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New apartments for West Wash?

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Also by Nick Penzenstadler:

For whom the bell tolls (November 29, 2007)
New apartments for West Wash? (November 20, 2007)
One-and-out: Kumar will not seek 2nd term on Dane County Board (November 15, 2007)
Displaced Carroll residents call university, bookstore helpful (November 13, 2007)
Carroll Street fire displaces students (November 12, 2007)

by Nick Penzenstadler

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

University of Wisconsin students could have dozens more efficiency-style and one-room bedrooms available downtown if a proposal to renovate an existing building moves forward.

Residents of the Bassett neighborhood heard a proposal from developers Monday night at the Meriter Retirement Community about a plan to construct three additional floors and create living space in a building on the corner of South Henry Street and West Washington Boulevard.

"The proposal is an adaptive reuse of a vacant building," said City Council President, and alder for the area, Mike Verveer.

The three-story building was originally the St. Raphael Grade School located near the existing St. Raphael Church.

The plan still needs to pass through approval from the city's urban design commission, plan commission and City Council, according to Verveer.

Architect Jerry Bourquin of Dimension Madison Design Group presented preliminary drawings and concepts at the community meeting to bring 55 to 60 studio and one-bedroom apartments to the building.

"We looked at the structure and the masonry, and it's all in very good shape," Bourquin said. "It's actually bigger than that building needs to be, so we'll pick up three levels on top of the building with the same profile."

Developers hope to renovate the 7,500 square feet of the first floor of the structure into commercial space, with 11 to 12 apartment units on each of the five floors above it.

Cliff Fisher, the main partner in the project, said each room would be around 470-600 square feet and rent for between $500-650 per month.

"We expect them to rent well since they are all at an affordable level," Fisher said. "We also provide heat, wireless and cable included in the rent."

Residents at the meeting expressed interest in the opportunity for an energy-efficient building.

Bourquin said in addition to being efficient with the construction, atop the existing building they will also be replacing all windows and installing energy efficient appliances.

Fisher said the building will have an efficient central boiler system for heat, and he is looking at installing a "chiller" system for central air conditioning.

Developers said they will not be adding any parking to the building — drawing some concern from residents — but Fisher said his other properties have a similar system and even provide a car for renters to run errands.

"Right now we're working on installing an apartment with ‘smart cars’ that [tenants] can use to get groceries," Fisher said.

Peter Ostlind, chair of the Bassett district — part of Capitol Neighborhoods — said overall the meeting was positive and gave residents an opportunity to have their voices heard on the initial plans.

"The residents were very receptive to the proposal — they liked the idea of the building using the existing structure," Ostlind said. "A few of them looked at some of the smaller details like scooter parking and trash removal, and that's important too, even in the small picture."

Developers said they hope to start the renovation process in January and have renters in the building within a year after construction and city approvals.

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