As part of a week-long series, The Badger Herald is examining the public debate surrounding the progress of the State Street Redesign Project. Today the debate continues with the proposal to include a six-block granite scroll. Tomorrow, the series zeroes in on the plan’s future.
State Street pedestrians may find their gaze drawn to the pavement if a new “functional art” proposal is implemented.
As part of the $15 million redesign of Madison’s eclectic pedestrian mall, large four-foot-wide granite bands would run along the street from the 100 to the 600 block. The bands would complement the concrete portion of the sidewalk, serving as a sturdy foundation for terraces and outdoor cafes.
The bands may be engraved with images and text, ultimately creating a mile-long “scroll.”
However, this simple concept has invoked debate. Community members have expressed concerns over the cost of the granite scroll. It was a key issue discussed Tuesday night at a special public hearing held by the Madison Downtown Coordinating Committee.
“Its placement seemed to be generally agreed upon,” City Planner Bill Fruhling said of Tuesday’s discussions. “But there was really a mixed bag of opinions. One of the big discussions was of the appropriateness of the public art opportunity.”
Fruhling said the initial cost of the granite would be three times the cost of other paving materials, a significant detail that has been met with opposition. But granite is more cost-effective in the long run and could improve State Street’s appearance, he said.
“My sense is that granite seems like a good idea, especially for the quality and sense of craftsmanship it would lend to the street,” Fruhling said. “It lasts essentially forever and doesn’t need to be maintained.”
The initial State Street Design Project proposal highlights the possibility of etching quotes from famous Wisconsinites or images specific to the region into the scroll over time to enhance the local art community and reflect “civic spirit.”
Jeff Price, owner of House of Wisconsin Cheese, 107 State St., said he disagrees with the proposed functional and artistic elements of the scroll and would rather see money focused on other areas.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea or an appropriate use of money,” Price said. “We need to be spending money on something that can be easily maintained and can’t be defaced. Art is an important component, but trampling on it isn’t the way to go. Etched images in the scroll will fill up with cigarette butts, and that’s not art.”
Fruhling maintains that even if the scroll is not inscribed with art, granite as a sidewalk material is still more appropriate for the redesign plans. He is confident in the possible artistic value of the scroll as well, despite its inherent position among the feet and litter of pedestrians.
“[The scroll] would provide the campus with the opportunity to contribute to the inscriptions,” Fruhling said. “The plan is more about providing the opportunity for public art to be incorporated into the overall design.”
The City Council will make a final decision on the plan’s implementation March 5. Until then, assessments will continue to progress into final recommendations on crucial elements, including the granite scroll.
Eric Roang, a citizen representative on the Downtown Coordinating Committee and an operator of the State Street fruit stand, is still grappling with the issue of the money the scroll tags onto the overall plan. Despite the benefits of granite as a material, Roang remains concerned about presenting the proposal to the community given its high cost.
“Granite is a nice material and will probably last longer than the cement around it,” Roang said. “The thing is, what happens in 25 years when people decide they don’t like it and want to change it?”
