The Sun Prairie station would be about a 1 minute walk from my front door, and I would use it all the time just to commute to downtown Madison or the University. That being said, I don't think people traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis want to have to make so many stops along the way (4 stops between Milwaukee and Madison?). If each stop is even a few minutes, that would add quite a bit of time to the Chicago-Minneapolis travel time and travelers would be more likely to find alternate methods of transportation.

The Sun Prairie station would be about a 1 minute walk from my front door, and I would use it all the time just to commute to downtown Madison or the University. That being said, I don't think people traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis want to have to make so many stops along the way (4 stops between Milwaukee and Madison?). If each stop is even a few minutes, that would add quite a bit of time to the Chicago-Minneapolis travel time and travelers would be more likely to find alternate methods of transportation.
A true high-speed Chicago-MStP route would have to bypass everything, or at least have stations along its all-new 7000 meter curve radius track with outer siding tracks by the platforms for use by regional trains and full-speed through tracks in the middle for the express trains (like what the Chinese are building). An 'enhanced speed' line, what is being discussed here, would also have to have trains that run express, with very few intermediate stops, along with the locals.

Page through the 'China Railway Development News' subforvm in the 'Infrastructure and Mobility'/'Railways' forvm to see what they're all up to.

Mike

^^ Funny you brought up China - I got a chance to visit the country last year as part of a study abroad program at Marquette University. Over the past decade, Shanghai and Beijing have created mass transit systems that can only rival that of NY's system in this country. I recall being in a bus on the freeway that connected Shanghai to the airport. We were going at a pretty good speed when the airport Maglev train roared passed us at 350 kmph. The train ran down the center of the freeway, and we may as well have been standing still as fast as the train passed us.

To connect this story back to Madison, my belief is that Wisconsin's HSR should have been built in the middle of I-94 from Milwaukee to Minneapolis. The freeways already have the proper curve radius to support true HSR, and for the most part the right-of-way is already there in the grass median. There would be places where the train would have to leave the freeway's median (for instance as it travels out of suburban Milwaukee) but overall this would have been a pretty economic and practical method of giving the train the right-of-way that it would require for true high speed travel.

for the record, i do like the design of the madison station-- but i think they shouldn't have any trouble getting the local government there to chip in some of the funding to make it as nice as the proposal is. the same isn't true for brookfield, though-- getting their locality to put any money into their station at all is going to be an uphill battle-- which is ridiculous, i know, but if we want them to see the value of passenger rail, we have to maybe appease them with a nicer station so they can see its advantages. this is just my opinion.

im not sure the design is so successful within its context. slapping a tall skinny glassy curvey white thing on the back of a sandstone colored chunky with aurora-green glass office block next to the low but wide now off-white monona terrace. not really doing it for me. wisconsin needs to get over the all-white or historicist prairie-style crap. im not sure what the solution is, but the proposed ain't it-

im not sure the design is so successful within its context. slapping a tall skinny glassy curvey white thing on the back of a sandstone colored chunky with aurora-green glass office block next to the low but wide now off-white monona terrace. not really doing it for me. wisconsin needs to get over the all-white or historicist prairie-style crap. im not sure what the solution is, but the proposed ain't it-

I think that style is more a Madison thing. It can be done right (Target Field in Minneapolis), but I agree that lately it's been looking generic. I don't mind it in low-rise architecture though.

Central Library Renovation
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_67b01dc4-d7e3-11df-8c4d-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

Option 1
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1-1.jpg

Option 2
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/2-1.jpg

Option 3
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/3.jpg

Option 4
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/4.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/5.jpg

Option 5
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/6.jpg

Option 6
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/7.jpg

Option 7
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/8.jpg

The Mayor released plans today to buy the Subaru property on East Washington near the Capitol, and sell it off in smaller chunks in hopes of another Hilldale-like developement. The existing Subaru dealership will relocate further east, but will stay in Madison. He's hoping that the existing buildings will be torn down by April 2011.

Full Story (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_fd25d6a2-dad4-11df-b357-001cc4c03286.html)

Central Library Renovation
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_67b01dc4-d7e3-11df-8c4d-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

I thought a design had already been selected.

The plans that you're likely thinking of were private bids that fell through for razing and rebuilding the library. These new plans are for heavily renovating the existing structure.

New hope in getting this hotel finished and opened soon (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_9996b2a0-dbab-11df-99c5-001cc4c03286.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/5/1a/592/51a59256-c80d-11df-8b28-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c9cf42a3ac4f.image.jpg

I saw a picture of this building a long time ago, but had forgotten about it until I saw it biking on the SW bike trail today. It looks like the foundation is complete and has started rising above ground. The sign says move-in Fall 2011. This building is very close to the new Union South. Sorry for the poor cell phone photo.

http://www.arashakbar.com/scrap/construction.jpg

http://www.madisonproperty.com/properties/humbuckerrender.jpg

I'm glad to see that this project is still moving forward (although very slowly). This will replace the existing facility on State Street and is expected to begin construction in 2-3 years. Link to Madison.com article (http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_e4a7a72e-e063-11df-b84c-001cc4c03286.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/6/ef/6d2/6ef6d2e8-e063-11df-a2a9-001cc4c03286-revisions/4cc5c89378a11.image.jpg

One comment that I have is that for the first time --ever-- the forumers on the Madison.com website did not have a single bad thing to say about this project, despite it's tremendous height. A developer can't so much as build a bike rack in downtown Madison without the forumers on the newspaper's website lashing out, leave alone a 14 story building. I'm glad to see everyone is able to agree on at least one development project in Madison.

Hey Y'all,
Sorry, I know you don't say y'all in Wisconsin! My wife and I are moving to Madison from VA and are looking for the "best" area to live. Generally speaking, we prefer public transportation and using our car as little as possible, walking to restaurants and grocery stores, and being close to bike paths. We will both be working in the central part of the city, but really don't want to live near the student population. We're going to rent before we buy. Anyone out there help us find the "best" place to live?

Thanks! Madison seems like a great place to live.

Fillmore, welcome to Madison! In my opinion, Madison's best neighborhoods are the Williamson Marquette and Schenk-Atwood areas. I grew up in Williamson Marquette and spent a lot of time in Schenk-Atwood. Both neighborhoods are close to downtown, have many bus lines running through them, and are extremely bike friendly. Both areas have plenty of nice rentals, and the student population is small enough that it isn't noticed. Here's a link to the Isthmus website where they profile several of Madison's neighborhoods including the two I mentioned above: http://www.thedailypage.com/neighborhoods/ Hope this helps!

Oh I almost forgot, the Tenny-Lapham neighborhood isn't listed in that link, but you should check it out also!

Check out the Monroe Neighborhood as well. Also downtown itself is great if that is an option for you. The East side (King Street area) has very few students and mainly young professionals living there.

Since you'll be renting first, let me put in a good word for the neighborhoods on either side of the Hilldale Mall.

They have a high concentration of pre-1970's apartment houses, are about a mile west of the University campus, so most of the students are either Graduate or Medical, are at the convergence of many bus lines, and have more than ample shopping and dining available.

I would say they are also a fairly neutral and convenient perch from which to sample and evaluate Madison's perhaps more "flavorful" nabs, including those already mentioned, as well as handsome residential old neighborhoods like University Heights, Nakoma, or Vilas.

A great thing about Madison is the genuine variety and quality of these differing areas, yet their real proximity and compact walkability to one another.

Best of luck. I think you'll do well with any of the choices mentioned.

OOPS--DOUBLE POST :cripes:

I'm glad to see that this project is still moving forward (although very slowly). This will replace the existing facility on State Street and is expected to begin construction in 2-3 years. Link to Madison.com article (http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_e4a7a72e-e063-11df-b84c-001cc4c03286.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/6/ef/6d2/6ef6d2e8-e063-11df-a2a9-001cc4c03286-revisions/4cc5c89378a11.image.jpg

One comment that I have is that for the first time --ever-- the forumers on the Madison.com website did not have a single bad thing to say about this project, despite it's tremendous height. A developer can't so much as build a bike rack in downtown Madison without the forumers on the newspaper's website lashing out, leave alone a 14 story building. I'm glad to see everyone is able to agree on at least one development project in Madison.

while im annoyed they're building WAY out of scale and demolishing the existing chapel, i understand the need for this space and the demand for housing. as long as this historicist facade doesn't come off as cheap and/or cheesy, but i admit this is soooo much better than the previous rendering.

Thank you all for the posts. I look forward to monitoring Madison's progress in this forum and being an active participant in the community. Now, time for winter.

Here's a great project (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_dbb7b052-e39a-11df-8615-001cc4c002e0.html) that will help urbanize the intersection of Park St. and Fish Hatchery.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/7/d9/a1e/7d9a1e3e-e394-11df-bae5-001cc4c03286-revisions/4ccb235fe726f.image.jpg
Photo on The Cap Times

So disappointing news last night (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_1e6260c6-e799-11df-a314-001cc4c03286.html)on an RTA front. And with conservatives taking over all branches of the state government, there are many proposing changes to RTA's original plan. These proposed changes include:


Requiring voters to approave a sales tax before it is imposed. The RTA has made this commitment on its own even though state law does not require it.

Expanding the RTA countywide or even to a multi-county area. It currently covers only a federally designated transportation planning boundary around Madison and its immediate suburbs.

Including representation from the Dane County Towns Association.

Allowing funds to be used for roads.


I can swallow the first three items, if not back them. But WTF is the 4th one about? Allowing RTA funds to be used for roads? After running a campaign against stealing money from the roads fund, these exact same people are now going to propose using whatever scrap funds the RTA gets back on roads. Is it just me not understanding this, or is there something very wrong with this picture? Shouldn't transit funding be used on, well, transit?

Allowing RTA funds to be used for roads? After running a campaign against stealing money from the roads fund, these exact same people are now going to propose using whatever scrap funds the RTA gets back on roads. Is it just me not understanding this, or is there something very wrong with this picture? Shouldn't transit funding be used on, well, transit?
Makes perfect sense.
Where else will they secure the funding for double-decking Monroe & Regent Steets and widening University Ave. to twenty-eight lanes?
http://images.stanzapub.com/readers/2009/06/13/1202785734bc94173fa_1.jpg
http://www.driveandstayalive.com/images/signs/arrow-left_keep-right.jpg

Any kind of rail is dead now and before Scott Walker even enters the governor's manshion he is trying to take the $810 Million out of federal government money for high speed rail and send it out of Wisconsin.

no offense to you people living in Madison, but when Walker takes office there, I hope the Capitol building burns to the ground...

no offense to you people living in Madison, but when Walker takes office there, I hope the Capitol building burns to the ground...

No offence taken as far as I'm concerned.
That your rancor toward our fair Capital city has found a focus is a sign of real progress. Gives one hope that maybe you'll turn into an old softy as the years progress. You might even enjoy your next visit here as long as you avoid downtown. Take in our modest, but free, zoo, maybe the Olbrich Gardens or the Arboretum; all very relaxing, and educational if you wish it to be. Visitors are always welcome.

Regarding a new development on the south side, this State Journal article (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/article_4530310a-f997-11df-a3c5-001cc4c03286.html)explains it all:

"It will be a year-round middle school. And an urban farm. And a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. And a neighborhood center. And an office space. And a home for small business."

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/1/50/c93/150c9342-f997-11df-bd28-001cc4c03286-revisions/4cf010a2643d9.image.jpg

Frautschi makes quiet deals to buy Overture's neighboring properties

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_45cfaf22-f583-11df-b5b3-001cc4c002e0.html

Quietly over the past eight years, philanthropist W. Jerome Frautschi — who donated $205 million to build Overture Center and has been a driving force in its evolution behind the scenes — has been buying properties on the adjacent 100 block of State Street for future redevelopment.

The $6.5 million in purchases by Frautschi's private Overture Foundation, under the name of Central Focus LLC, are for far more than the current assessed values and have come as the arts center has struggled financially

Over the years, there was speculation about large-scale redevelopment on the block involving hotels or office buildings and the foundation wanted "to ensure inappropriate development did not occur there," Austin said.

The foundation's study, done in summer 2008, shows a $12.4 million redevelopment that would preserve State Street facades, combine some interiors and improve buildings, and demolish two buildings on West Mifflin Street for a plaza.

The study includes images of how the redevelopment would open pedestrian areas and views between the Capitol and Overture Center.

The foundation intends to submit formal plans for the properties in 2011 with the hope of starting construction late next year, Austin said.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/4ce8583537bc4_image.png

Here is a picture of Phase Two of Sequoia Commons. Almost finished.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4659/dscf4348.jpg (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/dscf4348.jpg/)

^^ Great infill for that area in town, which is pretty suburban otherwise. I wish the bus lines ran a bit closer though.

Here's another project starting soon on the south side:

Work begins on affordable housing units for senior citizens on Madison's South Side
Construction began Tuesday on a 1.4-acre development on Madison's South Side that will provide 50 affordable housing units to senior citizens, according to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's office.

Burr Oaks Senior Housing will feature a three-story building with 33 one-bedroom apartments and 17 two-bedroom apartments. Rents are expected to range from $520 to $700 per month, and it's scheduled to be completed by August.

More (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_22ae5e22-0d83-11e0-a8ff-001cc4c03286.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/5d/d70/25dd7068-fe18-11de-8d60-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg
By Wisconsin State Journal

The irony here is so rich, one does not even know where to begin. CA gets our train $$, WI gets their green jobs, CA relects the same libs who bankrupted the state, WI goes redder than Texas, and gets their green jobs. Anyway, its great news for WI, and hopefully people continue fleeing the CA in our direction.

Business
California solar firm, 620 jobs coming to Wisconsin
By Paul Gores of the Journal Sentinel

Dec. 30, 2010 4:14 p.m. |(79) Comments

A California company that makes solar panels will open a plant in Wisconsin and move its corporate headquarters and research-and-development facilities to Dane County, ultimately creating about 620 jobs, Gov. Jim Doyle said Thursday.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/112683524.html

The irony here is so rich, one does not even know where to begin. CA gets our train $$, WI gets their green jobs, CA relects the same libs who bankrupted the state, WI goes redder than Texas, and gets their green jobs. Anyway, its great news for WI, and hopefully people continue fleeing the CA in our direction.

Business
California solar firm, 620 jobs coming to Wisconsin
By Paul Gores of the Journal Sentinel

Dec. 30, 2010 4:14 p.m. |(79) Comments

A California company that makes solar panels will open a plant in Wisconsin and move its corporate headquarters and research-and-development facilities to Dane County, ultimately creating about 620 jobs, Gov. Jim Doyle said Thursday.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/112683524.html

ummm if you think WI is doing better than CA in any way shape or form, you're more delusional than I had thought.

CA gets nearly a billion more for a high speed rail that will transform their state. WI loses that rail and gets... umm... one single company... and you're acting like it's some huge coup? Methinks you need your head checked, sir.

Also, this was going to happen regardless of the train money. Doyle had put this in motion months and months ago... actually, the company very well may have been somewhat enticed to move here BECAUSE at that time WI was going to build a HSR line. They may have figured that it makes sense for them to be here, regardless, although-- as a green energy company-- I'm willing to bet they wanted that train here too.

ummm if you think WI is doing better than CA in any way shape or form, you're more delusional than I had thought.

CA gets nearly a billion more for a high speed rail that will transform their state. WI loses that rail and gets... umm... one single company... and you're acting like it's some huge coup? Methinks you need your head checked, sir.

Also, this was going to happen regardless of the train money. Doyle had put this in motion months and months ago... actually, the company very well may have been somewhat enticed to move here BECAUSE at that time WI was going to build a HSR line. They may have figured that it makes sense for them to be here, regardless, although-- as a green energy company-- I'm willing to bet they wanted that train here too.

you need to get off this whole train thing, my friend. I think it is pretty amusing we are getting their green jobs while they get a paltry amount of money in the grand scheme of their rail network plans. Great news for Madison to get these jobs after hearing about the huge Navy contract that Herb Kohl helped get for Marinette Marine.

ummm if you think WI is doing better than CA in any way shape or form, you're more delusional than I had thought.

CA gets nearly a billion more for a high speed rail that will transform their state. WI loses that rail and gets... umm... one single company... and you're acting like it's some huge coup? Methinks you need your head checked, sir.

Also, this was going to happen regardless of the train money. Doyle had put this in motion months and months ago... actually, the company very well may have been somewhat enticed to move here BECAUSE at that time WI was going to build a HSR line. They may have figured that it makes sense for them to be here, regardless, although-- as a green energy company-- I'm willing to bet they wanted that train here too.

The good folks at moodys would disagree with you. WI has a rating of AA2, CA has a rating of A1 (that's worse). Of course, the hsr windfall might change all that now.

http://www.wpri.org/blog/?p=1409

To me, this company moving to WI is truely a testament to how completely dysfunctional CA has become more than it is about Doyle or WI. I am guessing they were looking to go anywhere that offered them a good package, and Doyle deserves the credit for going after them. If he would have only courted all industry as hard, you may have gotten Barrett and a train.

Also, no mention of trains

“W Solar Group was attracted to Wisconsin early in our search for a project location,” Chris Hamrin, president and chief executive officer W Solar Group Inc., which will move to Wisconsin from Chatsworth, Calif. “We are impressed with the high quality workforce, extensive supply chain, and the commitment to producing world-class products. Making Wisconsin our home is the right decision, and W Solar’s goal is to be a great addition to the Wisconsin economy. Wisconsin’s role as a leading manufacturing state with hard-working people also contributed to our decision to make the Badger State the place to grow our company.”
http://losangeleselectricians.blogspot.com/2010/12/solar-company-to-wisconsin.html

demolition for the new crown plaza hotel at rimrock and the beltine is set to begin next month.

old vs new rendering

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/Doc2-1.jpg

I'm not sure exactly which lot they are building this, and what they are demolishing. Are they demolishing some of the 1 story warehouses in the area?

I'm not sure exactly which lot they are building this, and what they are demolishing. Are they demolishing some of the 1 story warehouses in the area?

the site is on rimrock north of the beltline...just south of the irs building

all those small buildings are being demo'd

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2205+Rimrock+Road+madison,+wi&sll=43.042164,-89.377852&sspn=0.000386,0.000931&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2205+Rimrock+Rd,+Madison,+Dane,+Wisconsin+53713&ll=43.041955,-89.377086&spn=0.000772,0.001861&t=h&z=19

First stage of MATC expansion project heads to Urban Design Commission

Madison Area Technical College officials will bring plans for a health careers building and a new wing at the Truax campus to the Urban Design Commission Wednesday.

The projects were part of a $133.8 million building referendum approved by voters in November. They are the first two to go before the city for review.

Planners are calling the new two-story wing at Truax an "Ingenuity Center." It will house transportation and advanced manufacturing programs and will include a drive-through for the automotive tune-up program.

The roughly $16.8 million addition, designed by Strang Inc., will be along Wright Street.

The $43 million, three-story health building, designed by Zimmerman Architectural Studios, also will be on the East Side Truax campus. It still has not been decided who will run a community clinic in the building, said Roger Price, vice president for infrastructure.

Price said the college hopes to break ground on the health building in July.

Next, the two projects will go to the Wisconsin Technical College System Board for initial approval on Tuesday.

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

Edgewood College plans Visual and Theatre Arts Center

Edgewood College plans to build a three-story Visual and Theatre Arts Center, finally providing a proper home for the arts on a campus where a hallway serves as the art gallery and the theater is hidden in a dorm basement.

"If you look at any of the high schools in Madison, they will have facilities better than ours," said Melanie Herzog, professor of art history. "The most important thing is it will give us proper classrooms of the kind our students need."

Officials hope to break ground in March, pending approval by the city of Madison's Plan Commission Monday.

Planned for the southwest side of campus, the building will house studio space, classrooms, two art exhibit areas, and a theater seating about 125 people.

To get to this point, Edgewood administrators had to win over neighbors, wary that the building would disturb the serenity of the area. The arts center will sit at the end of Woodrow Street, which dead ends into the leafy Park and Pleasure Drive, a popular walking, jogging and biking trail along Lake Wingra.

It will replace a white house that was originally built for nuns at the Catholic college but now serves as an apartment for six students per semester.

"Don't get me wrong. People — especially on Woodrow — are definitely not jumping up and down to be across the street from a 44,000-square-foot building," said Maggie Balistreri-Clark, dean of students.

Building on the Edgewood campus is tricky because the 55-acre property is bordered by residential neighborhoods and the lake. Planners must avoid sacred Indian mounds that pepper the grounds, while taking care not to disturb the environment, scenic views, or concerned neighbors.

Edgewood officials negotiated a 10-page memorandum of understanding with neighbors, compromising on details large and small: the color of the brick, the level of noise generated by the heating and cooling system, and the types of light fixtures.

Shawn Schey, a neighbor on Woodrow Street, said she worried about light from the building and increased traffic, but she's pleased with the accomodations college officials made to neighbors.

"I feel it's a win win situation," she said.

The result is an $11.5 million facility that will dramatically improve the size and quality of arts space for the liberal arts college that serves roughly 2,000 undergrads, officials say. It will hold a theater with space for stagecraft and a green room, an art therapy lab, a professional art gallery, and studios for students in graphic design, ceramics, sculpture, video and photography.

Edgewood's current art gallery is in the entryway of DeRicci Hall and many of the studio spaces are former science labs, with chemistry hoods still in place. The painting studio can only hold eight students at a time. The college's current theater seats about 85 in the basement of Regina Hall.

"I'm excited to see the new art building," said Bailey Roedl, an Edgewood senior and graphic design major from Beaver Dam. "I'm bummed I won't be able to experience it because I'll be graduating in May."

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1-2.jpg

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

Even with no train, public market project moves on

Madison may not get a Downtown train station anytime soon, but plans to redevelop a two-block area with a hotel, public market, office space and underground parking ramp are moving forward.

The City Council has begun reviewing recommendations for the next steps, including spending up to $200,000 to create a master plan for the two blocks along with Milwaukee-based Marcus Corp. and Madison-based Urban Land Interests.

“We’ll be doing the planning with the idea that the station will eventually be there,” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said Wednesday.

The current idea is a multi-phase project beginning with a parking ramp underneath what is now a surface parking lot behind the Madison Municipal Building and the aging Government East Parking Ramp, which is slated for demolition.

The next phase would redevelop the historic municipal building into a hotel and relocate city offices. Finally the site of the Government East ramp would be turned into a public market with a bike parking facility and office space. The whole project will likely take at least four to five years, Cieslewicz said.

Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District, said it’s “big news” that Marcus is working closely with the city again to develop the hotel after negotiations fizzled in 2009 amid the souring economy.

Marcus has wanted to turn the Madison Municipal Building into a 275-room hotel that would connect by skywalk to Monona Terrace. A Marcus spokesman didn’t return a call for comment.

Urban Land Interests, which owns several properties around the Capitol, approached the city about replacing the Government East ramp with an underground ramp. An independent cost analysis found an 800-stall ramp would cost about $24.5 million.

“We think that the development potential of the two-block area behind the municipal building is very significant,” ULI principal Brad Binkowski said. “This isn’t a development that’s dependent on a train station in Downtown Madison.”

City staff planning the public market are recommending that the city continue to plan for a future Downtown transit hub near where the train station was to be located, at the state Department of Administration building, 101 E. Wilson St.

The transit hub could include Metro Transit service and intercity bus service, Cieslewicz said. One possibility being discussed would site the hub on the Lake Monona side of John Nolen Drive.

Other details, such as how many parking spaces the underground lot would have and how much the city might sell the land for, remain unclear, but will be developed through the planning process.

Cieslewicz had pledged to add 400 spaces to the proposed lot to accommodate the train station, creating a total of 1,200. But if the city decides to approve only 800 spaces, it won’t be able to go back later and add more sublevels in the event that a train does come to town.

“This is the kind of question we’re wrestling with,” Cieslewicz said. “Can we develop a transit hub if we’re not going to have a transit hub? … If you overbuild, then somehow you’ve got to pay for those spaces.”

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/3-1.jpg

I work in the area and thought I should mention the NEW (urban concept) Target store next to Hilldale is scheduled to open, on March 6th. :banana:

It looks likt they are building a seperate building just west of Target at the intersection. Do you know what that will be?

It looks likt they are building a seperate building just west of Target at the intersection. Do you know what that will be?

...A four-story apartment building. Looks very nice, albeit bland in design.

Among other smaller apartment proposals the Urban Design Commission will look at a 9 story hotel proposal by Raymond Management Company. What surprised me is that this was originally supposed to be a 12 story mixed use hotel/residential/retail building. This shorter building will still have retail space on the first floor. The two lighter colored floors will be for parking.

http://arashakbar.com/images/scrap/hamptoninn.jpg

You can see more information on this project as well as the renderings for the previously proposed 12 story building here (http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=20515).

Among other smaller apartment proposals the Urban Design Commission will look at a 9 story hotel proposal by Raymond Management Company. What surprised me is that this was originally supposed to be a 12 story mixed use hotel/residential/retail building. This shorter building will still have retail space on the first floor. The two lighter colored floors will be for parking.

http://arashakbar.com/images/scrap/hamptoninn.jpg

You can see more information on this project as well as the renderings for the previously proposed 12 story building here (http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=20515).

my guess is that with the addition of the lucky, humbucker, and grand central apt buildings that the overpriced student highrise market is fairly saturated and 3 levels of underground parking of the 12-story proposal proved too costly. on the other hand, the double tree and best western inn towner are the only large hotels close to campus...its unfortunate that a showcase urban plot is designed merely as an extruded perversion of its suburban self...lost opportunity-even the hyatt place attempts a higher level of design...

Agreed.

With a chance to visually exploit the curve in the road, instead they just pluck in an off the shelf design (minus the surface parking acreage).

http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/Images/JP/Tokyo1/Kaigan/HotelIntercontinental-001.jpg Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation

well i don't see this moving forward. with the edgewater starting, the recently opened hyatt place, and a large crowne plaza coming to rimrock i think it premature to propose a 160-room hampton on that site. lets not forget that the fluno center and lowell center have hotel rooms and the new south union will have 56 hotel rooms. add those to the dahlman campus inn and university inn on state street. i just wish they'd update the facades on the doubletree and the best western on the square...

Is this hotel a new proposal or did I somehow miss it at some point. This seems like a big project to fly under the radar?

I agree with you hybridy, on thiniking this probably won't move foward. I remember a ton of hotel proposals about two years ago and it seemed the only real need (and market) for hotel rooms is ones within a few blocks of the monona terrace which this will not be.
The only argument for it is that the university is underserved in numbers of hotel rooms that are real close, but close is a relative thing.

There are certain events that fill all hotel rooms in the area (graduation, games, etc) but is there a big enough market generated by these events to warrant the extra rooms? Could the older hotels simply be so dated that if these new ones are built people would simply choose the new hotels over the older ones? That would be great for the new hotels, and would encourage the older ones to either remodel as hybridy said or repurpose.

Maybe all the extra hotel capacity downtown will encourage some more office construction in the near future.

@atrain5371...various proposals have been promoted at this site for some time. gary brink & associates seem to have been retained by a developer working on a mixed-use proposal for some time. it's most current rendition has been reduced to a hotel + retail.
original proposal here...http://garybrink.com/mixed-use.php

@araman0...i feel the same way, however hotel flags don't usually appear unless there is some justification for rooms counts. my guess is that it would be at the expense of existing hotels...while some may remodel to "keep up with the neighbors", others slowly lose business and eventually become blighted. personally, i prefer local operators, dahlman campus inn & madison concourse-having stayed at both, that have well maintained properties over chain hotels-adds to the uniqueness of place.

not sure of the source, but the market is looking saturated with the edgewater coming online,

"A report from HMI Inc. also warns that adding new rooms could oversaturate a fragile downtown lodging market.

It notes hotel demand in Madison has been mixed, with demand actually down 0.4 percent over the five-year period from 2004 to 2009.

Occupancy rates downtown were in the mid-to high- 60 percent range for much of last decade, peaking at 68 percent in 2008 according to Smith Travel Research figures cited in the HMI report.

An occupancy rate in the lows-60s is considered strong, says HMI consultant Michael Hool.

Consultant Michael Hool of HMI says occupancy rates must reach the low-70 percent range before a market is considered ready for additional rooms.
"

http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_4f4a4ec4-5f72-11df-bc33-001cc4c002e0.html

Construction on Hotel Red near Regent and Monroe will resume, and will be completed by this Summer. Link (http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_c9cdced4-4f25-11e0-9dff-001cc4c002e0.html)

Building Commission approves UW-Madison School of Nursing building

A new $52.2 million UW-Madison School of Nursing building is still alive after university officials promised to use less taxpayer-supported borrowing to fund the project.

Other UW-Madison projects approved include a $76.8 million Badger Performance Center — a 132,000-square foot facility to house sports medicine, academic services, and strength and conditioning facilities. The commission also approved a $7.1 million Elizabeth Waters Hall renovation, and more hospital parking for $26.3 million.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_0b3fca6c-4fed-11e0-86f0-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/untitled-1.jpg

Forum to allow residents to air views on John Nolen plan

Residents can comment on plans for the 400-acre John Nolen corridor at the first large-scale public meeting on the project Saturday.

The plan would increase access to the lake from Monona Terrace to the Beltline, connect natural, cultural and recreational facilities and - backers hope - reinvigorate one of the city's gateways.

Details on who will pay for, maintain and operate the improvements will be figured out as plans move forward, he said.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_156913e0-514b-11e0-9125-001cc4c002e0.html

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

I'm glad to see that this project is still moving forward (although very slowly). This will replace the existing facility on State Street and is expected to begin construction in 2-3 years. Link to Madison.com article (http://host.madison.com/news/local/article_e4a7a72e-e063-11df-b84c-001cc4c03286.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/6/ef/6d2/6ef6d2e8-e063-11df-a2a9-001cc4c03286-revisions/4cc5c89378a11.image.jpg

One comment that I have is that for the first time --ever-- the forumers on the Madison.com website did not have a single bad thing to say about this project, despite it's tremendous height. A developer can't so much as build a bike rack in downtown Madison without the forumers on the newspaper's website lashing out, leave alone a 14 story building. I'm glad to see everyone is able to agree on at least one development project in Madison.

Building planners to reduce size of St. Paul's University Catholic Center project

The change would "significantly" reduce the proposed building's 14-story height, although by how much isn't yet known

As originally proposed, the building would have been 165 feet tall, plus another eight to 10 feet for a steeple. The top five stories would have been rental apartments for students.

While the number of stories in the revised plan has not been decided, Landgraf said the building will be shorter than UW-Madison's Memorial Library, also on State Street Mall. The library is 136 feet tall, he said.

The cost would drop from $45 million to about $25 million, according to a St. Paul's press release.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_9e4c136c-5400-11e0-878f-001cc4c03286.html

replacing blighted student rentals with higher-rent lackluster-design apartments in the student ghetto...more of a lateral move in my opinion

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/untitled-3.jpg

anything built on mifflin should include balconies to facilitate the block party-seems big brother wants to hinder the good times again...sigh

http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_271900c6-50bc-11e0-8a2a-001cc4c03286.html

Final designs for Central Library to be presented

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/untitled-5.jpg

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_60ecfabc-6149-11e0-946d-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story


South campus sensation: New building sets ‘standard for 21st Century’ student union

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/untitled-6.jpg

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/university/article_ab32460e-5e5b-11e0-bef5-001cc4c03286.html?mode=image&photo=2

The library is a nice improvement both in terms of height and design. The glassy, airy structure will complement the Overture Center quite nicely.

Anyone know how Soglin's election will affect the building height restrictions in the city? Are we going to see moderately tall buildings--say 30 to 40 stories-- in Madison anytime soon? I don't know, I was in Austin fifteen years ago and it felt similar to Madison with the capitol in view, albeit much larger, but now that the builders are having their way, Austin feels more like a Minneapolis or Denver than a college, music town. I don't think Madison would lose its nature, but you know how, at least psychologically, people change when they're surrounded by tall buildings...

I've heard something about Soglin discussing changes to the height restrictions. Both Soglin and former-Mayor Dave talked about increasing density but Madison has strong NIMBY organizations and with both candidates being so close on the issues and the mayoral race overshadowed by the Budget Repair Bill fallout I don't know if Soglin has any specific plans.

Proposed Woodman’s store in Sun Prairie is back on track

Plans are back on track for a new Woodman’s Food Market in Sun Prairie more than three years after they were originally approved.

The 225,000-square-foot store, which will be the company’s 14th location, is planned for the interchange of highways C and 151. The site will also have 10 gas pumps, an oil and lube service center and a car wash

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_6b31dd72-615c-11e0-9f42-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story

Union South is having their open house this weekend and I encourage everyone to visit the building even if you are not a student. I went there today and amazed at the building, a true modern gathering place where any student can find something to enjoy. I really think that this building will help give UW a better competitive advantage when recruiting students.

Construction continues on facilities for 'revolutionary' medical research

Wisconsin State Journal | DAVID WAHLBERG | dwahlberg@madison.com | 608-252-6125 madison.com
Construction cranes towering over the massive UW Hospital complex signal a big step in positioning Madison for a new era of medical research, officials say.
Work started this month on the second tower of the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, a $600 million, three-tower hub going up next to the hospital.
...
The $134.8 million, nine-story second tower, to open by fall of 2013, is supported by $67.4 million in state funding through Gov. Scott Walker's capital budget released last month. The medical school is paying the other half, with $24 million to be raised through a capital campaign, Golden said.
...Continued (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/article_1bf46252-6927-11e0-9c39-001cc4c002e0.html)

This should promise to be a very tall building for this location, given that it will be 2 stories taller than tower 1. And of course it produces the best kinds of jobs and benefits to the region possible. This should a very exciting project to watch as it takes shape.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/0/31/b6a/031b6a7e-6926-11e0-be5c-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4dab3a95402ef.image.jpg

^^rendering with all 3 towers completed

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/untitled-7.jpg

Here are some pics I took of Union South- I have more too but I didn't think posting them all in this thread would be helpful.
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9023/dscf4785x.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/dscf4785x.jpg/)

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/5131/dscf4782.jpg (http://img685.imageshack.us/i/dscf4782.jpg/)
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/6181/dscf4765e.jpg (http://img534.imageshack.us/i/dscf4765e.jpg/)
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/7062/dscf4800o.jpg (http://img820.imageshack.us/i/dscf4800o.jpg/)

Also there's construction on the hole next to Weston Place and above Target near Hilldale.
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3756/dscf4735k.jpg (http://img197.imageshack.us/i/dscf4735k.jpg/)

Thank you Atrain for all the pictures. There are actually quite a few other construction projects around town right now.

Today as I was picking up some friends from near campus I noticed a new 8 story residential building under construction. I had never heard of this project although it appeared to be nearing completion. The building was near the end of Mendota Ct near the Memorial Union. It will add even more density to what is already the most dense area of the city.

http://www.arashakbar.com/images/scrap/mendotact.jpg

http://www.arashakbar.com/images/scrap/mendotact2.jpg

Sorry for the poor angle but I had to shoot this quick from the car.

Thanks for the awesome photos, guys. That Union South building is amazing. I really wish it was there when I went to UW. I'll have to check both that and WID out when I get back to Madison.

On my way to Union South I walked by this new student apartment building also.
http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/6259/dscf4750j.jpg (http://img825.imageshack.us/i/dscf4750j.jpg/)

^^ That is the strange apartment building that includes inward facing units with no windows. I understand that people want to save money and all, but you couldn't pay me to live in an apartment with no windows.

^^ That is the strange apartment building that includes inward facing units with no windows. I understand that people want to save money and all, but you couldn't pay me to live in an apartment with no windows.

to clarify, the "humbucker" has windows in every unit. some larger units have bedrooms that do not have windows.

http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_10107afc-679d-11df-9d2f-001cc4c03286.html

this design phenomenon is more and more common as it is no longer a code requirement for these buildings to have windows in every bedroom. many of cmi's apartment buildings have units where bedrooms do not have windows. this is also common in retrofitting old buildings for new residential uses.

access to views and natural light has proven again and again to be better for our physical and emotional well being, but that gets in the way of profits.

To clarify the Humbucker further, there are about 30 bedrooms (not 30%) out of 230 that don't have windows, but all units have access to either a private balcony or a rooftop deck.

We have been receiving requests for these types of internal bedrooms from a number of developers, typically in urban settings.

To clarify the Humbucker further, there are about 30 bedrooms (not 30%) out of 230 that don't have windows, but all units have access to either a private balcony or a rooftop deck.

We have been receiving requests for these types of internal bedrooms from a number of developers, typically in urban settings.

:banana: alright the architect is here. tell us what's next? this forum needs some dirt...

Not much dirt, only dust...
There is a proposal to tear down Parman's on Monroe and the Congress for New Urbanism competition are the only real interesting things going on in Madison.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_25388cde-7daf-11e0-a129-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.competition.creatingauthenticplaces.com/index.php?id=madison-competition-information

With sales soaring, Epic invests in solar 'farm'

By next summer, more than 7,500 new panels are expected to generate electricity, 2.2 megawatts, enough to power nearly 300 typical homes. That will be by far the biggest solar electric project in the state, and one of the largest in the upper Midwest.

When it's completed, the Epic Systems solar project will consist of nearly 9,000 solar panels, including 1,300 built this year and more than 7,500 more to be built by mid-2012.

The visitors parking structure holds 1,300 solar panels. An additional 7,500 will be placed in an agricultural area on the property and spaced high enough so farming can take place beneath them. :nuts:

In energy terms, Epic will generate a total of 2,560 kilowatts, or 2.5 megawatts.

Here's how the other largest solar projects in Wisconsin stack up, along with the year they were built:

Milwaukee Area Technical College, Milwaukee, 2010: 540 kilowatts.

Johnson Controls, Glendale, 2008: 385 kilowatts

Orion Energy Systems, Manitowoc, 2010: 341 kilowatts

GE Healthcare Waukesha, 2008: 240 kilowatts

http://www.jsonline.com/business/123206273.html

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/untitled-8.jpg

BARRY ADAMS | WSJ | 608-252-6148 | Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 1:03 pm

The former home of Mautz Paint, 925 E. Washington Ave., would be redeveloped into commercial and office space under a $40 million to $50 million project proposed by Hovde Properties of Madison.
...
Mike Slavish, president of Hovde, said the 4.2 acre site would include two new buildings up to five stories tall and totaling 101,000-square-feet of space, while two other existing structures totaling 57,000-square-feet of space would be renovated. The plan also calls for a 400- to 600-space parking garage and for up to 750 people working at the development.

Link (http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_446dfd18-95e8-11e0-9e31-001cc4c002e0.html)

New library opens in Fitchburg

Posted: Jun 29, 2011 10:15 AM CDT By John Beard - bio (http://www.wkow.com/Global/story.asp?S=12416726) | email (jbeard@wkowtv.com)

http://wkow.images.worldnow.com/images/14997346_BG1.jpg

MADISON (WKOW) - Eight years of work comes to fruition today in Fitchburg when the city opened its first public library on Lacy Road.
The 38,000 square foot library cost more than 14 million dollars, which is a few million less than library board members expected to pay when they started planning on the project.
The building holds 60,000 books, a children's library, a teen room, a quiet reading room and a corner dedicated to Fitchburg and Wisconsin history. It's also geothermically heated and cooled.
Wake Up Wisconsin got an early tour of the library during this morning's newscast. The library officially opened a few hours later, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

http://www.wkow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14997346

Renderings of the proposed redevelopment at the corner of University Avenue and North Brooks Street. Redevelopment plans for a 12 story residential building consisting of 90 units for university students. Planned development includes preserving the original 1930 St Francis House and relocating it on-site in order to facilitate the new construction.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_9e4f48a4-7b68-11e0-9c44-001cc4c002e0.html

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_740bc082-9bbf-11e0-b9cb-001cc4c002e0.html

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/ask/article_cfc231f8-9dc3-11e0-8c5e-001cc4c002e0.html

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1001University-2011-06-3010.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1001University-2011-06-309.jpg

Not Madison, per se, but this is the closest thread geographically to Beloit.

It looks like the new state budget is already producing visible benefits to the public - the I-39/90 Welcome Center at Beloit that was closed under former Governor Doyle reopened today.

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2011/07/19/news/local_news/news1904.txt

Mike

It looks like the new state budget is already producing visible benefits to the public...


...that same state budget that is now costing Wisconsin taxpayers tens of millions of dollars for rail upgrades that would have been covered under last year's federal grant had Walker accepted the money. Wisconsin now pays a lot more and gets a lot less...

...that same state budget that is now costing Wisconsin taxpayers tens of millions of dollars for rail upgrades that would have been covered under last year's federal grant had Walker accepted the money. Wisconsin now pays a lot more and gets a lot less...
Walker din't turn that money down, USSecTrans LaHood said *NO!* to the grant application that Walker submitted for it.

:ohno:

Mike

^^
Lets not turn this development page into that old HSR thread.

^^
Lets not turn this development page in to that old HSR thread.
Especially since I was reporting on a highway happening. I didn't hear anything, BTW, on whether or not the I-94 Welcome Center at Hudson is back open, or if that one was closed permanently.

Mike

I believe that one (Hudson) was closed permanently, even the ramps to it from I-94 were removed and it is just a empty building currently.

anyway back to the Madison area.......................

Plan in works for old Royster-Clark factory on East Side

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_046a621e-b727-11e0-9f4a-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story#ixzz1TEbk1JX5


Five developers offer proposals to spruce up East Wash

Five developers have submitted six initial proposals to develop city-owned properties on the 700 and 800 blocks of the street, heart of a blighted industrial area seen as key to revitalizing the Near East Side.

The committee recommends:

• The Rifkin Group’s $24.7 million, 90,000-square-foot, mixed-use project with two smaller buildings on the south side of the 800 block. The proposal includes retail, service and office space and a 373-space parking garage.

• Gebhardt Development’s $31.5 million, mixed-use project on the north side of the 700 block. The proposal includes retail and office space, 185 apartments and 21 residential/business units, and a parking garage.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_2da62396-b729-11e0-9976-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1TEcUYsKw

so, I have a question for Madison residents... what happened to the funds from the Dane County's RTA now that Robin Vos killed every RTA in the state? the SEWRTA had to release funds for our KRM commuter rail project here in Milwaukee but were there any projects like this in the Dane County RTA that are now killed because of Vos' ignorance as well?

I don't know I asked the mayor (now former mayor) of Fitchburg about the RTA the week of the April 5th elections and he talked about how it was unclear what would happen since Robin Vos threatened to end it if they did anything even though it's not the state's money, but it appeared Robin Vos doesn't care what Dane County wants and said they couldn't exist anyways.

I think the planning money they had will still go forward with funds and some other money will go to other transit related things. I think a lot of money was federal money which will go back to the federal government.

UW Health plans new $100M development

DAVID WAHLBERG | dwahlberg@madison.com | 608-252-6125 | Posted: Sunday, July 24, 2011 7:51 am
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/5d/e5df915e-b5a3-11e0-8f81-001cc4c03286/4e2b8f9731f70.preview-300.png

Three UW Health clinics, a cancer patient lodge, a hotel, apartments and office and retail space are planned for 14 acres at the southwest corner of University Avenue and Whitney Way.
The city of Madison this month proposed a tax increment financing district for the property, owned by Erdman Holdings. The TIF district proposal is scheduled to go before the City Council in September and the development plan in October.
Krupp General Contractors, which plans to buy most of the property, is seeking $1.4 million in taxpayer-funded development aid for the first phase of the project - a $24 million UW Health digestive health clinic. Construction is to start in November, with the clinic open by January 2013.
The entire $100 million project, called University Crossing, is to be built over five to eight years, said Paul Lenhart, president of Krupp.
Eleven vacant buildings are set to be demolished, including the former Irish Waters bar, Merrill Springs Hotel and an Open Pantry store. A building that houses the state Public Service Commission will remain.
The new clinic, to be leased by UW Health, will consolidate digestive health services now spread out over four locations, said Ron Sliwinski, UW Hospital's chief operating officer. The services include colonoscopies, imaging tests and treatments for conditions such as acid reflux.
Sliwinski said UW Health plans to buy land for two more clinics, which could replace the health system's University Station clinic and its clinic at 20 S. Park Street. He said those clinics need to be replaced within three to five years, though plans to do so are preliminary.
An American Cancer Society Hope Lodge for cancer patients and caregivers also is planned, along with a 130-room, six-story hotel, 65 apartment units, an office and retail building, and three parking structures.
Lenhart said Krupp is negotiating with a hotel operator and "working with a number of prospects" for the retail and office space.
Amy Kinast, a nearby resident, has applied for landmark status for one of the buildings scheduled to be demolished: the late builder Marshall Erdman's office and shop building. It stands where the digestive health clinic is planned.
The landmarks commission will consider the nomination Aug. 8, said Amy Scanlon, the city's presevation coordinator. Landmark status, if granted, could interfere with the demolition.
Some neighbors have expressed concern about possible soil contamination at the site, which is served by Well No. 14. The well recently had the city's highest level of chromium-6, a possible carcinogen.
Lenhart said an environmental study found no problems and is being reviewed by the state Department of Natural Resources.
"As the developer, we are probably more concerned about those issues than anyone," he said.
The city says the digestive health clinic, the first phase of the project, will generate $4.7 million in TIF money, said Joe Gromacki, the city's tax increment financing coordinator.
The overall TIF district should generate at least $8.1 million in TIF money, even if only a third of the total project is finished, Gromacki said.
The $8.1 million forecast assumes that the down economy could prevent most of the project from being built. But Gromacki said even that amount is enough to justify creating the new TIF district, in which jurisdictions forego taxes now in hopes of getting more revenue once projects are complete.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/article_65eb44d8-b5f4-11e0-989d-001cc4c002e0.html

early renderings of the proposed development:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/packerfan386/hold/16be7947.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/packerfan386/hold/1b43538b.jpg

How much transit is in the area? Is there much retail in the area to support the influx of workers/visitors? Does anyone see any spin-off development in the immediate area or otherwise?

How do you think this will change (positive & negative) the area?

Hilldale Mall with a super target is not very far from there. It's basically at the corner of a decently busy street (whitney way) and a major thoroughfare (university avenue).

This project combined with stimulus funded improvements to University avenue could spur some development but there's not a lot of space that's underutilized because mostly there's blackhawk country club and the historic residential neighborhoods of Shorewood Hills and Hill Farms.

The American Red Cross, the Wisconsin DMV and another large state office building are right nearby.

Hilldale Mall with a super target is not very far from there. It's basically at the corner of a decently busy street (whitney way) and a major thoroughfare (university avenue).

This project combined with stimulus funded improvements to University avenue could spur some development but there's not a lot of space that's underutilized because mostly there's blackhawk country club and the historic residential neighborhoods of Shorewood Hills and Hill Farms.

The American Red Cross, the Wisconsin DMV and another large state office building are right nearby.
The big state office building there is WisDOT's Hill Farms headquarters.

I would assume that Madison Metro has a fairly frequent presence in that area and should lightning ever strike and the powers-that-be determine that it would be economical to provide commuter rail service in the Madison area, WSOR's ex-MILW Prairie du Chein 'river' line is that railroad that defines the project's southern boundary and that location could well be an attractive station site.

Mike

Yeah I think a number routes travel down university avenue as well as old middleton road and those areas of Hill Farms and nearby Spring Harbor.

Madison Public Library's Central Library to Relocate in November

In late November 2011, Madison's Central Library will temporarily relocate to 126 S. Hamilton St. to accommodate the construction of the new Central Library.


Building design updates are here:
http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/sites/default/files/MCPL_Public_7APRIL2011.pdf

Wasn't the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery supposed to have a Phase II?

https://fpm-www3.fpm.wisc.edu/cpd/Portals/0/Quarterly%20report/Pictures/Gordon%20Commons%20rending%2002.11.jpgthe new gordon commons is going to look pretty awesome

Progress:

http://www.housing.wisc.edu/masterplan/images/gordoncommons/20110720/frame1-large.jpg

http://www.housing.wisc.edu/masterplan/images/lakeshore/index/lakeshorerendering-large.jpg

the new lakeshore dorm looks massive!!

Progress:

http://www.housing.wisc.edu/masterplan/images/lakeshore/20110726/site-large.jpg

La Bahn Arena

https://fpm-www3.fpm.wisc.edu/cpd/Portals/0/Quarterly%20report/Pictures/La%20Bahn%20Arena%20Rendering%2011.10.jpg

Progress
http://i51.tinypic.com/2gtb153.jpg

Wasn't the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery supposed to have a Phase II?

I believe they just built the first one with room for eventual expansion somewhere down the line. They are doing the same with the new Energy building that is going up on the site of the old health services center.

I also didn't have any idea that they started construction on the Lakeshore Dorms at all. I don't like the design at all. They look exactly like the new Park Street dorms and that's not a good thing.

manjazz, thanks for posting the drawings and updates on those projects! I always like to see what is going on in the Madtown.

http://www.housing.wisc.edu/masterplan/images/lakeshore/index/lakeshorerendering-large.jpg

the new lakeshore dorm looks massive!!


It looks massive, but it also looks completely suburban. I understand the need for the park in front, but there is wasted space along the street that I hope will not become a parking lot. There are also no stores or restaurants within an easy walking distance of this site.

On the plus side, hopefully all these new units will increase the supply of residential units around campus enough to bring down rents in the area, encouraging more students to move closer to campus from the cheaper suburban apartments. The students in this dorm will also have a great public space to gather and view the lake form.

Biz Beat: Mid-rise apartment eyed off Willy

MIKE IVEY | The Capital Times | mivey@madison.com madison.com | Posted: Saturday, August 13, 2011 8:00 am

Although the market for single-family homes and condominiums remains slow, developers continue to move forward with new apartment construction.

To that end, the Rifken Group of Madison is proposing a five-story mixed-use project on the 300 block of Livingston Street in the popular Williamson Street neighborhood.

The new building would replace an existing parking lot behind the historic Olds Seed Co. building. Plans include 5,365 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 39 apartment units on floors two through five.

Read more (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_34533770-c51f-11e0-bc94-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1V46pF62s)

Site Plans (http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=25996)

Biz Beat: Mid-rise apartment eyed off Willy

MIKE IVEY | The Capital Times | mivey@madison.com madison.com | Posted: Saturday, August 13, 2011 8:00 am

Although the market for single-family homes and condominiums remains slow, developers continue to move forward with new apartment construction.

To that end, the Rifken Group of Madison is proposing a five-story mixed-use project on the 300 block of Livingston Street in the popular Williamson Street neighborhood.

The new building would replace an existing parking lot behind the historic Olds Seed Co. building. Plans include 5,365 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and 39 apartment units on floors two through five.

Read more (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_34533770-c51f-11e0-bc94-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1V46pF62s)

Site Plans (http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/detailreport/matter.aspx?key=25996)

yippie...another snoozer from randy bruce

If it adds 5 floors of density and street front retail in this economy, I'm more than happy. Once the construction is over I suspect that Willy Street is going to flourish with its new design.

If it adds 5 floors of density and street front retail in this economy, I'm more than happy. Once the construction is over I suspect that Willy Street is going to flourish with its new design.

it sure will...spose we should concern ourselves with the memorial union debacle

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/university/article_f9260172-cd08-11e0-96e1-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.savetheterrace.org/

The memorial union is a special place but visualizing this addition I don't see how it will ruin any views or destroy any atmosphere. I have not seen any renders as to exactly how close to Lake Mendota it gets though.

The memorial union is a special place but visualizing this addition I don't see how it will ruin any views or destroy any atmosphere. I have not seen any renders as to exactly how close to Lake Mendota it gets though.

those against say the lobby addition on the theatre will obstruct sunset views from the top part of the terrace nearest to the memorial union. the sun sets behind picnic point, not past as the architects claim...also the majority of the upper seating platform at the theater will be lost to the new lobby. currently, all of that space is packed on weekends in spring, summer, fall so im not exactly on board

there is also a lot of talk saying the new lobby really won't be open to memorial users and more for revenue generation (weddings, events, ect.)

sounds like its proceeding regardless.

In Summary it looks like they will be adding a 266,000 sqft expansion which could allow Promega to expand by up to 100 employees earning an average of $80,000 per year. Not bad for Fitchburg, which is definitely heading the right direction. There are some great bike paths in the area, so I'll be able to watch this thing get built.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/67/a672e0da-cf6a-11e0-91d6-001cc4c03286/4e56ce62b1198.image.jpg

Picture and story by WSJ.

Full Story (http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_71319420-cf60-11e0-8534-001cc4c03286.html)

^^
IMHO, despite what the political maps say, 'Fitchburg' = 'Madison's south side'. Only a failed state municipal boundary law allowed that to be otherwise back in the 1980s.

Still, 100 good new private-sector jobs in Wisconsin. Kewl!

:yes:

Mike

That's unfortunate because I see Fitchburg becoming the next logical booming suburb of Madison. Sun Prairie seems to have lost some steam, and Verona is simply too far away from the action. Middleton doesn't seem to have the amount of development ready land available that Fitchburg has.

That's unfortunate because I see Fitchburg becoming the next logical booming suburb of Madison. Sun Prairie seems to have lost some steam, and Verona is simply too far away from the action. Middleton doesn't seem to have the amount of development ready land available that Fitchburg has.
My sense is that the Verona area, as well as the City of Madison's far east side near the interstates and US 12/18 east (what parts of those areaa that are not now in either Verona or Madison will, over time, be annexed to them), will be the next 'boom' areas in the Madison area. The Fitchburg area (a former township) will mainly fill in over time as residential, it is too remote from the freeways for much heavy commercial and those parts that are along the freeways are either built out (Verona Rd) or have poor access to them (US 14). The entire east-west part of the Beltline is several blocks inside of the Cities of Madison and Monona.

Mike

The reason the far East Side of Madison (near US 12/18 and north) hasn't developed despite having such close proximity to the freeways and Interstates is that 39/90/94 doesn't have any surface street exits for over 11 miles. 39/90/94 cuts through the most substantial part of East Madison and only has a couple of interchanges with other freeways, and no interchanges with any surface streets where commercial and industrical developement can occur. Take a look at this 11.2 mile stretch without any surface street exits. (http://www.google.com/maps?saddr=I-94+E&daddr=I-39+S%2FI-90+E&hl=en&ll=43.082681,-89.259453&spn=0.221163,0.570946&sll=43.099729,-89.296875&sspn=0.233135,0.572319&geocode=FeslkgIdbX2t-g%3BFWUmkAIdluiu-g&vpsrc=6&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=12&z=12) To make matters worse, 94 towards Milwaukee doesn't have any interchanges for over 3 miles east of the Badger Interchange.

Contrast this to the west and south sides where the Beltline has an interchange at least every mile, and you have all the industrial/office developments on the south side, shopping to the SW, and office developments on the west side by Middleton. I understand that when the freeways along eastern Madison were first constructed it was all farmland, but they are missing big opportunities by not adding additional interchanges along the East now that the land is ripe for development. Cottage Grove road and highway C definitely need ramps, in addition to at least one or two more major arteries in the area.

Firchburg's population boom ended a few years ago (from 15,000 in 1995 to 25,000 in 2010) but it is definitely growing more jobs and businesses and trying to be more dependent on Madison.

Mike's right in terms of transit. Verona road could fix some of that and improvements have been made to highway 14 but 14 isn't greatly connected to the interstate and Fish Hatchery Road is like Verona Road as to being above the capacity for the traffic it has.

The south beltline is decades away and it's unclear whether there would be the traffic to support it anyways. Fitchburg does have massive amounts of undeveloped land within its city limits.

New plans for a park and pavilion between the memorial union and the red gym.
There's a parking lot there now. Looks like it will finish the plan of a pedestrian mall running from regent street to lake Mendota.

New plans for a park and pavilion between the memorial union and the red gym.
There's a parking lot there now. Looks like it will finish the plan of a pedestrian mall running from regent street to lake Mendota.

I'm excited for this even though I haven't been to Madison in a long time. I hope they don't try to make it too modern, though. Lots of vegetation preferably.

Frautschi makes quiet deals to buy Overture's neighboring properties

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_45cfaf22-f583-11df-b5b3-001cc4c002e0.html

Quietly over the past eight years, philanthropist W. Jerome Frautschi — who donated $205 million to build Overture Center and has been a driving force in its evolution behind the scenes — has been buying properties on the adjacent 100 block of State Street for future redevelopment.

The $6.5 million in purchases by Frautschi's private Overture Foundation, under the name of Central Focus LLC, are for far more than the current assessed values and have come as the arts center has struggled financially

Over the years, there was speculation about large-scale redevelopment on the block involving hotels or office buildings and the foundation wanted "to ensure inappropriate development did not occur there," Austin said.

The foundation's study, done in summer 2008, shows a $12.4 million redevelopment that would preserve State Street facades, combine some interiors and improve buildings, and demolish two buildings on West Mifflin Street for a plaza.

The study includes images of how the redevelopment would open pedestrian areas and views between the Capitol and Overture Center.

The foundation intends to submit formal plans for the properties in 2011 with the hope of starting construction late next year, Austin said.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/4ce8583537bc4_image.png

History, development collide on State Street

Philanthropists W. Jerome Frautschi and Pleasant Rowland have proposed a dramatic $10 million redevelopment on the 100 block of State Street that is likely to test the city's balance of economic development and historic preservation.

The project, involving six properties on half of the triangular block, would preserve three historic building facades and rebuild another on State Street, remove backs of buildings facing North Fairchild Street and demolish two buildings — one a city landmark — on West Mifflin Street.

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c9fb6228-ecef-11e0-9ac5-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story#ixzz1ZftHUrGp
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c9fb6228-ecef-11e0-9ac5-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story

I'm too lazy right now to find the link to the article but the lawsuit failed for the Edgewater redevelopment and construction could start in early 2012. There are still questions about the TIF the city will provide though.

The new proposed crowne plaza hotel near the Alliant Energy center is downgrading from 7 to 6 stories and from 240 rooms to just over 200 but should be started in early 2012.

The new proposed crowne plaza hotel near the Alliant Energy center is downgrading from 7 to 6 stories and from 240 rooms to just over 200 but should be started in early 2012.

Was wondering what was up with project. Source please?

That project has had delay after delay. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes it longer than that even.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_8bb037c2-bafa-5be4-87b6-0b16d9e35967.html

here's the article

It's been quiet on this forum lately, though not for lack of projects going on in the city. There are quite a few cranes visible over the Madison/UW skyline which means there's stuff goin' up.

Developers propose new apartments for downtown (http://host.madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_1dc12d9a-05ee-11e1-8df5-001cc4c002e0.html)
David Jones | The Daily Cardinal | Posted: Thursday, November 3, 2011 2:29 am

Developers introduced a downtown redevelopment plan Wednesday that could replace several residential buildings downtown with a 12-story structure on West Johnson Street and a three-story complex on West Dayton Street.

...

The 12-story building would offer 155 units, while the three-story building would offer 42 units.

...

If the project remains on schedule and gains approval from city officials, construction is set to begin this summer.

More (http://host.madison.com/daily-cardinal/news/article_1dc12d9a-05ee-11e1-8df5-001cc4c002e0.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/1d/f1d97b10-05ed-11e1-817f-001cc4c002e0/4eb2437c73c75.preview-300.jpg

Deals near for redevelopment of blighted East Washington area (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_2c64c8ee-066a-11e1-8896-001cc4c03286.html)
DEAN MOSIMAN - State Journal | dmosiman@madison.com | 608-252-6141 | Posted: Thursday, November 3, 2011 5:10 pm

Madison is nearing land deals to redevelop the former Don Miller auto dealership properties and revitalize a blighted stretch of East Washington Avenue near Downtown.

...

Three developers — Gebhardt Development, The Rifkin Group, and Urban Land Interests — were chosen from a larger group that offered initial proposals in the spring and are now hammering out land purchase, project terms and more. A temporary daytime homeless shelter would not affect redevelopment plans.
Gebhardt, which proposed a $31.5 million, mixed-use project for a 1.5-acre site on the north side of the 700 block, is furthest along. The developer has begun meeting with residents and is close to signing a letter of intent on purchase and other terms that should be brought to the City Council this month.
Once those terms are set, Gebhardt and the others will refine proposals and submit formal plans, triggering the city's review process.
If all approvals are received, Gebhardt could start construction in the spring of 2012, project architect Christopher Gosch said.

...

The Gebhardt proposal, which includes retail and office space, 185 apartments, 21 townhouse-style units and a 250-stall parking garage, aligns with the neighborhood's design plan for the area but exceeds a city 10-story height limit by two stories. The extra stories are needed to make the project viable, Gosch said.

...

Rifkin initially proposed a $24.7 million, 90,000-square-foot mixed-use project with two smaller buildings on the south side of the 800 block of the street. The proposal includes retail and office space and a 373-space parking garage.

More in Wisconsin State Journal (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_2c64c8ee-066a-11e1-8896-001cc4c03286.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/a1/4a18e9d0-0681-11e1-ad73-001cc4c002e0/4eb33ab027efe.image.jpg

Nice nice...finally something different for the madison rental scene. Hopefully chris can make it happen...i know a few aspiring designers who could do the heavy lifting...l:cheers:

Hi everybody-

These renderings are VERY preliminary massing studies to determine compliance with plans which are in effect on the parcel.

We think we have some good solutions in the works and will post more in a few weeks- This option was not received as well outside the design and development team-

http://www.bark-design.com/sscity/Option1-1.jpg

Thanks for posting that design barkdesign. I really like the base of that building, and how the retail component interacts with the sidewalk along East Washington. Even though this is a preliminary design, do you think a final proposal would be similar structurally to what we see in the picture?

I like it quite a bit more than the tarp city currently on site. Where can I send a check to help this move along?

Cub Foods to close two Madison stores; Metcalfe's to buy West Side one

BARRY ADAMS | badams@madison.com | 608-252-6148 | Posted: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 3:00 am

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/e0/0e0c974e-097d-11e1-a14a-001cc4c002e0/4eb83c163f1cc.preview-300.jpg

The Cub Foods era in Wisconsin is coming to an end but will provide an opportunity for expansion for a locally owned grocery store company.
Cub, based in Stillwater, Minn., announced Monday that it will close its two Madison stores in January but one of them will be purchased by Metcalfe's Market in Madison.
Metcalfe's operates a store in the Hilldale Shopping Center and the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa and on Jan. 12 will begin remodeling the Cub Foods store at 7455 Mineral Point Road, near the West Towne Mall, into a Metcalfe's Market.
When the 11-month renovation is completed, the 67,000-square-foot store will be virtually identical to the 65,000-square-foot store at Hilldale, said Tim Metcalfe, co-owner and president of Metcalfe's.
"The demographics of Hilldale are pretty good but the demographics of the West Side are pretty darn good, too," Metcalfe said. "We think this is the right time for us and offers a great opportunity."
Metcalfe said his company did not consider buying the other Cub that is closing, at 4141 Nakoosa Trail, near Highway 30 and Stoughton Road on the Far East Side. That store will be sold, according to company spokesman Mike Siemienas.
The Far East Side store opened in 1987 and the Far West Side store in 1982 and are the only remaining Cub Food stores in the state. Cub operates one store in Freeport, Ill., and 66 stores in Minnesota. In 2009, the company closed its store on Verona Road in Madison and one in Green Bay.
Siemienas said the company has about 150 employees at the two Madison stores and will work with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1473 as the change takes place.
"The decision to close any store is difficult, because of the impact on associates, customers and the community at large," the company said in a statement. "However, in a highly competitive marketplace, Cub must take steps to improve the strength of its company overall while positioning itself for the future."
Brian Romanowich, a spokesman for the union, said union president John Eiden would not comment on the matter until he spoke with Cub Foods.
The new Metcalfe's store would employ about 150 people. A job fair will be held later this month and it would be open to employees of Cub and Metcalfe's and to the general public, Metcalfe said.
The Madison area is considered one of the most competitive grocery markets in the Midwest and features major grocery operators like Copps, Woodman's, Hy-Vee, SuperTarget, Walmart, Costco and Aldi. Over the last five years, all of them have either entered, expanded or are planning to expand their presence in Dane County.
Metcalfe said his company has been in talks with Cub about the purchase "for quite a while." Terms of the deal and expansion costs were not disclosed.
Metcalfe's began in the Milwaukee area in 1917 before Tim's father, Tom Metcalfe, purchased a Sentry store in Monona in 1969. That store closed when he opened the Hilldale location in 1979. The Wauwatosa store opened in 2003.
Cub was established in 1968 as one of the nation's first discount grocery stores. The organization was purchased in 1980 by SuperValu.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_295a3f58-096c-11e1-aedf-001cc4c002e0.html

^^

How many of Cub's current Madison area competitors are unionized?

Mike

The only truly Madison based competitors would be Willy Street Co-op and Metcalfe. The first is a Co-op (and therefore not a union?) and I'm not sure about Metcalfe. There is also a "Fresh Madison Market" mini grocery store mainly serving students on campus.

Other area grocery stores include Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Cops, Sentry, Woodmans, and Hyvee.

I think they might have some unionized and some not. The owners of Metcalfe's had to make a whole long statement after they became a symbol during the protests and a target of boycott because the Metcalfe's are huge Scott Walker supporters.

new edgewater video sent to alders

http://bit.ly/edgewatervideo

http://www.facebook.com/EdgewaterHotel2012

I've never understood why there's so much animosity towards the edgewater. I can understand people's unhappiness over $16 million in TIF money but not being against the project in general.

I've never understood why there's so much animosity towards the edgewater. I can understand people's unhappiness over $16 million in TIF money but not being against the project in general.

Speaking for myself, I thought the original design was crummy; a bad match for the existing building and the neighborhood, and I had seen how ineptly the developer, Hammes, had handled a previous project in a sensitive urban setting.
That said, the updated design seems to be a more caring and better fit for its surroundings.

Biz Beat: Mid-rise apartments rise behind Acacia House (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/biz-beat-mid-rise-apartments-rise-behind-acacia-house/article_b0b39022-0b23-11e1-854f-001cc4c002e0.html)
MIKE IVEY | The Capital Times | mivey@madison.com | Posted: Thursday, November 10, 2011 9:00 am

It took a couple of years to complete the deal but a $5 million, mid-rise apartment is going up behind the historic Acacia fraternity house on the UW campus.
A groundbreaking ceremony is at 4 p.m. Thursday at 229 W. Lakelawn Place, just off Langdon Street.
The five-level building will have 14 units and 59 bedrooms of student housing, along with 20 moped and 61 bicycle parking spots. No vehicle parking will be provided.
Owned and managed by Hovde Properties, the apartment building replaces a gravel parking lot behind the frat house.

More (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/biz-beat-mid-rise-apartments-rise-behind-acacia-house/article_b0b39022-0b23-11e1-854f-001cc4c002e0.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/09/e090f1c4-0bbc-11e1-9355-001cc4c002e0/4ebc0224b1f3e.image.jpg

In other news Epic announced their next round of building expansions. Their exurban campus is fairly interesting to look at, but not at all urban in any sense of the word. They are a huge employer (soon to be the largest private employer) in the Madison area and have added jobs in the order of thousands every recent year; very refreshing in the otherwise stalled Wisconsin economy.

Does anyone have a photo of a Madison population sign?

Madison's population signs are all way out of date (off by 10's of thousands) and not always placed on some of the most prominent entry points into the city. Since they never change, Google Street view might be your best bet for getting the current signs.

Madison's population signs are all way out of date (off by 10's of thousands) and not always placed on some of the most prominent entry points into the city. Since they never change, Google Street view might be your best bet for getting the current signs.

So you don't have a picture.

Anyone else?

I don't have a picture handy, and was just trying to help. Not sure how clear you needed the picture to be and was suggesting that google maps could be a source, again depending on how clear you needed them to be.

My camera is broken currently but should get it fixed soon to try and get one. Two signs I always see are on Fish Hatchery Road near greenway cross and on Verona Road near Raymond Road

Does anyone have a photo of a Madison population sign?

If ure local theres a decorative population sign on john nolen just off the beltine near the sheraton..think it states 208k or something to that effect. Sorry no photo tho

Looks like the council under the direction of Soglin has effectively ended the Edgewater project.

Anyone know how the Energy Institute is coming along/looking? I wasn't all that thrilled about the design but it will be great to have some infill on that old Health Services site on campus.

Does this article - from the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram mean that Madison could get left off of a potential High Speed rail route between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities? This new route, preferred by the MN DOT, goes through La Crosse, Tomah, Portage and Milwaukee. The route between Portage and Milwaukee would seem to use a rail line that runs just northeast of Sun Prarie. Since Gov. Walker didn't want to take the federal HSR funds for the route from Milwaukee to Madison -- his action could now result in Wisconsin's second largest city being left off of the Midwest HSR map.

I'm sure there will be plenty more said about these plans before any type of funding might start going toward HSR improvements in the NW quadrant of the Midwest -- yet this finding just seems like it will further complicate any future discussions on the topic.

http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/10451881/mn-wi-high-speed-rail-plan-shuts-out-chippewa-valley

I looked at this map & it seems it will still go through Madison... does it? I couldn'd find a map with better resolution, the last link posted wouldn't work for me.

http://www.mnhighspeedrail.com/html/mn-rail-route.php

Anyway, this is still worse than the earlier plan... less rail & stations in WI means less economic development. At least they didn't decide to bypass WI & go through Northern IL... yet.

I believe it follows the current Empire Builder route.

Anyone know how the Energy Institute is coming along/looking? I wasn't all that thrilled about the design but it will be great to have some infill on that old Health Services site on campus.

most current info i found:

http://www.energy.wisc.edu/?page_id=3050

http://www.energy.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/WEI-July-2011-Newsletter.pdf

https://fpm-www3.fpm.wisc.edu/cpd/CurrentProjects/WisconsinEnergyInstitute/tabid/202/Default.aspx

If it follows the empire builder then yes Madison will be left off of the route

^^
Remember that for true high-speed rail service to be competitive with airlines on a major corridor, there must be as few intermediate stops as possible, using a routing that is as direct as possible. Chicago-MStP would require trains that run 'express' (*NO* intermediate stops) to be competitive with airlines, while any intermediate stations would be served by local/regional trains. I'm kind of wondering how they'll route a 350 km/h (about 220 MPH) line though Wisconsin, especially curving it though the La Crosse area (can you say "massive tunneling"?) while maintaining the 7000 meter (about 4 miles) minimum horizontal curve radius that would be required for Chicago-MStP trains to be able to maintain a 350 km/h track speed the whole way. (A challenge here - find a corridor though the Madison area that would fit that engineering parameter, with bonus points for including a stop in the Isthmus area.)

For such a line to work, both Milwaukee and Madison (and the Fox Valley, for that matter) will have to be branches off of it, served by 'enhanced speed' regional trains that would be capable of operating at full speed on the parts of their routes that would use the true high-speed mainline.

Just being realistic here, guys.

Mike

^^
Remember that for true high-speed rail service to be competitive with airlines on a major corridor, there must be as few intermediate stops as possible, using a routing that is as direct as possible. Chicago-MStP would require trains that run 'express' (*NO* intermediate stops) to be competitive with airlines, while any intermediate stations would be served by local/regional trains. I'm kind of wondering how they'll route a 350 km/h (about 220 MPH) line though Wisconsin, especially curving it though the La Crosse area (can you say "massive tunneling"?) while maintaining the 7000 meter (about 4 miles) minimum horizontal curve radius that would be required for Chicago-MStP trains to be able to maintain a 350 km/h track speed the whole way. (A challenge here - find a corridor though the Madison area that would fit that engineering parameter, with bonus points for including a stop in the Isthmus area.)

For such a line to work, both Milwaukee and Madison (and the Fox Valley, for that matter) will have to be branches off of it, served by 'enhanced speed' regional trains that would be capable of operating at full speed on the parts of their routes that would use the true high-speed mainline.

Just being realistic here, guys.

Mike

No offense, but a system like you're descibing isn't being built here or anywhere in the US. With our current political & economic climate, I don't see one being built in the forseable future. Even CA rail seems less like a possibility every day.

As for what is actually proposed though, Madison should be connected to maximize the line's utility

Yes, I'm still not real sure about the route through Wisconsin. My earlier post (above) was just based on the text from the Eau Claire newspaper which didn't mention Madison -- but did mention Portage and Tomah and La Crosse - which are all smaller than Madison. I do know that the map shown in the MN High Speed Rail web page is taken from a document that was prepared about 8 or 9 years ago, so I'm not sure if it really reflects the latest findings from MNDOT's study. That MN plan does show the route going through Madison -- which does make sense to me -- however, as MGK920 said, it will add time to the route to go through Madison -- especially if they want to get onto - or very close to - the isthmus.

Yes, I'm still not real sure about the route through Wisconsin. My earlier post (above) was just based on the text from the Eau Claire newspaper which didn't mention Madison -- but did mention Portage and Tomah and La Crosse - which are all smaller than Madison. I do know that the map shown in the MN High Speed Rail web page is taken from a document that was prepared about 8 or 9 years ago, so I'm not sure if it really reflects the latest findings from MNDOT's study. That MN plan does show the route going through Madison -- which does make sense to me -- however, as MGK920 said, it will add time to the route to go through Madison -- especially if they want to get onto - or very close to - the isthmus.
I have pondered such routings little over a year or so ago and to include Madison on a true high-speed (350 km/h track speed) Chicago-MStP route would require that its entire route be bored-tunneled under the city with the Madison station being at least 50 meters below street grade in the Monona Terrace/city hall area (likely 15-20 meters below lake water level) in order to allow Chicago-MStP express through trains to blow through at full speed.

My best routing would enter the tunnel somewhere just east of the I-39/90/94/WI 30 'Badger' interchange, run westward under the city and Lake Monona from there to that Madison station (two platform tracks and two express though tracks in the station tunnel), emerge somewhere along US 14 between Middleton and Cross Plains and follow along US 14, curving northward past Black Earth and Mazomanie to then pass just west of Sauk Prairie, then continue northward near US 12 past Baraboo (tunnel under that moraine ridge) to a station on the west edge of Wisconsin Dells by the I-90/94/WI 13 interchange (yes, I would also strongly consider an intermediate stop at West Baraboo), then roughly follow along the interstates from there on northwestward. East of Madison, there would have to be a split where the line to Milwaukee would diverge from the mainline to Chicago somewhere near Watertown or Johnson Creek, with the Chicago mainline then roughly following along US 12 to the southeast.

Think: $$$$$

Mike

A period of overhead track somewhere on the east side like the mall, airport or the east transfer point could be feasible in the future and wouldn't be massively expensive (and in fact cheaper than constantly adding lanes to freeways and much, much, much cheaper than building new freeways). Downtown Madison is enough of a draw- any train doesn't need to go there- it's just that driving to Columbus or Milwaukee or the Dells to catch a train defeats the purpose.

Lots of small to big projects happening on the northside:

new gas station across from esquire club:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1101nsa_site2_Page_01.jpg

construction has begun on new ale asylum off packers ave: :cheers:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/untitled-9.jpg


pizza hut is relocating from their site in front of the new demoed brennans:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/projects/reports/1438nd_intent.pdf
assuming a new uw credit union is to follow:
http://www.uwcu.org/PressRoom/PressReleases/View.aspx?id=92


MATC:
Health Education-elevator cores poured-bldg structure to follow
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1-3.jpg


Bids were due for the following in Oct.

Gateway Entrance
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/2-3.jpg

Ingenuity Center
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/3-2.jpg

Protective Services Building
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/4-1.jpg

In addition, MATC is looking to develop dormitories at the Truax campus

Go Northside :banana:

Wow, a lot going on up there. The North side is the side I least frequent, so it's good to see all of these projects.

Wow, a lot going on up there. The North side is the side I least frequent, so it's good to see all of these projects.

i had the same experience until i purchased a home in the area - lots of space for not so much money, close to lake mendota and maple bluff. my commute to downtown is 10 min. my wife works on the west side and has a reverse commute with regards to heavy traffic. she claims her commute is "downright enjoyable" then when we lived downtown and she had to ride the beltline to the westside. our future concerns are the elementary/middle schools for our daughter. also not proud to admit it, but we're both excited for woodman's and costco to open in sun prairie as thats less than 10 min away too. and my backyard is perfect for rythmn and booms!

Grandview Commons Town Center

109,000 sq. ft. future retail/office, 24,000 sq. ft. public library, 110 multi-family units and a subdivision plan for 18 single-family lots, 5 town center lots and 1 outlot

updated renderings

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/851jd_concepts10.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/851jd_concepts11.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/851jd_concepts12.jpg

Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital and Clinics building new $47 million replacement hospital.

Breaking ground in Spring 2012

http://www.wiscnews.com/saukprairieeagle/news/local/article_509dbc10-1ad9-11e1-84a0-001cc4c002e0.html

Is there really a gas station in this thread? ;)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/851jd_concepts10.jpg
Half this parking will sit empty 99% of the time. I don't understand why big box stores have to insist on so much parking all the time.

Otherwise I like the walkability that they have incorporated into these plans. I was very close to buying a townhome in Grandview Commons when I moved to the area a few years ago. (Instead I bought a townhome in downtown Sun Prairie, and have loved it here since.)

Is there really a gas station in this thread? ;)

Only because I know the designer...lol

MIKE IVEY | The Capital Times | mivey@madison.com | @BizBeatIvey | Posted: Sunday, December 4, 2011 6:00 am

Biz Beat: Hundreds of new apartment units eyed for Madison (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/biz-beat-hundreds-of-new-apartment-units-eyed-for-madison/article_3c39c608-1d1b-11e1-ae1e-001871e3ce6c.html)

While the market for owner-occupied housing remains weak, the interest in new apartment construction in Madison is soaring.
A number of major projects are envisioned, including plans for a 12-story apartment tower near the UW-Madison campus and an architecturally intriguing 115-unit project facing Monona Bay.
...
Vacancies in Madison are at their lowest level in years: 2.6 percent as of the third quarter of 2011. With the mortgage market still tight, many are choosing to rent rather than own.
...

Full Article (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/biz-beat-hundreds-of-new-apartment-units-eyed-for-madison/article_3c39c608-1d1b-11e1-ae1e-001871e3ce6c.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/83/3836010e-1d1e-11e1-99ea-001871e3ce6c/4ed92ae6b22ef.image.jpg

MIKE IVEY | The Capital Times | mivey@madison.com | @BizBeatIvey | Posted: Sunday, December 4, 2011 6:00 am

Biz Beat: Hundreds of new apartment units eyed for Madison (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/biz-beat-hundreds-of-new-apartment-units-eyed-for-madison/article_3c39c608-1d1b-11e1-ae1e-001871e3ce6c.html)

While the market for owner-occupied housing remains weak, the interest in new apartment construction in Madison is soaring.
A number of major projects are envisioned, including plans for a 12-story apartment tower near the UW-Madison campus and an architecturally intriguing 115-unit project facing Monona Bay.
...
Vacancies in Madison are at their lowest level in years: 2.6 percent as of the third quarter of 2011. With the mortgage market still tight, many are choosing to rent rather than own.
...

Full Article (http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/biz-beat-hundreds-of-new-apartment-units-eyed-for-madison/article_3c39c608-1d1b-11e1-ae1e-001871e3ce6c.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/83/3836010e-1d1e-11e1-99ea-001871e3ce6c/4ed92ae6b22ef.image.jpg

Like!

New bike and pedestrian bridge planned over Beltline (http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/new-bike-and-pedestrian-bridge-planned-over-beltline/article_2e285692-20e0-11e1-8541-0019bb2963f4.html)


BILL NOVAK | The Capital Times | bnovak@madison.com | Posted: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 10:00 am

Bicyclists and pedestrians will have a safer way to cross the Beltline between Fish Hatchery Road and Todd Drive by the end of next year.
The Cannonball Path, a major four-mile route from Fitchburg and south Madison into the central city, will make a 750-foot jump over the Beltline and North Frontage Road, with construction scheduled for late 2012.
The $3.7 million bridge will connect the path that uses an old Union Pacific Railroad corridor south of the freeway to the railroad corridor north of the frontage road.

More (http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/new-bike-and-pedestrian-bridge-planned-over-beltline/article_2e285692-20e0-11e1-8541-0019bb2963f4.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/1b/11bbffa8-20eb-11e1-a7b5-001871e3ce6c/4edf8b127809a.image.jpg

The Madison region pleasantly amazes me with the amount of infrastructure it is willing to put in place for bikers. I'm not aware of any other city in the US the size of Madison that has this intensity of quality biking infrastructure while continuing its expansions. This has been one of my favorite aspects of living in the Madison area, and one that I will miss dearly if I ever moved away.

That being said, I have a question about Madison's conversion of urban rail corridors into trails. This project expands upon what was previously a rail line owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The SW path also follows a previous rail corridor. There is another rail line near Monona that for years has had the same 10 or so abandoned rail cars parked on it. What caused these rail lines to be decommissioned in the first place?

With the increasing difficulty of getting freight through and to Madison (caused by an increasing population and urbanization of the region) it seems like these old rail lines would have been increasingly crucial to the transportation network of the region. Both freight and eventual passenger services could have benefited from these rails. It seems like decommissioning a good fraction of the region's rail network (comparable perhaps to the decommissioning of several regional highways and thoroughfares) is counter productive in achieving the region's transportation goals. While I'm very happy that we now have all these amazing bike trails as a result, can anybody please explain what led to the decline and eventual retirement of these old rail lines? Are existing active rail lines in the region also at risk?

^^
Lack of freight business on those routes and the fact that the companies that operate the trains in the USA also generally own and maintain the infrastructure that their trains operate on. The Military Ridge trail was the 'trunk' of a low-density branch network with zero through traffic that served little towns all over the area southwest of Madison as far as Platteville while the route to Monroe, WI and Freeport, IL was a low-density branchline that just didn't fit into the Illinois Central system.

If the USA's rails operated on an 'open access' system, perhaps one or more of those lines may still be in use, but we have a ways to go before something like that can be set up or converted to.

Mike

http://m.host.madison.com/mobile/article_15f99732-3e1a-11e1-bdf7-001871e3ce6c.html

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/firm-drops-plans-for-mautz-paint-site-on-east-wash/article_8a196b80-3e3b-11e1-b6dc-001871e3ce6c.html

UW cows get upgrade and mautz paint redevelopment

If the USA's rails operated on an 'open access' system, perhaps one or more of those lines may still be in use, but we have a ways to go before something like that can be set up or converted to.

You've mentioned this before. What is the reason this hasn't been done? It seems reasonable enough. I know the railroads complain about all the subsides the trucking industry gets that they don't.

Everyone else, sorry for going off topic there.

You've mentioned this before. What is the reason this hasn't been done? It seems reasonable enough. I know the railroads complain about all the subsides the trucking industry gets that they don't.

Everyone else, sorry for going off topic there.
The railroad biz in North America has been very cutthroat going back to the very beginning and the various companies are still very leery of each other. They simply don't want others treading on their own turf, especially with highly profitable bulk shipment contracts, being fierce competitive rivals with the others for that and other traffic. It is not unusual for them to even practice 'protective' abandonments simply to keep potential rivals out.

Yes, converting to 'open access', where other agencies own, maintain and dispatch the rail infrastructure while the operating companies concentrate on running the trains (like now with trucks, buses and cars with roads, airlines and GA with airports and so forth) will allow rivals onto the current companies 'turf', BUT, it will also allow those companies to expand into rivals' markets and free them all of having to take care of the infrastructure. It would also allow easy entry and exit from local markets (market entry in the rail business is pretty much impossible now - about the only way to do so is to completely buy out a rival) and allow others to start their own services. For example, major trucking companies such as Schneider or JBHunt could begin their own intermodal rail services to ferry their own trailers and containers between their various terminals with their own crews and equipment, no longer having to worry about having to hire potentially uninterested existing railroad companies to do that job, and do it on their own schedules. Electric utilities and/or coal mines would run their own mine-to-power plant trains on their own schedules and on routes of their own choosing. The possibilities are endless. Ditto with passenger services.

I can easily foresee a new 'golden age' of railroading quickly emerging should a way be found to do that - it would 'level the playing field' between trucks and the much more efficient rails.

Also, IMHO, our rail infrastructure is just to important to our private economy and other true public interests to continue to operate it in the 'old fashioned' way.

Mike

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/grocery-business-awakens-in-area/article_ce3b31df-1d3a-566d-b433-2cdd230492f4.html


Last week, Metcalfe’s Market began converting the former Cub Foods near West Towne Mall into an almost identical version of its popular store at the Hilldale Shopping Center. It will feature a massive deli, more than 2,500 locally produced food items and a full-service meat counter, meaning no shrink-wrapped steaks and hamburger.

Meanwhile, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, which opened its first Wisconsin store on East Washington Avenue in 2009, announced that after almost three years of legal tie-ups, it has finalized purchase of the Westgate Shopping Center on Whitney Way.

The company soon will begin tearing down the south end of the shopping center to make way for an 80,000-square-foot store that will open in 2013, at about the same time as a new Hy-Vee store in Fitchburg. next to super target on mckee
Costco, Woodman’s Market and Wal-Mart are building stores in Sun Prairie, and Miller & Sons is planning a larger store in Mount Horeb. On Wednesday, Madison’s Urban Design Commission is scheduled to review the general development plan for Grandview Commons on the Far East Side. The Veridian Homes project includes plans for a 58,000-square-foot Copps grocery store.

That HyVee in Fitchburg will be right next to a super target and an Aldi. Fitchburg and Sun Prairie are becoming grocer store meccas.

The other HyVee is in the empty part of Westgate but right across from a Copps' so lots of grocery competition is going to be going on soon.

There hasn't been much going on this thread lately and since I happened to by default drive by most of the major construction projects going by I thought I would give an update, Did not get any pictures though.

The Wisconsin energy institutute is coming along nicely as well as the fairly large apartment buidling (at least I assume that's what it is) along Campus Avenue and Highland. Both gordon commons and the charter street gas power plant appear to be close to being done.

Some interesting things downtown: We may have lost the edgewater but there's the library, the block 100 project and the mueseum's could remake that corner of the square.

Block 100 is going through the Madison-style stuff. Historic preservation and neighborhood character versus developer's wishes (hopefully the end product is good for this corner that includes the overature center and the library):
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/urban-design-commission-sees-potential-in-block-plan/article_6d8ce022-4da0-11e1-8245-001871e3ce6c.html
and
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/landmarks-commission-seeks-more-time-to-consider-block-of-state/article_79b1da72-4bfe-11e1-a7a7-0019bb2963f4.html
I'm not sure where I fall not knowing the history of the buildings and specifically which ones would be torn down, however the main rendering shows a vast improvement for Fairchild Street facing the overature center and I disagree that the plaza proposed will take away from the urbanity and density which is quite nice about the state street district.

Perhaps the most interesting recent news about a potential new development which would free up space in 2 buildings on the square and create new mueseum space as well as other new real estate:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/state-makes-progress-on-million-joint-museum-project/article_42f23020-4ee4-11e1-9856-0019bb2963f4.html

And here's a fun one and good for the mustard mueseum in Middleton:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/peta-offers-a-helping-hand-to-struggling-mustard-museum-with/article_63646f5c-4e0e-11e1-afdf-001871e3ce6c.html
---------------------------------------------------
In Fitchburg:
The Library that opened this summer
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/84/84/8/70/85/2577870850080132228kSQeVK_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2577870850080132228kSQeVK)
The new expansion to the community center
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/82/482/0/76/13/2711076130080132228GTvzgT_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2711076130080132228GTvzgT)
Progress on Promega's expansion
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/86/86/6/46/80/2365646800080132228VtEbtj_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2365646800080132228VtEbtj)

Thanks for the updates Atrain. It sometimes seems like new developements have come to a stop in Madison, but there is a lot going on.

In addition to your list, work continues on the expansions around MATC's NE campus. The steel structures for the future nursing building and another building appear to be complete. I'm glad to see that campus growing larger which will in turn lead to more students having an opportunity to get an affordable education in Madison. There's a strong demand for MATC's nursing program, and this addition will help create teaching jobs and answer the demand for nursing graduates.

The second tower for the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research is now fully topped off and looking good. (This is currently the tallest building under construction in Madison at 8 stories). There is a fairly large dormatory complex under construction nearby that is also coming along.

Closer to my neck of the woods in Sun Prairie, Woodmans (you either love them or hate them) has their structure up and will probably spend the next few months finishing the insides and getting set up. There's a couple apartment buildings going up around SP (including one downtown) and Costco and Marcus Cinemas should be starting construction shortly on Hwy C.

Last time I was in Fitchburg it looked like the city was trying to build a downtown of sorts out by where the new library is. I noticed that the buildings there were closer to each other and fairly compact. It would be great if they could keep up that effort and add more residential and retail to add some pedestrian activity to the area.

I agree there's some open lots there that I would love to see some higher density housing in to support more businesses, now there's a cafe, a bar, a restaurant only a few other businesses in the "downtown area."

Block 100 Project has been well recieved by urban design commission.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/chairman-says-urban-design-commission-open-to-bold-plan-to/article_9bf03e1c-5347-11e1-bd2f-001871e3ce6c.html

picture update on construction at UW-Hospital- this is making an impact on the hospital's skyline and you can clearly see it from the hill near where Segoe Dr. and University meet.
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/90/90/7/31/68/2769731680080132228MjecOl_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2769731680080132228MjecOl)
apartment building at highland and campus ave.
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/52/752/3/54/8/2770354080080132228OUjAuM_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2770354080080132228OUjAuM)
UW-energy institute
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/84/84/1/21/3/2615121030080132228XryGqu_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2615121030080132228XryGqu)
charter street heating plant
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/52/752/5/43/26/2871543260080132228zkvIei_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2871543260080132228zkvIei)
gordon commons-not a great picture at showing the building
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/81/81/2/78/85/2007278850080132228qyJiss_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2007278850080132228qyJiss)

ULI will purchase and redevelop the burned Capitol Hill Apts building @ 24 N Webster.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/burned-downtown-building-gets-new-life/article_481afa0c-5644-11e1-b898-001871e3ce6c.html

UW Alumni Park Renderings:

Alumni Park will connect the space between the Red Gym and Memorial Union to Lake Mendota and Library Mall across Langdon Street, and will be entirely funded by the Wisconsin Alumni Association to commemorate the organization’s 150-year anniversary.

The park will be an $8 million project and will complete the east campus master plan included in UW’s 2011-13 budget.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/2-4.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1-4.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/3-3.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/4-2.jpg

Children's Hospital announces $32 million expansion (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/children-s-hospital-announces-million-expansion/article_18ba5be0-5b0d-11e1-a4ee-001871e3ce6c.html)
State Journal staff | Posted: Sunday, February 19, 2012 4:30 am

Plans for a $32 million expansion of American Family Children's Hospital were announced Saturday at a Friends of UW Hospital and Clinics gala benefit, a UW Hospital spokeswoman said.
Construction is expected to begin later this year and will include a surgical neonatal intensive care unit, pediatric imaging suite, cardiac catheterization lab and two more operating rooms, said spokeswoman Toni Morrissey. There will be a $16.4 million fundraising campaign, along with a $15.6 million commitment from the hospital, Morrissey said.

More (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/children-s-hospital-announces-million-expansion/article_18ba5be0-5b0d-11e1-a4ee-001871e3ce6c.html)

City gets new suitor for 800 block of East Washington Avenue development (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/city-gets-new-suitor-for-block-of-east-washington-avenue/article_808781fe-084f-509c-87a2-2ddad34ac4a4.html)

DEAN MOSIMAN | Wisconsin State Journal | dmosiman@madison.com | 608-252-6141 | @DeanMosiman | Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2012 7:15 am

Suddenly, Madison has two major, unique redevelopment proposals for the same full-block site on East Washington Avenue.
Although another developer already is negotiating to acquire the city-owned site, Metcalfe’s Market is proposing a $45 million alternative including a supermarket with a rooftop farm, a hotel, office and commercial space, housing and a parking garage on the full 800 block of the street.
...
He says the project has financing and is “shovel ready.”
...
The developer now negotiating with the city, Urban Land Interests, still wants to buy the 4.5-acre site for its mixed-use project with 160,000 square feet of commercial space with an emphasis on high-tech tenants, 85 apartments and a 400-space parking garage.
...
“There are some appealing elements to the proposal the Metcalfes put forward,” Soglin said. But “we will continue discussions with ULI. If we come to a resolution with them, that will be the recommendation. If we can’t work it out, then we will go back to a new request for proposals.”

Read More (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/city-gets-new-suitor-for-block-of-east-washington-avenue/article_808781fe-084f-509c-87a2-2ddad34ac4a4.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/01/a01e1008-5dc0-11e1-abb2-001871e3ce6c/4f45a84d2f125.image.png

To me this seems like a more exciting project than what is currently proposed since it includes a full service grocery store with no signs of surface parking. In addition the project is "shovel ready" and has full financial backing already. Contrast this to the ULI proposal which the article says could still be 5 years away from construction. Mayor Soglin wants to give ULI a chance to see their project through though, which makes sense given that they did go through the appropriate channels including submitting their proposal on time.

This one is target towards downtown workers, not students:

A developer is offering another ambitious project for the core Downtown, this time a 14-story, $25 million mixed-use project near Overture Center and State Street.
The city is intrigued and also asked Hovde Properties to explore the feasibility of including new Downtown Fire Department facilities, which could roughly double the cost, size, housing units and parking spaces in the project.


Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/story-mixed-use-apartment-building-proposed-for-downtown-madison/article_89a28c60-6265-11e1-b7e3-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1nmaTLdPo


http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/story-mixed-use-apartment-building-proposed-for-downtown-madison/article_89a28c60-6265-11e1-b7e3-0019bb2963f4.html

Block 100 Foundation Redevelopment Images/Elevations form Urban Design Comission presentation. Potter Lawson

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1-5.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/2-5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/looksee/scraper/block100.jpg

I think I'd better comment on what I just posted because the image gives a misleading impression of what the existing block is actually like.

It may look attractive and inviting in the "Streetview" photo, but it's anything but. I walk down this block several times a week, and it is empty, dead and dreary, in spite of its proximity to the Square and State Street, really only a few yards away.

I personally think that the proposed plaza would help reconnect the block with the nearby activity. Of course the intention is to provide a view of the Capitol from Overture, but it would also give a better view of Overture from the Square, and a much needed positive perspective of Overture from a bit more distance across Fairchild.

I won't say that the existing corner building is without some architectural merit, but it's like your old Psych.101 textbook, moldering away at the bottom of a pile of other yellowing tomes in a cardboard box somewhere in your parents' basement; it will never be repurposed.

I can't pretend that the new building is real eye candy either, but I think that with the Library reconstruction, and a possible expansion of the Historical Museum, both across the street from the new park, a bit of a cultural campus may result.

Two big stories today relating to development plans in Madison.

Big housing, retail project eyed for South Park Street (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/big-housing-retail-project-eyed-for-south-park-street/article_ce00319c-671e-11e1-86bf-001871e3ce6c.html)
DEAN MOSIMAN | Wisconsin State Journal | dmosiman@madison.com | 608-252-6141 | Posted: Monday, March 5, 2012 6:00 pm

In another sign of rebirth for a worn Downtown gateway, a developer is proposing a five-story housing and retail project for the 500 block of South Park Street.
...
Gallina, based in Mount Horeb, is proposing to build a 65,400-square-foot building that would have 56 apartments, 4,000 square feet of retail and 54 parking spaces on the corner of South Park and Drake streets. The site is between Meriter and St. Mary's hospitals.
...
Under Gallina's proposal, the building would be three stories on Park Street and then step up to five stories. The structure steps back down to three stories along Drake Street, with town houses with walk-up entries intended to blend with the residential neighborhood.

Read More (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/big-housing-retail-project-eyed-for-south-park-street/article_ce00319c-671e-11e1-86bf-001871e3ce6c.html)
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/9e/39ed1df2-671f-11e1-b01a-001871e3ce6c/4f55539ecc96e.image.jpg

American Family Children's Hospital to expand by two floors (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/american-family-children-s-hospital-to-expand-by-two-floors/article_4824903e-66e4-11e1-a792-001871e3ce6c.html)
DAVID WAHLBERG | Wisconsin State Journal | dwahlberg@madison.com | 608-252-6125 | Posted: Monday, March 5, 2012 6:05 pm

UW Hospital plans to build two more floors atop its six-story, 61-bed American Family Children's Hospital, officials announced Monday.
The new plan expands one announced last month to add 26 beds, including a 14-bed surgical neonatal intensive care unit, and other services. The new floors add $13 million to the cost of the project, now $45 million.
...
He said average occupancy at the children's hospital was 73 percent last fiscal year and 80 percent so far this year. That's about as high as hospitals can go, given seasonal variation and the need to accept emergency patients, experts say.
The $45 million cost will be covered by $28.6 million from UW Hospital and $16.4 million in fundraising. Half of the total upgrade of $88 million will come from fundraising, Poltawsky said.
Construction within the children's hospital on an imaging suite, cardiac catheterization lab, interventional radiology and two additional operating rooms is expected to begin this year and be completed in 2014.

Read More (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/american-family-children-s-hospital-to-expand-by-two-floors/article_4824903e-66e4-11e1-a792-001871e3ce6c.html)

Two big stories today relating to development plans in Madison.

Big housing, retail project eyed for South Park Street (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/big-housing-retail-project-eyed-for-south-park-street/article_ce00319c-671e-11e1-86bf-001871e3ce6c.html)
DEAN MOSIMAN | Wisconsin State Journal | dmosiman@madison.com | 608-252-6141 | Posted: Monday, March 5, 2012 6:00 pm

In another sign of rebirth for a worn Downtown gateway, a developer is proposing a five-story housing and retail project for the 500 block of South Park Street.
...
Gallina, based in Mount Horeb, is proposing to build a 65,400-square-foot building that would have 56 apartments, 4,000 square feet of retail and 54 parking spaces on the corner of South Park and Drake streets. The site is between Meriter and St. Mary's hospitals.
...
Under Gallina's proposal, the building would be three stories on Park Street and then step up to five stories. The structure steps back down to three stories along Drake Street, with town houses with walk-up entries intended to blend with the residential neighborhood.

Read More (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/big-housing-retail-project-eyed-for-south-park-street/article_ce00319c-671e-11e1-86bf-001871e3ce6c.html)
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/9e/39ed1df2-671f-11e1-b01a-001871e3ce6c/4f55539ecc96e.image.jpg

I like the added density, but am sad theyre not planning to save any of the ideal body building. No doubt it was built well and is now destined for a landfill. If its torn down it should be replaced with something of higher design caliber and construction. At a minimum they could save the park st facade and allow that to influence the new construction. St marys made a damn good effort to incorporate into the neighborhood and offer neighborhood amenities in its large expansion...much better than meriter tower that killed the street wall...

I don't have the link handy but there's a proposal for a large building downtown on Mufflin. Soglin wants it to be 14 stories and include a new fire station.

I don't have the link handy

Wisconsin State Journal (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/story-mixed-use-apartment-building-proposed-for-downtown-madison/article_89a28c60-6265-11e1-b7e3-0019bb2963f4.html)

That same 14-story Hovde proposal got a warm reception at the city's finance committee.

another proposed so so student apt development...W Dayton St & N Brooks St

http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/projects/reports/206nbs_intent.pdf

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/206nbs_site12.jpg

^^ Good infill for an already dense area. UW has a tendency to want to block projects in this area so that they can use the land in the future to expand their campus.

Article today on redevelopment of the south park street area.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/south-park-street-redevelopment-could-double-value-of-area/article_36c7044a-6fcf-11e1-9fe4-0019bb2963f4.html

Also two shots of the new infill project called Gorman Commons on the corner of Glenway and Monroe Street on the near west side
http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/81/81/4/79/97/2502479970080132228BKwgdf_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2502479970080132228BKwgdf)

http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/90/90/7/39/32/2642739320080132228xDeaFn_th.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2642739320080132228xDeaFn)

New $52M UW nursing school building will allow for expansion of program (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/new-m-uw-nursing-school-building-will-allow-for-expansion/article_05b6de0a-705d-11e1-8564-0019bb2963f4.html)

DAVID WAHLBERG | Wisconsin State Journal | dwahlberg@madison.com | 608-252-6125 | Posted: Saturday, March 17, 2012 5:00 pm

Construction on the $52 million building is to begin in May, with groundbreaking events next month. The five-story facility will allow enrollment of nursing students to expand, helping offset a projected shortage of 23,000 nurses in Wisconsin by 2035, May said.
...
The building, to be called Signe Skott Cooper Hall, is to open in the fall of 2014 across Highland Avenue from UW Hospital, south of Rennebohm Hall, the pharmacy building. Cooper, an alumnus and former professor at the school, pledged her estate and that of her sister, Hilda, who died in 2000.

Those and other gifts are expected to raise $17.4 million, with about $34 million coming from the state.

Now housed inside UW Hospital and the adjacent Health Sciences Learning Center, the nursing school admits 130 undergraduates a year. It has 50 students in a clinical doctorate program and 29 seeking their Ph.Ds.
In the new building, undergraduate enrollment is expected to grow to 170 to 180 students a year. Plans call for 150 to 175 clinical doctorate students and 65 to 70 getting their Ph.Ds.
...
The Center for Technology Trained Learning, which will take up most of the second floor, will include the simulated clinic, hospital and home environments. Students will be able to "hand off" care from one place to another and stage mock events such as measles epidemics and nursing home fires.
A large classroom on the first floor will seat up to 360 students in circular tables, with mock electronic medical records on computers. Nursing, medical and pharmacy students will work in teams to solve problems, such as surgery complications and medication errors.

Read More (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/health_med_fit/new-m-uw-nursing-school-building-will-allow-for-expansion/article_05b6de0a-705d-11e1-8564-0019bb2963f4.html)

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/e2/6e29358c-705d-11e1-995f-0019bb2963f4/4f64d52e0928a.image.jpg

IMO this is the most important UW project in years. This project will help our state's undergrads get trained in an in-demand field and obtain well-paying jobs within our state. It is a big win for everyone, and I'm glad to see construction beginning on this facility next month.

LT McGrath, LLC is proposing a 4-story 60-unit apartment building on the bike path opposite the Tobacco Lofts.

640 West, construction start June 2012

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/636w2.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/636w1.jpg

:banana: for added density
:ohno: for design

Looks like a great infill project. Nothing overly fancy or architecturally spectacular - but just a good, solid, higher density infill project. Nice.

University Crossing Redevelopment Project Updates

http://www.cityofmadison.com/council/district19/development/

Demolition and construction for Phase 1 is underway
Planning and approval process for Phase 2 is underway (see below). Initial approval was granted by UDC on 3/7/12

Phase 1:
60,000 square-foot digestive health clinic for UW Hospital

Phase 2:
Apartment building with 115 units and 5,800 sq. ft. of first floor retail surrounding 340-stall parking garage, and construct 54,000 sq. ft. retail/office building

Retail/Office Building:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/1-6.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/2-6.jpg

Phase 2 Apartment Building:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/3-4.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/gehrijac/4-3.jpg

0_86645_79c88243_XXXL.jpeg

:)

MATC plans $8 million culinary institute at Downtown campus

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/host.madison.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/ef/fefa12a2-82aa-11e1-8dbf-001a4bcf887a/4f838a412f3a7.image.jpg

Madison Area Technical College officials want to move the school's culinary and baking institute to a highly visible location Downtown in an effort to give the program one of the best tables in the house.

College officials are expected to ask the district board for approval Wednesday to build a three-story facility at the Downtown campus for culinary, baking and hospitality programs at a cost of $8 million, using money approved in a 2010 building referendum.

The building will contain a retail bakery, a dining room and a demonstration kitchen, all of which will be prominently displayed in a glass building on the corner of West Johnson Street and Wisconsin Avenue. The programs are currently located at the East Side Truax campus.

It will mean students and faculty will be in the epicenter of the city's restaurants and hotels, as well as Madison's premier farmers' market, said Paul Short, program director for the culinary arts program.

"The opportunity for us is tremendous," he said.

The facility was not specifically identified in the referendum question posed to voters, but Roger Price, senior vice president for administration, said the question was flexible enough to allow for the construction. The referendum calls for up to $133.8 million in spending on projects included in the Campus Master Plan. He said the culinary school project is possible because construction costs for other projects, such as a new health building, are lower than expected.

Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, said the building likely meets the letter of the law, but college officials may want to consider whether it's wise from a public relations perspective because the project wasn't cited when the college pitched the referendum to voters.

"The bigger question for any district that is trying to proceed with a positive referendum result is to ask, not whether they can do it legally, but rather whether it furthers the trust relationship between the district and the community," Berry said.

In addition to approval from the MATC District Board, the plans will also need to be approved by the Wisconsin Technical College System board.

The culinary program was located Downtown before the Truax campus was built in the 1980s.

The new facility will be approximately 30,000 square feet and will not be attached to the existing building at the Downtown campus, 211 N. Carroll St. It will take the place of about 37 of 77 parking spots and some green space on the northern corner of the lot.

The culinary, baking and hospitality programs have about 200 students and have a perennial waiting list. It's the only culinary program in Madison and growing, Short said. The new facility will mean the program may be able to take more students and operate in a less cramped space, he said.

Students currently serve a four-course lunch three times a week at Truax for the public, and Short anticipates the Downtown location may have expanded hours. Eugene Devitt, chairman of the Mansion Hill Neighborhood Association, said he recalls that the MATC dining room was popular in the 1970s when it was located Downtown.

"I think this is going to be great for Downtown and also the community," he said. "You'll be able to see people cook when you're walking by on the sidewalk. It's a very unique plan."
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/matc-plans-million-culinary-institute-at-downtown-campus/article_d92e6cfe-82a9-11e1-b53b-001a4bcf887a.html?mode=story#ixzz1rgg5YuBu

I like it, good infill!

All three taken by me earlier today.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5240/7075542459_0e73241485_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7087/7075542513_cc1742d2cc_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7122/6929466972_b3c566216c_b.jpg

awesome pics araman miss it up in madtown

Quick photo update of the Whitney Way/ Uni Ave/ Old Middleton Rd project.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/packerfan386/bad.jpg?t=1336436510
(excuse the crappy cell phone image merge)

^^
Here is what the site is supposed to look like when fully complete:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/packerfan386/hold/16be7947.jpg

^^
Here is what the site is supposed to look like when fully complete:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/packerfan386/hold/16be7947.jpg

Thanks Brewerfan,
Any idea of what potential retail may be going in this development? If any.

not sure if anyone is aware of the amount of new healthcare facilities in the metro region, but these are only the recent projects that are public info at the moment. astounding...

- UW Health: new 50-80 hospital
http://m.host.madison.com/mobile/article_7c630242-7cd2-11e0-8267-001cc4c03286.html

- UW Health: new clinics Monona & Belleville
http://www.uwhealth.org/locations/detail.jsp?locationId=113
http://www.uwhealth.org/locations/detail.jsp?locationId=25

- UW Health: new digestive health clinic @ University Crossing, UW Childrens expansion, new Wingra Family Medical Clinic at Bancroft Dairy site
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/uw-health-ramps-up-expansion-work/article_273db33c-972c-11e1-8b83-001a4bcf887a.html

-Monroe Clinic: new 50-bed replacement hospital opened March 2012
http://www.monroeclinic.org/expansion/

-Sauk Prairie Hospital: new 36-bed replacement hospital to open 2014
http://www.spmh.org/News/tabid/80/xmmid/439/xmid/6430/xmview/2/Default.aspx

-St Mary's: Janesville new 50-bed hospital and Dean East Clinic opened January 2012
http://www.stmarysjanesville.com/aboutus/Pages/GeneralInformation.aspx

-Meriter: new clinics in Monona, Fitchburg, & Deforest
http://www.meriter.com/clinics

-Mercy Health: new clinic Janesville
http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/2012/jan/19/mercy-opens-north-side-clinic/

Really hated the Lakeshore Residence Hall development in the renderings, but looking at the webcam it's looking a lot better than I had expected. Actually looks academic and old school a little bit, rather than just pre-fab like the new Smith and Ogg Halls.

http://146.151.63.7/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=391891

You can see more over at the Midwest photo gallery.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5111/7225041552_c1a0ca259e_h.jpg