News

Plan would raze historic Mifflin house

Madison Development Corporation recently proposed a plan to provide new, affordable housing by redeveloping two lots on the 400 block of West Mifflin Street.

The redevelopment will bring eight housing units — twice the amount on the current site — to the area, according to property owner Frank Stanisewski. The plans require one of the two duplexes, 441 and 443 W. Mifflin St., to be razed and reconstructed.

"We think the new plans fit the neighborhood very well, and the most visible part of the project will blend in perfectly," he said.

However, the plan would require the demolition of a historic building and some residents are concerned. Yet, Stanisewski said the historic house, built in 1884, needs repair and does not meet standards of quality housing.

"It has no character and is very poorly laid out — you go from a front room to a bedroom to a kitchen in the back," Stanisewski said of the existing duplex. "It's most cost-effective to construct a new building, given its inefficiencies."

Stanisewski also added the project would provide fairly inexpensive but high quality housing to the Mifflin Street area. Two of the new units will be completely handicap accessible, and six others will be affordable for low-income residents, he said.

Tim Parks of the Madison Planning Unit said the city feels the project will be an efficient use of land, despite the demolition of a historic building.

"The project will fit in with the buildings along Mifflin Street because it is the same scale and feel," Parks said.

So far, Stanisewski said the neighborhood has been receptive of the plan, more so than a previous proposal to build 23 units of housing in the same space, he added.

"There are a couple of people in the neighborhood who think that there is more character to the existing building than we do and are pretty much in opposition to demolition," he said. "Other than that, the reception has been fairly positive."

Parks agreed with Stanisewski and said there has been little resistance from both the city and the neighborhood — only one property owner has expressed some distaste with the plan.

And according to Parks, the city would like to see a few modifications to the proposal, specifically to the building in the rear of the property.

A neighborhood meeting Thursday evening will decide the next course of action for the West Mifflin Street Project.

Stanisewski said he hopes the new plans will go over well with city officials and with residents.

"There may be some opposition to demolition, but we would like to make our case that nice, affordable housing is a very important objective as well," he said. "Hopefully people will recognize and embrace that."