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Residents talk W. Washington complex
Many express openness to the five-story building even though it violates Bassett Neighborhood rules
BOBBY BRIETENBACH/Herald photo
Daniel Ferch of Ferch Architects discusses his plan for the new apartment building at 425 W. Washington Ave at a Thursday meeting.
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Downtown community members voiced their opinions regarding the construction of a five-story complex on West Washington Avenue at a Bassett Neighborhood Meeting Thursday night.
Community members at the forum expressed a general appreciation for the construction.
“I came into the room pretty undecided and concerned about the [building’s] height and mass,” said Melissa Berger, Bassett neighborhood resident. “I think I feel pretty happy about it. I think I would welcome it to the neighborhood and its uses would be very beneficial.”
If it is given the green light, the West Washington site will house two levels of underground parking, 500 square feet of commercial retail and business offices, a fitness center with a public lap pool and 32 apartment units, said Daniel Ferch of Ferch Architects, who is working on the project.
Ferch said the design is not overwhelming, although it is not in compliance with the Bassett Neighborhood plan.
The Bassett Neighborhood plan puts a cap on the height of buildings in the Bassett vicinity, limiting them to stand no more than four stories tall.
“I’m trying to keep it somewhat residential and not to make it look too commercial,” Ferch said. “I’m sensitive about that. I’m thinking this is a sort of residential neighborhood.”
Jonathan Cooper, chair of Bassett Neighborhood Committee for the proposal, said Ferch worked to make a good building an even better building, adding the committee is pleased with the structure’s many offerings. Cooper said the main question on the table is whether the building is right for the neighborhood.
Dr. John Bonsett-Veal, a long-term Madison optometrist, agreed, saying the only controversy is what the neighborhood thinks of the height and size of the project.
He added the benefits of the project outweigh the height violation.
If approved, Bonsett-Veal will move his optometry practice to the first floor of the new building. In the initial stages of the project, there was concern about demolishing Bonsett-Veal’s practice, which has been in the Bassett neighborhood for approximately 29 years.
Bob Keller of Keller Co. Realtors has his company next to the proposed site and said he plans to practice the rest of his career at that location.
Keller added the building would be a great stimulus in the neighborhood.
“The land is 10 times as valuable as the building,” Keller said. “It is a tremendously underutilized piece of land, and [the building is] going to create enough tax revenue to bring in one or two more policemen. I really think that’s important.”
According to Keller, retail in the area is struggling, and he said the project will create many jobs in the vicinity.
The Madison Plan Commission will further discuss the construction of the 425 W. Washington Ave. building Monday at 6 p.m.
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“500 square feet of commercial retail and business offices” ???
If the Badger Bus terminal goes, how will people come to Madison? Are there plans for this along with all the Stimulus talk of a high speed rail line connecting Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis?
Let’s see some imagination here.
As a resident who lives on the 500 block of W. Main street, I went to the meeting last night it was a joke. Eric Minton the developer brought all of his supporters with him. So it was just a prep rally and to convince Mike Verveer to vote for the plan clearly in violation. This guy was voted down once because his building violated city policy. So he makes another proposal that still violates city zoning laws. Are you serious? He obviously doesn’t like to follow laws. Also their is a Capital Fitness gym less then 1 mile away. This doesn’t make any sense and will for ever change the area. Once you let one developer do break the laws more and more will follow suit. Also where is everyone going to park? He expects 700+ people a day. Who are these people going to be? College students and UW Alumni can use UW Madison facilities right now for free or really cheap. They are also within a mile away. So I don’t know who this guy think he is but is plan sucks and is bad for this area.
I’m just getting back from a study trip overseas and catching up on some things. This article is old and I see it was past by the plan commission sometime this week. Still felt I had to post as the above comment from the 20th made me laugh hard. I’ve been living downtown for over 10 years now and in that time have seen the neighborhood change, some bad but mainly for the good. The above poster is just running off with the mouth and doesn’t have any facts. The proposal isn’t against city zoning laws. The developer is applying for a PUD which is part of zoning. The building was too high for the neighborhood plan, which if memory serves correctly was done in the mid 1990s, well before most new buildings downtown and before land values went way up. A 2-3 story building these days would be grossly under-utilizing land and would be impossible to do valuation wise.
Has the above poster ever been to Capital Fitness? Yes, its a mile away but over crowded. Capital Fitness is a nice gym when compared to other choices we have. Pinnacle is in a basement and many downtown residents don’t want to drive east/west to work out. Some of us who have graduated don’t want to go to the SERF as its outdated, crowded and badly staffed. Again, I see the project was approved and am happy as it will bring economic stimulus to the area. It better utilizes the land and will look better than the current one story block building. How can one even be against this?