Fresh on the heels of the City Council’s decision to retain tax-increment financing funds for the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment project Wednesday, the Mansion Hill neighborhood members relayed opposition to the overall proposal at a meeting Thursday.
The retention of the TIF funds for the project came after lengthy debate on the council floor. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said in the meeting Wednesday one of his goals for the budget was to keep the TIF funds reserved for the hotel proposals.
The mayor has been supportive of the Edgewater project, calling it an exciting project for the city.
Fred Mohs, a member of the Mansion Hill’s Steering Committee, emphasized, however, that the council’s decision was “all right” and would not affect the committee.
“They have made it very clear it’s only an earmark,” Mohs said. “All the city’s processes will go on in an orderly way. The earmark will not affect its processes.”
Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, told the assembly that yesterday’s City Council meeting was a “non-vote” and the actual TIF fund application has yet to be reviewed. Maniaci also said the council was only able to begin a preliminary discussion on the funds and would provide more information in the weeks and months to come.
Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. President Adam Plotkin briefly discussed the TIF funds as well, reading from the amendment proposed last night by Ald. Michael Schumacher, District 18. Schumacher’s amendment calls for the addition of several provisions, one of which encourages utilizing the local workforce in the project whenever possible.
Principal City Planner Bill Fruhling and Zoning Administrator Matt Tucker detailed the various approvals the Edgewater project must still meet in order to move forward.
Fruhling further stressed the fact he and Tucker were a neutral party only present to clarify the situation and answer questions.
“We’re not here tonight to pass judgment or offer opinions on this project and how it does or doesn’t meet any of the requirements,” Fruhling said.
Mohs also presented his committee’s position on the project. Emphasizing its top priority was in preserving the integrity of the Mansion Hill neighborhood, Mohs encouraged others to take the situation more seriously.
“This is the only historical district we’ll ever have,” Mohs said. “If it’s gone, it’s gone. This is our one chance to have a historic district that tells the story of our town.”
Former Zoning Board of Appeals Chair John Martens introduced his computer-aided design rendering of the proposed project. Martens said he was motivated to draw up his own depiction when he noticed clear discrepancies between photographs and the developer’s drawings.
“I’m here to show you what appears to be the actual proposal from the viewpoint of the drawings and not the materials we’re getting from the developers,” Martens said. “These are just the facts — not the renderings and the rhetoric.”
The next step the Edgewater project is set to undergo is a joint Urban Design and Landmarks Commission meeting. It will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. at the Madison Senior Center. Although neither commission will take action at the meeting, they will be discussing their areas of common concern.
