NEWS
Capitol Centre Foods looks to expand
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by Aubre Andrus
Thursday, October 21, 2004
This article is the seventh in a features series examining the changing face of downtown Madison.
Community members from the Broom Street area met Wednesday to discuss possible expansion of Capitol Centre Foods. The grocery store hopes to expand business by next summer, but a restriction dating back to the ’70s may prohibit the food center from doing so.
Developments along Broom Street must maintain a 30-foot setback from the edge of the sidewalk to the property line, according to city statute. If Capitol Centre Foods does expand, it may overtake front footage between the sidewalk and the store.
Expansion could interfere with pedestrian-friendly areas and necessitate the removal of trees.
Dorn Hardware and Capitol Centre Foods, among other businesses, are interested in building into the area in front of the stores, called the setback, Bill Fruhling, principal planner for the city of Madison, said.
John Leemkuil, owner of Capitol Centre Foods, said expanding his business will not affect future construction of the street or green space in the area.
“Our hope is that we want to expand our building 11 feet into the plaza area and 19 foot into the Broom Street direction,” Leemkuil said. “We would gain 35-40 percent in sales area.”
Leemkuil said the construction would cut into a part of the setback but trees would be replaced. He said he is looking into putting in a colorful mural on the new wall to cover the plain bricks.
“No objections have been voiced to me so far because of the increased selection we’ll be able to offer,” Leemkuil said.
For Leemkuil to begin his construction, the city must decide what to do with the setback area. The city could keep the setback or compromise and limit only a few feet of it as green space, Dan McCormick, assistant city traffic engineer, said.
Rosemary Lee, a concerned community member, voiced her opinion at the neighborhood meeting. Although in favor of expanding Capitol Centre Foods, Lee said she feared what it might lead to in the future.
“I am very weary that once you open the door to erase those setbacks, every developer is going to expect that and I am not in favor of that,” Lee said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the city doesn’t seem to be following through with its plan from three decades ago.
“I don’t believe that there’s any plan any time soon for the city to use the setbacks for the intended, original purpose for future traffic use,” Verveer said.
Between green space, pedestrian safety and traffic needs, Fruhling said the future of Broom Street will require balancing.
“I believe the city will require any future development to have a generous setback so as to keep with the path of green space we’ve come to enjoy over the years on Broom Street,” Verveer said.
