This article is the eighth in a feature series examining the changing face of downtown Madison.
Downtown urban sprawl continues to be a topic of debate between community members in Madison.
The Madison Plan Commission opted to defer Monday a vote regarding the newly proposed Capitol West neighborhood development, saying further discussion on the topic is necessary.
The deferral came after the commission and neighborhood representatives said further consideration and planning were needed before the plan could receive approval and go before the City Council.
The proposed development would potentially bring in a wide variety of housing and neighborhood accommodations to the downtown area between West Washington and West Main streets and between the blocks of North Henry and North Broom streets.
Randy Alexander, president of the Alexander Company and director of the proposed development, said there are high expectations for the “Block 51” development the company has presented.
“This would be a local landmark,” Alexander said. “It would become a model for future developments nationwide.”
The development is intended to create an active and revitalized downtown area. As part of the plan, the Alexander Company would add onto existing buildings and construct new townhome developments.
The Alexander Company has used four nationally renowned, award-winning architectural firms for past projects.
Natalie Bock, Development Project Manager, said it is important to create a sense of variety within the neighborhood while also emphasizing environmental factors.
“We’ve significantly included the importance of green and open space into the development,” Bock said.
The Alexander Company has also conducted extensive traffic studies to create more transportation outlets for urban residents. The development plans to bring in more sources for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as well as provide more public transportation resources for residents, according to Bock.
The company, however, has faced opposition from current neighborhood residents over the potential changes to North Broom Street. The size of the proposed additions has also created some conflict.
The development would potentially widen the street and convert North Broom Street into a two-lane artery, with an appearance similar to West Dayton Street.
Though the company has altered some of its original plans to accommodate recommendations the Urban Design Commission has made, concerns still remain over the specifics of the development.
Peter Ostlind, chair of the Bassett Neighborhood Organization, spoke on behalf of the neighborhood about the lack of response from current residents.
“There has been very little interaction with the neighborhood,” Ostlind said, adding the Alexander Company’s proposals are not satisfactory to the neighborhood. “The process is just going too fast and there are specific concerns of the neighborhood that need more attention.”
Other neighborhood representatives spoke on behalf of Metropolitan Place. They expressed concerns that the proposed town homes would come too close to the street and would block views of Lake Monona.
“The Urban Design Commission seemed to have their mind made up before they even heard from [residents],” neighborhood representative Julie Mitchell said.
The company also faced opposition from the committee over the potential changes to North Broom Street.
Though traffic studies concluded the street is designed to accommodate future changes, the committee requested a more compelling and comprehensive proposal of the changes that it would make to the street.
