area development would drive infill projects back to the square and out to union corners. too bad e wash doesn't have angled parking and a slower speed limit-cause it would encourage a pedestrian friendly corridor

I've always felt that downtown Madison was missing that "grown folks" feel that other cities' downtowns have an abundance of. I hardly ever see the college crowd make it down to the Capitol, so East Washington is a prime corridor for this type of development. The area around King Street is not too bad.

And oh yeah, E. Wash is more convinient to where I live too. :)

University of Wisconsin-Madison wants $450 million for construction projects
Deborah Ziff
dziff@madison.com

From roomier cattle stalls to a new hockey rink, UW-Madison is seeking the state's approval to build more than $450 million in projects.

About $150 million of the construction projects will require state funding. The others would be built with gifts or grants, or by borrowing the money and paying it back with fees from students.

The chances of the facilities being included in the next two-year state budget remains to be seen, especially with the state facing a projected $5.7 billion budget deficit.




http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/435814

I was looking at some pictures of that new Interdisciplinary Research Complex. It's' huge! And awesome! The whole hospital area is so gigantic that it is almost scary.

Has anyone heard of/read about Virent Energy? Apparently it is gathering headlines around the world, and Doyle (perhaps exaggerating) said it has the potential to be the next Microsoft or Google... right in our backyard.

It probably won't pan out... things never do for us Wisconsinites... but it still has me excited.

It was a nice weekend to walk around and take some pictures, as the temps approached 40 degrees on both days!

1. Apartment tower on Mills and Johnson. Looks like it still has 1 more floor to rise. Residents will move in during August.
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/MillsJohnson00.jpg
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/MillsJohnson01.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/MillsJohnson02.JPG

2. Hyatt Place on W. Washington:
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/HyattPlace00.png
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/HyattPlace01.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/HyattPlace02.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/HyattPlace03.JPG

3. Wisconsin Institute for Discovery near the west side of campus:
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/WisconsinInstituteforDiscovery00.jpg
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/WisconsinInstituteforDiscovery01.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/WisconsinInstituteforDiscovery02.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/WisconsinInstituteforDiscovery03.JPG

4. A "Euro Style" hotel on Regent and Monroe. I doubt it will be open by Sept. 2009 like the sign says. Regent Street also has a proposed 6 story apartment building at Park Street.
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/EuroStyleHotel01.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/EuroStyleHotel02.JPG

5. Apartment building on Bassett street; very visible along the John Nolen Dr skyline.
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/Bassett01.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/Bassett02.JPG

6. Another apartment building along Lake Mendota at Hamilton and Johnson. Downtown just keeps getting more dense :)
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/HamiltonJohnson01.JPG
http://www.arashakbar.com/images/cities/madison/HamiltonJohnson02.JPG

There are other projects under construction on further out, such as the never ending UW Hospital expansions (multiple 4-8 story midrises) and some hotels on the outskirts of Madison.

sweet pics... recession must be over huh?

me likey madtown

Awesome, awesome, awesome! Thanks a lot for the update.

Madison's development is nothing short of amazing. I really like how instead of going for one GIANT building (with the exception of U Square), they are just going with many smaller, lower-rise buildings and creating what no doubt what is one of the densest cities of ~250,000 around. It really seems like almost all of the ugly areas, parking lots, underused land, and so on has been getting developed all within a matter of the past few years! Soon surface parking lots here are going to be extinct. I would just really like to see more retail. That old Casa Bianca lot would be a real good site for a retail complex like a grocery store, but all it is doing now is sprouting up weeds.

Madison development, as you can probably tell, is one of my few (and probably mildly autistic) passions. But really, its hard not to be enthusiastic about it. UW-Madison really has one of the best college campuses in the world, and with the Chazen Expansion, the addition of the East Campus Mall, and many other projects, it is only getting better.

The Wisconsin Institute for Discovery is shaping up to be amazing, too. I really hope they engrave something like "The University of Wisconsin" on the top, with a big W emblem beneath it, since the building is an unofficial entrance to the campus for all the Johnson traffic. And to think, just across from that in two years is going to be a brand new Union South, knocking out two of the ugliest buildings on campus.

As for the hospital area, construction is indeed ridiculous.

The Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research (Tower 1 of 3 just finished):

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_nTuFiPXf9Js/SUgyGL8DWRI/AAAAAAAAAGY/IJq85RKsh_g/s640/100_6081.jpg

A bit further closer to engineering, the Biochemistry Addition is just starting:

http://www.flad.com/images/uwbiochem2_dusk_popup.jpg

http://www.flad.com/images/uwbiochem2_tree_popup.jpg

http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/tct/2009/01/16/97691.jpg
(Photo from The Capital Times)

I'm not too familiar with the regional bus options around Madison, but my first reaction to this story was of fear; that downtown would no longer be served by a regional transit option.

I read an article where the guy who owns the site was talking about it. Basically, he just said that dedicated bus stations are on their way out across the country. Instead, buses are now just picking people up at dedicated locations - whether it is local bus stations, grocery stores, or so on. Union South and Memorial Union are both better pickup locations downtown, anyway.

Plus, he wants to develop the current bus station site into yet another several-story apartment complex with some ground-level retail. Seems like a pretty good location to me.

I read an article where the guy who owns the site was talking about it. Basically, he just said that dedicated bus stations are on their way out across the country. Instead, buses are now just picking people up at dedicated locations - whether it is local bus stations, grocery stores, or so on. Union South and Memorial Union are both better pickup locations downtown, anyway.


Interesting... Does that mean a bus heading into Madison would make multiple stops around town? I can see that as being both a good thing and a bad thing. The good part is that a rider is more likely to be dropped within walking distance of his desired location. The bad side is that it extends the length of the ride, especially if you are the first to board the bus or the last to get off.

Either way, more retail and residential is always good for downtown!

Thanks for that update araman0!

I was just looking at some pictures of the planned Union South. I personally think the design is actually horrible. It looks no less dark and uninviting in many regards than the current one. Almost all of the windows look out into roofs:

http://unionbuildingproject.wordpress.com/

What do you think?

I think I will wait to pass judgement for now. The design looks like it could be an improvement although I did like the openness inside the old one. I hope they kept the bowling alley in the new plans. That building on the corner that the union looks out to as you look towards Camp Randall is the one that needs to be changed (IMO) but that is not part of the plans.

Thank you for the update photos, arman0. Please continue to share your photos with us. Ditto on Madison becoming so impressively dense in recent years. And I can't stand the new Union South design--way too much concrete. It needs to be glassy and airy.

Thanks everyone for the positive comments. Urban development is my greatest passion, and like Badgers77 mentioned, maybe even an unhealthy obsession. If everyone enjoys these types of updates, I certainly don't mind doing them more often. :)

Thank you for the update photos, arman0. Please continue to share your photos with us. Ditto on Madison becoming so impressively dense in recent years. And I can't stand the new Union South design--way too much concrete. It needs to be glassy and airy.

Exactly my thoughts. I wrote them an e-mail about it, but they never responded. This is just a bunch of undergrads and a few grad kids telling an architect what they want or what would be cool, basically. They are basically just assuming Madison will get light rail in the near future, too. They decided they want to design it after FLR's "Prairie School," but they don't realize that Prairie School was designed to interact with the flatness of a prairie, as well as provide shade for the intense summers. Well Madison is no prairie, and now we have air conditioning, so pretty much all of this building becomes an absolute eyesore that won't work well at all with its location. This design committee is an absolute crock.

Just looking at it offhand, there aren't enough windows. The ones that there are just look out onto the roof, there are a bunch of pointless balconies that only provide shade where there shouldn't be any and will also NEVER BE USED. All of the overhangs are hideous and make it just as dark and uninviting as the current Union South, not to mention an attractive place for a campus rapist. I am actually really, really disappointed, and almost mad, because they could have done something cool. This one will be a giant mistake! :ohno:

Luckily, that material are actually stone and wood, so at least it won't be just another concrete mausoleum on campus.

I graduated from UW-Madison in 2000. So much new construction has gone on there that I can barely recognize parts of the campus.

I've always felt that downtown Madison was missing that "grown folks" feel that other cities' downtowns have an abundance of.

I think it's weird that when I'm headed home to visit friends they're still going to their college hangouts. Sorta feels like a college kid crashing a high school party, I always feel a little out of place.

Madison is such a young-professional saturated town, that's the odd part. There's places to go, but I don't understood why a yp dominated neighborhood (separated from the college scene) ever developed.

Anyone?

I think it's weird that when I'm headed home to visit friends they're still going to their college hangouts. Sorta feels like a college kid crashing a high school party, I always feel a little out of place.

Madison is such a young-professional saturated town, that's the odd part. There's places to go, but I don't understood why a yp dominated neighborhood (separated from the college scene) ever developed.

Anyone?

There certainly are some. The Willy and Atwood neighborhoods are low on commercial development, but relatively devoid of any college students at this point. Monroe Street has some students, but whenever I go to places I often see the 30's to 40's crowd more.

But Madison IMO is in desperate need of that identity separate from the college/students. Obviously, it is a big enough city to have a separate area downtown for adults. Madison is still growing like mad, so hopefully these areas develop over the next decade or so. Madison is an amazing, one-of-a-kind city, but it still could get so much better.

I wish the UW had it's own thread.

^^ But the biggest reason for Madison's success is the fact that the city works so beautifully along with UW. In fact, all the developments I posted earlier are non-UW developments that cater to UW in some form or another.

An example of a city that barely acknowledges the Big 10 University next door is Lafayette, IN. Lafayette could have developed along with Purdue so well, but instead it is a city of dying industry. (Unlike West Lafayette across the Wabash river).

I graduated from UW-Madison in 2000. So much new construction has gone on there that I can barely recognize parts of the campus.

Same here. I was there from 1996-2002. I've only been back twice since I left. I absolutely cannot wait to visit this summer for a few days and just explore. I plan on reprising my old walk from Mansion Hill to Picnic Point.

I'm thrilled that Madison is what it is because of the University, but Madison still needs an identity other than "college town". Until that happens, it will always be a "town" and not a "city".

^^ I have to ask, and this may sound snarky but it isn't meant to be in any way, but why should anyone care? So what if people see it as a "town" and not a "city." None of that changes what Madison actually is.

but Madison still needs an identity other than "college town".

Oh but we're already famous for so much more!

http://www.97kyck.com/index/images/weiner%20mobile%20hits%20snow.jpg

Seriously though, I do understand where you're coming from. Madison is also a big Insurance city, as well as the state capitol. We've got much more to build on than just UW.

Madison is a lot more than UW. Unfortunately, at the moment, downtown really isn't except for a few streets around the capitol. Hopefully this will change when the economy picks back up. Lucky for us, Madison is legit, and a legit, fun city with its own personality and feel. Any such city will attract the best and brightest, even if it is in Wisconsin. All we have to do is be patient.

^^ I have to ask, and this may sound snarky but it isn't meant to be in any way, but why should anyone care? So what if people see it as a "town" and not a "city." None of that changes what Madison actually is.

It's not about what people say or think, it's about how I feel. I guess I just want more identity outside of the UW.

I don't think everyone (or anyone?) here can say they've been here their whole life like me, and I think that's how it eventually grows on you.

Seriously though, I do understand where you're coming from. Madison is also a big Insurance city, as well as the state capitol. We've got much more to build on than just UW.

It used to be a shoe town too (Famous Footwear). :lol:

I don't know what to expect with Madison's development, really.

It is still definitely a "government/university" town, by and large, but that is definitely changing more and more it seems every year. Biotech and medical science/technology really seem to be at the front of this development. I'm a bit disappointed at how they still all seem to be connected to UW and WARF, though. I'd really like to see some of the medical firms become big, solid employers that could go public and contribute to the state through increased business presence and best of all, a better business reputation and culture.

Sadly, I think the only realistic end is that all of the big companies (Like Epic, which is worth an estimated $1.2B and employs over 3,2500 people now) that grow or locate here will move to the suburbs, and, if we are lucky, the east side/east rail corridor will cater to smaller businesses that are not in need of a lot of space. Which would be great, because the east rail corridor is DEAD now, but still, having those 3,2500 working and in most cases living downtown would have been amazing. In this case, Madison's ULTRA strictness when it comes to ANY development really hurt them BAD. Hopefully, at least, we can continue to develop downtown Madison into a one-of-a-kind culture and entertainment hub for all of Wisconsin, Dane County, and even more to enjoy. I am very optimistic about the future.

I lived here almost all my life but until recently had not experienced the downtown outside of the university and it gave me a new appreciation of what Madison is but with that said it will be tough the city to seperate itself from the university and industries related to university research. I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

With that said, it would be nice to let the uniqueness that is Madison show itself beyond a college town.

The university and the government does allow Madison to be somewhat recession proof or at least not hurt as badly which is good in times like this.

and a battery town (spectrum brands) although that is looking shaky. Don't forgot Oscar Mayer.

I've been reading up on Epic Systems and it is insanely disappointing that they did not relocate downtown. They record 30,000 departures a year from Dane County Airport, and on any given night 100 hotel rooms in Madison are being occupied by people related to the company.

Why would you need to bus them all out to farmland? Why not build the HQ downtown near the E Rail Corridor? Or at least not all the way in Verona. Ugh... what could have been.

I've been reading up on Epic Systems and it is insanely disappointing that they did not relocate downtown. They record 30,000 departures a year from Dane County Airport, and on any given night 100 hotel rooms in Madison are being occupied by people related to the company.

Why would you need to bus them all out to farmland? Why not build the HQ downtown near the E Rail Corridor? Or at least not all the way in Verona. Ugh... what could have been.

A big corporate headquarters on the near east side would be epic (pun intended). AmFam built out in middle of nowhere at the time too, and I don't recall them catching too much hell for it though, because the address is still "Madison". Now it's kind of in the mix of things, but it still speaks to that standard that's been created. Alliant as well for that matter (their right next to AmFam - used to be downtown). Both are closer to major transportation though (which I don't understand about far west side/Verona/Fitchburg/Middleton development - but I think we've been over that). The next big company to expand needs to be given some serious incentives to build on the near east side, like at Union Corners. Who might that be?

I lived here almost all my life but until recently had not experienced the downtown outside of the university and it gave me a new appreciation of what Madison is but with that said it will be tough the city to seperate itself from the university and industries related to university research. I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

With that said, it would be nice to let the uniqueness that is Madison show itself beyond a college town.

The university and the government does allow Madison to be somewhat recession proof or at least not hurt as badly which is good in times like this.

and a battery town (spectrum brands) although that is looking shaky. Don't forgot Oscar Mayer.

Insurance was that direction, but AmFam, Cuna, and WPS have all had layoffs in this mess. Maybe less than they would if they were elsewhere, I don't know. General Casualty (or whatever the hell it's called now) hasn't had any as far as I'm aware, but has been entrenched as a non-Madison entity for years... they are very Sun Prairie. I wonder if most people in Madison have any clue GC is even in Sun Prairie.

When most Milwaukeeans refer to "Madison" they're referring to either the University or State Capitol. As in, "my nephew applied to Madison, hope he gets in," or, "when are those bureaucrats in Madison ever going to see the light?"

I myself really had no concept of Madison as a "city" until after I graduated from UW and lived there for a year after graduating.

The fact is, Madison's image to the outside world is inextricably linked to the University of Wisconsin. And why wouldn't it be? It's one of the greatest public universities in the world. Madison, the town, is half the size of Omaha. It's simply not going to have that much renown without the University.

A big corporate headquarters on the near east side would be epic (pun intended). AmFam built out in middle of nowhere at the time too, and I don't recall them catching too much hell for it though, because the address is still "Madison". Now it's kind of in the mix of things, but it still speaks to that standard that's been created. Alliant as well for that matter (their right next to AmFam - used to be downtown). Both are closer to major transportation though (which I don't understand about far west side/Verona/Fitchburg/Middleton development - but I think we've been over that). The next big company to expand needs to be given some serious incentives to build on the near east side, like at Union Corners. Who might that be?

Union Corners would be a great spot for a major business development. Before that, though, places like Don Miller need to go. If the area closer to the capitol gets infill, the areas further away will naturally follow. We had the opportunity years ago for a big retail/residential development to fill several blocks, but the city is extremely tightfisted when it comes to handing out TIF funds.

With that said, so long as the economy is healthy, this area is bound to develop eventually. I think there are some places here that would be great fit for the 450+ hotel room that Madison supposedly needs.

As for the next big company, according to Jim Doyle, it could be: http://www.virent.com/.

When most Milwaukeeans refer to "Madison" they're referring to either the University or State Capitol. As in, "my nephew applied to Madison, hope he gets in," or, "when are those bureaucrats in Madison ever going to see the light?"

I myself really had no concept of Madison as a "city" until after I graduated from UW and lived there for a year after graduating.

The fact is, Madison's image to the outside world is inextricably linked to the University of Wisconsin. And why wouldn't it be? It's one of the greatest public universities in the world. Madison, the town, is half the size of Omaha. It's simply not going to have that much renown without the University.

It's a little bit bigger than half the size of Omaha, in more ways than one, but your point is getting through. I agree. I think it would be neat to be known for more though. What (if anything) do people know about Madison outside the UW and that's it's the state's capital?

Insurance was that direction, but AmFam, Cuna, and WPS have all had layoffs in this mess. Maybe less than they would if they were elsewhere, I don't know. General Casualty (or whatever the hell it's called now) hasn't had any as far as I'm aware, but has been entrenched as a non-Madison entity for years... they are very Sun Prairie. I wonder if most people in Madison have any clue GC is even in Sun Prairie.

I work at GC so I will chime in.

While no longer a "Madison entity", our new owner (QBE) has decided to make our facility the center of their growing US operations. Despite the economy, we are adding headcount in Madison (mostly by consolidating from all other American locations) and are in better economic shape than others in the industry. (AmFam, etc).

The insurance industry seems to have been effected more by the recent natural disasters, and less by our economic downturn. Of course I suppose that depends on what area of insurance each company specializes in. Either way I anticipate Madison's insurance companies to make a good comeback in the future.

It's a little bit bigger than half the size of Omaha, in more ways than one, but your point is getting through. I agree. I think it would be neat to be known for more though. What (if anything) do people know about Madison outside the UW and that's it's the state's capital?

UW-Madison will always be known far and away for its university. There is absolutely nothing you can do to escape that, so you just have to concentrate on making it a cool city so people who actually visit realize its a lot more.

Look at Austin. They are pushing 800,000 now and have been one of the fastest growing cities in the US the past two decades. They even have a giant company in Dell, numerous regional offices for giant corporations, and they are still considered a "college town," dominated by the UT.

It's a little bit bigger than half the size of Omaha, in more ways than one, but your point is getting through. I agree. I think it would be neat to be known for more though. What (if anything) do people know about Madison outside the UW and that's it's the state's capital?

Here's something that I've always thought of when I see this question. Can anyone think of anything Columbus, OH is known for other than the Univerity and capital? And metro Columbus has upwards of 2 million people. This demonstrates how hard it can be for even a bigger city to escape that image.

My MBA classmates at Marquette seem to be familiar with Madison's presence in the insuance industry though.

Speaking of the east side, if any of you are interested, there is an updated plan for the Central Park as of last month:

http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/CentralPark/PPT-01-07-09.pdf

Looking pretty good to me! Not sure if it needs a skate park, though...

It also looks like Madison is taking a variety of different attempts at being able to say "Look what we built! Now we HAVE to build light rail." Disappointing they won't be able to move the tracks, though; perhaps at a later date.

Jason: I think it would be neat to be known for more though. What (if anything) do people know about Madison outside the UW and that's it's the state's capital?

As an outside of Wisconsin person, I think of Madison as home of the Univ. of Wisconsin first (with about 75% of the focus being on that), secondly that it is the state capitol (probably 23% of my thoughts are related to that), and lastly - a very small part of the image is that it is a regular, business city.

The reason is that - most of the time when Madison makes any kind of national impression it is when UW is on tv for football or basketball. Every once in a while government news from Wisconsin gets some national attention and then Madison gets mentioned as well (some times). Business news about Madison (that gets national or regional attention) doesn't happen very often. I have heard about some of the new bio-research going on - but that usually gets connected in my mind more with UW than with the city of Madison.

UW-Madison dominates the city from a news standpoint. If you actually go to the city and its neighborhoods, though, it actually isn't even close to all the city. There are all sorts of pockets and different things going on, but they aren't really big enough to make the news or be known by people outside of Madison.

That central park looks pretty good. I wonder if they need all those stage things but all of the features look to make this park a beautiful and great addition to the near east side. Those wind turbine things are pretty cool.

McKee Farms Park in Fitchburg has one of those turbines run by MG and E.

I'm impressed too, but also am not excited about the insisted inclusion of a skate park. Do kids still skateboard? Isn't it passé yet?

I had a great vision of some music festival taking place at this park, but then realized how little to no parking (street parking only) will alienate hundreds of thousands of potential patrons. Maybe that's the point.

I'm sure a parking ramp would be built somewhere near the park. God knows, it would be better use of and than just about anything else in the E Rail Corridor. The skate park needs to go, though. I never even see that many kids skateboarding anymore, and plus, this park isn't for them. If they want to go to a skate park they have other options. Madison's "Central" Park shouldn't be one of them.

The setup and parking ramps at some of the Metra stations I've been to are money. I'd love to see something like that. With the park right next door to the station... great setup with tons of potential.

Regarding parking, it would sure be nice for people to arrive at the park the same way they would Central Park in NYC or Millennium Park in Chicago - by walking or public transportation. (Maybe even include the park as a destination for the horse carriage rides downtown?) The mass transit option would become far more intuitive to most when the light rail service begins. However, while I am not opposed to a parking garage being built (for concerts, etc), how likely an option is this? Parking garages can add millions to the cost of the park, which is already under scrutiny by many. And they would most likely only be used for the handful of concerts that would occur here every year.

Wouldn’t it be nice to shoot the 4th of July fireworks show from here instead of the north side? That way people can view the show from both lakes, with the Capitol as a backdrop for the folks in Lake Monona.

Speaking of Madison's rail proposal, check out this extremely biased Sun Prairie Star article on the "amusement ride train".

http://sunprairiestar.com/main.asp?SectionID=34&SubSectionID=62&ArticleID=2238

Absolutely embarrassing.

^^^^^^^^^^
The fact that Ms Mistele thinks Dane County has traffic problems confirms that shes never been in a city larger than Madison. How ignorant. Also, who actually believes that mass transit produces more pollution than the amount of automobiles allocated to move the same number of people.:bash:

So despicable this woman is, that this post is an utter waste.

Regarding parking, it would sure be nice for people to arrive at the park the same way they would Central Park in NYC or Millennium Park in Chicago - by walking or public transportation. (Maybe even include the park as a destination for the horse carriage rides downtown?) The mass transit option would become far more intuitive to most when the light rail service begins. However, while I am not opposed to a parking garage being built (for concerts, etc), how likely an option is this? Parking garages can add millions to the cost of the park, which is already under scrutiny by many. And they would most likely only be used for the handful of concerts that would occur here every year.

Wouldn’t it be nice to shoot the 4th of July fireworks show from here instead of the north side? That way people can view the show from both lakes, with the Capitol as a backdrop for the folks in Lake Monona.

That would be beautiful. It wouldn't quite be the backdrop, though. More like the sidedrop.

It would be nice not to having a parking garages and just have to walk, but parking downtown is already a bigger enough problem as is. If the east side develops in the matter we've been talking about, then there will definitely need to be more parking garages.

impressive

Metro Transit ridership hits 30-year high; some fear effect of fare increase
By DEAN MOSIMAN
608-252-6141
dmosiman@madison.com

Metro Transit is reporting a 30-year peak in bus ridership, but some fear a looming fare increase might undermine that trend.

Metro saw a 6 percent increase to 13,433,149 riders in 2008 — the second highest increase ever — and revenues rose $500,000 to $9.5 million, Metro officials said. The 761,000-rider increase is due mainly to the growing popularity of an unlimited ride pass program involving the city, local colleges and hospitals, and the combination of spiraling gas prices early last year and the bad economy later in 2008, officials said.


the rest of the article here: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/438113

I was in Madison today for the Badger game and drove around a bit and got to see some of the development for the first time in months.

Wisconsin Institute for Discovery is going to be absolutely awesome, awesome infill. Also, I'm really feeling West Wash area's resurgence. Capitol West looks awesome. Having the new public library in this area would be amazing. And maybe its just because I've been in Oshkosh for nearly 8 months, but the Overture Center actually looked very beautiful lit up at night. I just wish the the block after it wasn't completely dead with no retail; maybe the demolished old library can be turned into something cool.

Anyone know what the big hole in the ground is for on University Ave (near the entrance to the hospital area)? It's across the street from Tex Tubbs. Also, is Hotel Indigo dead now too? I drove behind Hilldale and didn't see anything going on.

West Washington definitely has a new "urban canyon" feel, especially with the completion of the hotel next year. I wish there were more retail along the street though. If the space in Metropolitan Space fills in with a grocery store, it would add some much needed foot traffic to the area.

Not sure what the hole along University Ave if for, but the hotel at Hilldale is on hold for now. The developer still plans on building it at some point though.

I was on the Planning Commission's website looking for what that University Ave development was, and I found this apparently active project on W. Washington. GREAT infill, even if the design is a bit bland. And it delivers some ground level retail. If the apartment complex on the Bus Depot site goes though, this area will be getting a lot livelier.

Current lot:

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6343/picture1lx0.png

Being replaced with (hopefully):

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3398/picture2tp7.png

I'm not sure exactly why it pulls so far away from the building further west, but I assume that that building probably owns the land or something. Either way, looks nice, and fits what has been built around the area. Hopefully this area will continue to get some retail, and not always tucked in some awkwardly-shaped corner of an apartment building.

Anyone know what the big hole in the ground is for on University Ave (near the entrance to the hospital area)?

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2008/12/13/0812130092.php:
Construction has begun on a 74,600-square-foot office building at 800 University Bay Drive in Shorewood Hills.
The $15-million, four-story building, being built by Krupp General Contractors of Madison and designed by Potter Lawson architects, is registered for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
With initial occupancy expected in December 2009, the project will feature a high-efficiency heating and cooling system, sunshades, a water collection system, a green roof, a rain garden and native landscaping.
About 81 percent of the office space is leased and major tenants include University Hospital and Clinics Authority, Christensen Associates and Flad Affiliated Corp.

http://www.shorewood-hills.org/committees/plan_commission/800_ubd/perspective1.pdf:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/800ubaydr.jpg

Not a bad looking building. Not great, not bad.

Adds some density to what is currently a very depressing stretch of University Ave.

Came across another indoor rending of the inside of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery (Phase 1, at least):

http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/wsj/2008/10/31/90005.jpg

What a beautiful building! I wonder what will happen to the plants and grass during the winter, though.

What a beautiful building! I wonder what will happen to the plants and grass during the winter, though.

If the plants and grass are inside, they should do just fine in the winter, right? How cool would it be to have an indoor "park" to walk around in while at work?

I found this apparently active project on W. Washington. GREAT infill, even if the design is a bit bland.

I remember reading a while back that the doctor/dentist in the current 1 story building will go into the retail the new building provides. W Washington is really going to be impressive if it isn't already!

^^ As a matter of fact, here's the building in today's paper:

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/438696

I remember that proposal a few years back. Nine stories is probably a bit too high for that location, although the density is continually being extended further away from downtown and in five or six years we could be wishing we had a nice tall building there. Either way, this building should fit nicely with the bus depot renovation (if that happens).

More West Wash news (Kind of). I would prefer that they not build a huge student complex on this corner, really. With the Metropolitan Place I/II, Capitol West, and other projects, W. Wash is turning into a cool area that is at least mostly "apart from the students."
California real estate group buys seven downtown properties

Mike Ivey — 2/17/2009 3:48 pm

A San Diego real estate group has purchased seven properties in downtown Madison from local landlord Harold Langhammer, with eyes on redeveloping the busy corner of West Washington Avenue and Broom Street.

Cardinal Group Investments, LLC announced Tuesday it acquired the seven properties totaling 78 bedrooms for $4.5 million.

The purchase includes the historic 25-room Zeta Beta Tau fraternity building at 233 Langdon St., along with six stand-alone buildings across Broom Street from the Metropolitan Place condominiums. Those addresses are 404, 408 and 410 W. Washington Ave., and 8, 10 and 14 N. Broom St.

The project was privately financed, with $2.9 million in borrowing provided by DMB Community Bank of DeForest.

It's the first entry into the Madison market for the Cardinal Group, which also owns housing in Oxford, Ohio, on the Miami University campus and in Denver, Colo. The rest of its holdings are in California.

"We love Madison," said Jason Luker of the Cardinal Group in a telephone interview. "From a macro perspective, it was one of the most resilient (metro areas) in the country as far as job growth. Having a big research university and the seat of government there is also very attractive for long-term fundamentals."

Luker, who visited Madison prior to the closing, also talked about the "intangibles of quality of life" in the city.

"It just seems to attract a lot of smart young people, which is generally a recipe for economic growth as those people like to start companies and solve problems," he said.

Langhammer, who could not be reached for comment, has long been active in the local real estate community both as a landlord and as a historic preservationist.

Luker said his firm initially plans some "modest physical improvements" to the properties at West Wash and Broom, but a major student housing project could be proposed there in the next two years.

"We're definitely looking at some kind of redevelopment," he said.

Luker added that Madison is one market that still provides opportunities for new housing in walkable neighborhoods.

"Plus we feel like a lot of institutional investors just sort of write off the Midwest, so we're more competitive than we would be in markets that are more picked over by the big boys," he said.

A Madison native, Langhammer has long been involved in interesting projects.

In 1999, he moved the historic "King House" from just off State Street to 212 W. Gorham St. It had been slated for demolition.

In 2002, Langhammer moved an older home from West Wilson Street to a new location on East Lakeside Street on Lake Monona next to Olin Park. The home, which had served as law offices for State Sen. Fred Risser, was to be razed to make room for the new Dane County jail.

In 2005, he purchased the old Vilas Park carousel, which had been dismantled and was in pieces at Franklin Field in a warehouse and beneath Breese Stevens Field.

In 2007, Langhammer purchased the 233 Langdon St. property for $795,000 according to city real estate records. Later that year, the city approved his plan to convert the former fraternity house into a 25-unit rooming house.

In other news, part of Doyle's budget allows for a referendum for Madison-area commuter rail. I remember someone posted the possible paths the train would take before. If this gets built, it *needs* go to to the airport. Having public transport, especially rail, and not connecting it to the frickin airport would be almost unheard of and a complete joke.

Well any rail that would be completed would be done first on the east side so taking to the airport would not be hard.

The NIMBY's will fight harder on the west side and all the railroad routes have been paved into bike trails on the West Side.

I would think should this move through over the next 10 years it would be sun prairie to downtown and maybe a route connecting that route to the airport.

I believe the corridor will use 100% existing track, so you should be able to trace exactly where it will go. The closest it gets to the airport appears to be a couple miles south as it crosses 51 near Lexington Ave. Unfortunately on the East side it does not appear to serve any major area until it reaches the Isthmus, except for the south side of East Towne Mall. On the West side it serves all the major areas such as campus, UW Hospital, Hilldale, downtown Middleton, and the Greenway Station office area.

Falk wants to build light rail just to have light rail. We need to actually have a light rail system that makes sense. I doubt that enough people will be going to or from Sun Prairie to justify that (longest) stretch of the track.

As much as I want LR, I've lived in Madison, and never once have I thought the traffic was all that bad. Maybe its just cause I've stayed off the beltline, but stil.

^^ Its not just about "bad traffic," its about providing alternatives rather than basically forcing people to drive. Its about providing transportation to those who dont want to drive, can't afford an auotmobile, those who can't drive. A transit system in a city that consists of trains and buses work together, and is attractive to businesses, commuters, tourism, etc.

You don't think residents in Sun Prairie would want to take the train from Sun Prairie to not only work but to the malls in Madison? not to mention all other places that would be near stations in Madison?

I would take it from Sun Prairie occasionally. Just for night out type stuff. I think my wife would be more inclined to take it everyday to work. I could see it getting a huge boost on football Saturdays.

In any case, if it gets built, they better extend it to the airport within a few years. Half the reason many cities have built light rail is to efficiently move visitors from the airport to the downtown. Not to mention I think it would look great for trying to attract the increasing number of businesspeople and/or prospective employees that are flown into Madison, as well as serve the people of Madison as a whole who would rather take a train than have to park a car for a week or get a friend to drop them off.

Otherwise, that entire E. Wash stretch of track is pretty much solely for Sun Prairie, which IMO, is unacceptable.

Otherwise, that entire E. Wash stretch of track is pretty much solely for Sun Prairie, which IMO, is unacceptable.

While I agree that the current alignment of the east side track largely helps Sun Prairie, it can also help folks using the park-and-ride lot on that side of the city. I would even suspect that most people who take the train in from the East will drive from (wherever) to that park and ride lot, and use the train for the ~10 minute ride downtown.

Never the less, I agree that the train should also support the airport. Luckily, a 2 mile branch can be built off the planned route at some point in the future to the airport, once the first phase proves to be successful.

Great article. Really comforting to know that while we are thinking "Man, the E. Rail Corridor is the area of the future," so is basically every developer both in and outside of Madison. It is only time before the area takes off, really. There's no room left on the west side.

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=25162

As he says, "Any downturn is only temporary. Madison is a magnet." I can't wait to see what it becomes.

Most of you aren't that interested in the campus, but here is a rendering of the renovation of the back of the Education Building. Looks very nice, I think --- I always felt like this area going up towards Observatory Drive was poorly used (parking lots).

http://badgerherald.com/resources/scripts/t/t.php/q=85;650x1000;/news/2009/02/20/render.jpg

The building looks OK I guess (not sure what is there now) but I really like the park area in the foreground. It is small areas like this that make the Madison campus unique.

The article you posted above was also very interesting. I can't believe how many buildings were under construction in that 2005 map they included.

The building looks OK I guess (not sure what is there now) but I really like the park area in the foreground. It is small areas like this that make the Madison campus unique.

The article you posted above was also very interesting. I can't believe how many buildings were under construction in that 2005 map they included.

I agree. Instead of having a giant amount of large open spaces which are essentially just golf course lawns like many campuses (Illinois, MSU, Minnesota, etc), the campus here seems to have a bunch of much smaller and more intimate areas, especially on this end of campus. I'm guessing the building will look better than its rendering, though, and the rooftop garden overlooking the city and lake should be real nice.

I finally came across some decent renderings of the new WID. I wonder if Phase 2 was totally scrapped?

Heres a better rendering of the Hyatt Place hotel going up on W. Wash

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/HyattArch_400.jpg

Not bad at all. Going to be a nice looking addition to downtown.

Not that any but me probably cares, but MTV's "College Life" (taking place in Madison) starts its hopefully successful run on March 2.

Lets hope these kids represent us well!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB5U_xBuOq8

Heres a better rendering of the Hyatt Place hotel going up on W. Wash

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/HyattArch_400.jpg

That building has a great looking front! Further west (Washington and Regent), this building will help cover up some of the ugly windowless backs of the older brick buildings closer to the Square.

What do you guys think of the parking garage/government lot on Pickney next to The Great Dane for the location of the proposed public market? I've been hearing that attention is shifting there, and I can't think of a spot I'd rather have it.

What do you guys think of the parking garage/government lot on Pickney next to The Great Dane for the location of the proposed public market? I've been hearing that attention is shifting there, and I can't think of a spot I'd rather have it.

Only if you can incorporate a lot of parking with it (at least as much as it has now), and utilize the undeveloped blue stuff above it.

Only if you can incorporate a lot of parking with it (at least as much as it has now), and utilize the undeveloped blue stuff above it.

This location also has somewhat of an energy off Lake Monona... something that I think is important and definitely lacking on E. Wash. Not to mention it is located a very short walk from most of the city's Condos and Hotels.

But yeah, it would have to be at least a 5 or 6 story building. Considering that the lot next to it will almost definitely become a hotel that uses every inch of height that it is allowed to (hopefully with better architecture and better streetcaping than the Hilton), anything shorter would be a waste. And hopefully it doesn't follow this nationwide trend of everyone copying Seattle's Pike Place Market.

Come to think of it, the old Public Library site may not be such a bad location for a new public market, either. The west side of downtown needs to find some way to escape its "One block off state street = death" problem.

Weird coincidence... right after I had read an Alderman's old piece on the Public Market being located on the lot there on Pickney, talks have heated up very seriously up on a supposed ~320 room hotel that will be on the Municipal Building lot. Sounds very interesting...

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/444201

I just hope the Public Market, is, in fact, part of the development across Pickney... instead of it being solely an office building. A ground-level Public Market with 4 floors above it would be awesome and would change the face of downtown Madison. I like the alderman's idea - create this section of Pickney into a second state street and line it with ground-level restaurants and stores.

Either way; finally something new to be excited about... and probably the biggest non-campus development in many, many years.

^^ That is fantastic news. This will densify 2 blocks nearby the terrace that are currently underutilized (Currently an ancient 4 story garage, and a parking lot). The only downside is that construction wouldn't start for another 18 - 24 months.

What do you folks think of the city subsidizing this project through TIF? Normally I would have no problems with this, but we all know that a hotel here would be profitable without any assistance given its location, and it does put other nearby hotels at a disadvantage. However, if the hotel allows the Terrace to have an additional 117 conventions per year, I imagine that would also help other nearby hotels. Without a doubt, this would be a positive development for the city.

Non-residential construction apparently is ready to bust out in metropolitan Madison.

Construction research firm McGraw-Hill Construction said on Monday that February contracts for non-residential construction in the three-county metro area shot up 642 percent over February of 2008, with contracts totaling $134.9 million this year compared to $21.4 million last year.

Continued... (http://www.madison.com/tct/business/444131)



More great news; I suspect sharp jumps like this are a result of a couple bigger projects rather than many smaller ones. I wonder what they could be?

Very good news... but disappointing that it doesn't give examples. I'd assume it is the campus mega-projects that are greatly inflating that number... like the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, Union South, the Biochem addition, and the new Chazen expansion, three of which have budgets near or exceeding $100 million.

Has anyone seen how the Aloft hotel near the John Nolen beltine is coming along?

Has anyone seen how the Aloft hotel near the John Nolen beltine is coming along?

Did not even realize it had started yet. I'll have to check it out.

Did not even realize it had started yet. I'll have to check it out.

I've been away from Madison for a year. It might not have.

Madison Aloft; opening August 5th 2010. thats from the Aloft site, didnt find any renderings

Just wondering, how do you guys feel about height restriction? Assuming this hotel (and the building next to it) get built, I'm guessing they'd just be further filling in the top of the flat cake that is the Madison skyline?

the madison aloft and adjoing fratellos restaurant have not started-no ground has even been moved. the lot is full of weeds

schematic renderings:http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/attachments/6875262f-f8d4-4f0c-971f-5edd4974f5c5.pdf

the madison aloft and adjoing fratellos restaurant have not started-no ground has even been moved. the lot is full of weeds

schematic renderings:http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/attachments/6875262f-f8d4-4f0c-971f-5edd4974f5c5.pdf

Paragraph 3: "underground parking"

I'm no engineer, but... yeah right. How would that work? Wouldn't there be a little bit of a water problem?
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&ei=vOrISeqHMYWGtge60OSVAw&q=madison+wi&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ll=43.045605,-89.37187&spn=0.01162,0.027895&z=16&layer=c&cbll=43.045553,-89.371772&panoid=-S7MPQUPxmeSAEUHcv_mWA&cbp=12,56.33830038967532,,0,4.930769230769226

The city is still trying to get a 400 room hotel. They have a site for it but they are negotiating with developers. It was on the front page of the Wisconsin State Journal.

Just wondering, how do you guys feel about height restriction? Assuming this hotel (and the building next to it) get built, I'm guessing they'd just be further filling in the top of the flat cake that is the Madison skyline?

In this particular area of downtown (the area between the Monona Terrace and the Capitol), the height limit is definitely restrictive. The hotels / office buildings / condos built here take advantage of every inch of permissible height, and there is still a need for more of all 3 categories in the area. From an urban planning perspective, this area could easily support building triple the height of buildings currently occupying the area.

However for the rest of the Isthmus, building height restrictions have forced the best possible use of every square foot of available space; therefore helping contribute to the urban feel of the area. As a result, you can walk for about 2 miles from the east side of downtown through the University, and feel like you are in a vibrant, urban area. Had there been no height restriction, the area around the Capitol would have had some beautiful skyscrapers, but there would be parking lots between campus and the capitol. Given that Madison's current population would never support high-rise canyons throughout the isthmus, I'm happy with the height restrictions.

Fast forward 100 years when Madison has ~2 million people and rail, and the Isthmus could probably support a mini-Manhattan style skyline if the height restrictions were to be removed. I really hope I’m as interested in this stuff in a future life so I can witness this future of Madison ;-)

Despite hard times, new UW buildings get tentative green light

-$100 million Wisconsin Energy Institute
-$250.6 million rebuilding of the Charter Street power plant
-$134.8 million second tower of the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research
-$27.8 million hockey facility adjacent to the Kohl Center
-$7.9 million renovation of the Goodman Diamond softball complex and Nielsen Tennis Stadium
-$59.5 million plan to build two new dorms, with 560 beds, and a new food service area for the Lakeshore Dorms
-$41 million Gordon Commons dining facility on the southeast side of campus be rebuilt on the site of the old Ogg Hall
-$38.5 million to purchase the office building at 21 N. Park St., which houses UW-Madison's welcome center
-$5 million for a space science engineering museum
-$4.6 million for a new home for the Tandem Press


http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/444292

Been slow lately, but finally some news...

Lake Monona park, Lake Mendota boardwalk in city's downtown vision
By DEAN MOSIMAN
608-252-6141
dmosiman@madison.com

Imagine a two-acre park built on fill with a marina and a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed boathouse on Lake Monona.

There’s a boardwalk from James Madison Park to UW-Madison’s Memorial Union and another marina on Lake Mendota. And a new warehouse district offers space for entrepreneurs and up-and-coming companies near the Kohl Center.

Those possibilities and more are emerging as preliminary recommendations in a new Downtown Plan that will influence how the Isthmus will look, feel and work for decades...


http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/446921

Sounds great to me! Madison, with all its natural beauty, has still not done nearly as much as it could or should. I've always been severely disappointed with the lack of restaurants on the lake.

A boardwalk along Lake Mendota would do wonders for downtown, and would provide a scenic alternative from State Street to connect UW and downtown. The boardwalk could start at the Union and end at the Hotel (forget it's name, but it is supposed to be getting renovated to allow much better public access to the Lake), and include smaller restaurants and other attractions along the way.

That's great news. I'd like to see more accessibility to the lakes.

A boardwalk along Lake Mendota would do wonders for downtown, and would provide a scenic alternative from State Street to connect UW and downtown. The boardwalk could start at the Union and end at the Hotel (forget it's name, but it is supposed to be getting renovated to allow much better public access to the Lake), and include smaller restaurants and other attractions along the way.

The Edgewater.

It would go past the Edgewater a few blocks. I'm really excited about the future of Madison, especially if it can start attracting some more high-tech jobs and finally revitalize the E. Wash area, which really seems inevitable at this point.

In other related news, Madison unveiled its new plans for the Central Park today. Apparently, the missing spot you see will eventually be filled - which hopefully means the tracks will follow it.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1701/picture4mku.png

I'm having a hard time visualizing this park with the tracks (and accompanying fence) cutting it in half. I would also like to see a small lake/pond of some sort. Overall it looks like it could be nice though, and even attract some events with that Great lawn.

I'm having a hard time visualizing this park with the tracks (and accompanying fence) cutting it in half. I would also like to see a small lake/pond of some sort. Overall it looks like it could be nice though, and even attract some events with that Great lawn.

I agree on a small lake/pond, and apparently it was in the original plan but was cut because the city said it would attract misquitos. Legitimate concern? I'm not really sure.

But yeah, it will be weird with the train tracks slicing through it. For awhile, at least... until they remove them.

I agree on a small lake/pond, and apparently it was in the original plan but was cut because the city said it would attract misquitos. Legitimate concern? I'm not really sure.

But yeah, it will be weird with the train tracks slicing through it. For awhile, at least... until they remove them.

Hmmm, the mosquito excuse sounds like a cop-out for not having the lake for another reason. There are plenty of lakes big and small around Madison and I don't recall anyone complaining about a mosquito problem here. And besides, if they put in a fountain or something to activate the water, mosquitoes wouldn't be as likely to grow.

I didn't realize that the train track could be removed down the road - which would indeed be very cool.

I didn't realize that the train track could be removed down the road - which would indeed be very cool.

How could it? This plan includes the (unlikely) possibility of light rail, which is supposed to utilize that particular stretch of rail.

How could it? This plan includes the (unlikely) possibility of light rail, which is supposed to utilize that particular stretch of rail.

You think light rail is unlikely? We just elected all the right people (both nationally and locally) to ensure the next 4 years are spent bringing LRT closer reality. If ever we had a shot, this would seem to be it.

I'm having a hard time visualizing this park with the tracks (and accompanying fence) cutting it in half. I would also like to see a small lake/pond of some sort. Overall it looks like it could be nice though, and even attract some events with that Great lawn.


I would assume some sort of water feature (sculptural fountain) is included in lieu of a pond

According to this map from the NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/03/us/20090303_LEONHARDT.html?ref=business), it appears that Dane County may be in the best shape economically in any of the great lakes states. The only county that looks like it did better was Brown County, IL (pop. ~7,000). Definately something to be proud of.

http://arashakbar.com/images/Scrap/unemployment.jpg

Not particularly surprising considering...

Madison named No. 2 in nation for job seekers
State Journal staff

Money Magazine has named Madison the second-best city for finding a job in a ranking of U.S. metropolitan areas with a population of 200,000 or more.

The magazine’s April issue ranks Madison behind only Boulder, Colo. Rankings are based on information from payscale.com and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, which touted the city’s ranking Friday.

The city has a jobless rate of 5.3 percent, according to the convention and visitors bureau. Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City, Lafayette, La., and Huntsville, Ala., round out the list.

An update on the hotel situation...

http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/latest/447849

It's been scaled back from a ~350 room hotel to a more modest 275-room hotel. I really love the fact that they've included plans for retail space along Pickney, as I've always felt that this part of downtown was lively enough to have a lot more going on.

If anyone is interested, Fiore uploaded a video on YouTube about the Library/Block 66 proposal. Everything about it is awesome - although I'm not sure that Madison could use another 250+ room hotel when it is apparently already getting one behind the Municipal Building.

Either way, this project would probably do a great job at finally chipping away at the "one block off State Street = insta-death" trend that has existed for so long on the west side of the downtown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULmx0PiXXK8

That looks like a sweet complex of buildings! Its great how over the past 5-10 years, the area between campus and downtown has urbanized, and continues to urbanize.

Regarding hotel needs, the new Marcus hotel would feed itself with new customers through added convention business at the Monona Terrace. So although the hotel would add more rooms to the market, it would also make the size of the pie bigger by bringing more visitors to Madison. The Fiore hotel would then become entirely feasible, given the current demand for more hotels in Madison.

Right now in terms of hotel construction, there is the new 11 story hotel currently being built, the hotel on Monroe and Regent, and at least 3 hotels being built in Madison's periphery areas. Additionally, proposed hotels include the Aloft (John Nolen near Aliant Energy Center), the Marcus hotel, and now this one. Madison could very quickly become one hell of a convention city with all the extra rooms being added, which translates to added exposure to the region and hopefully new companies.

When I think of successful cities, I think of cities VERY friendly to conventions and visitors.

I'd say Madison had almost been developing a bit too fast these past few years. It's already completely different than back when I moved there in 2003. Hopefully when it inevitably speeds up again, we'll see some more development with businesses moving their operations downtown along E. Wash.

Either way, this library proposal would be amazing infill since it would remove the depressing "dead space" between W. Wash and State, and also serve to further W. Wash's development as a kind of urban professional area. I actually think the added density and activity could make the Overture Center look quite a bit better, too. It would be pretty sweet seeing the big glass cube reflected off the windows of the hotel at night, even if it is kind of ugly.

Regarding conventions, with a magnetic atmosphere set in a small downtown area loaded with things to do, I could definitely see Madison becoming a convention destination in the coming years - especially in the Midwest/ie Chicago, Twin Cities, etc (I imagine most conventions in the midwest already stem from the midwest?)

The old Angelic Brewery on Johnson is being renovated into a new restaurant and bar called Logans. Should be open this August. Walked by last week and work is currently going on. :cheers:

http://cityofmadison.com/planning/projects/reports/322wjs_intent.pdf


Emerson Place on E Wash & 1st should break ground sometime this summer
Ground floor retail and 26 condos

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1900ewa_site13.jpg

http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/projects/reports/1900ewa_site.pdf

Found a decent (finally) rendering of the museum expansion currently breaking ground on University:

https://fpm-www3.fpm.wisc.edu/cpd/Portals/0/Quarterly%20report/Pictures/Chazen_Addition_Exterior.jpg

I'm so-so on it. I wish the front had more glass and was a little less plain, and I'm not really sure about the aesthetic purpose of that single window. But its really not all that bad, and could certainly end up being a lot better than its rendering. It's still kind of hard to tell from this rendering.

Either way, its always nice to see concrete-covered, rundown stretches of campus get heavily landscaped and greened up.

As for the inside...

https://fpm-www3.fpm.wisc.edu/cpd/Portals/0/Quarterly%20report/Pictures/Chazen_Interior.jpg

A new rendering of Union South as well, which also just broke ground. I actually LOVE the design, but I'm just not sure it fits for where it is.

https://fpm-www3.fpm.wisc.edu/cpd/Portals/0/Quarterly%20report/Pictures/South_Campus_Union_Exterior_2.1.jpg

yeah... about those renderings.... i don't like any of them. :( And even the union wasn't very inspiring. Bleh. With all the architects looking for jobs because of the current market you would think we could get something more amazing.

:ohno:

Badgers: "Regarding conventions, with a magnetic atmosphere set in a small downtown area loaded with things to do, I could definitely see Madison becoming a convention destination in the coming years - especially in the Midwest/ie Chicago, Twin Cities, etc (I imagine most conventions in the midwest already stem from the midwest?)"

Can someone tell me what size the convention space is in Madison? I know there is the Wright designed convention center on the lake. How many sq. feet is that facility? (How many sq. feet of open exhibit hall space? How many sq. feet of meeting room space? Ball Room space?) Is there another convention facility downtown or somewhere else in Madison? If so, how big is it? How many hotel rooms are there in downtown Madison? How many total in Dane County? Those are a few key questions that will impact how big the convention business can get in Madison. Can it handle a 5000 person convention? A 10,000 person convention? With the U of W basketball arena, there would be a major facility to handle seated crowds of 15,000 - 20,000 potentially (although how close is the U of W arena to the major convention facility (ies)?). Are there enough restaurants downtown to handle an 8,000 person convention getting out of a session at 5:30 pm with most of those people wanting to find a good place to grab dinner and a few drinks? Sorry for so many questions - but I figured some local person familiar with the local convention business would be able to provide answers fairly easily. Thanks.