The Downtown Neighborhood Meeting Monday night regarding the prospective Mid-State Street Parking Ramp illuminated controversial issues surrounding the ramp.
Divisive issues include increased traffic in the ramp?s vicinity and the potential demolition of three houses to create a larger ramp.
The ramp would be built in place of the Buckeye lot between Gilman and Gorham Streets next to Pizzeria Uno?s, 222 W. Gorham St. The ramp is proposed in response to a perceived demand for short-term parking on State Street.
Robin Williams, Madison?s city parking manager, said downtown area traffic would increase significantly.
“Given the worst-case scenario, based on a 200-stall estimate in a 10-hour window of time, the ramp would add 75 cars per hour in the neighborhood,” Williams said. “300 stalls would create 1200 trips per hour.”
The ramp would contain anywhere from 200-350 parking spaces, with two levels above ground and two below.
The size of the ramp is under debate because the demolition of three houses is highly controversial.
The houses are currently used for student housing and many constituents believe the houses are dilapidated and expendable.
“Given all the student housing built recently, tearing down these houses is not an issue,” a Madison resident said.
The houses were built between the late 1880s and early 1900s, and many feel the houses are historical and should be preserved.
“The State Historical Society does not consider these three houses to be eyesores,” one constituent said. “Just because they aren?t well kept doesn?t mean they aren?t worth saving.”
Many Madison residents are concerned about increased traffic, headlights, noise, pollution, drunk driving and danger to pedestrians surrounding the ramp. Other issues discussed included the ramp?s size, the neighborhood?s aesthetics, and the necessity of building another parking ramp downtown.
Several UW-Madison students said they didn?t feel a ramp would benefit the ambience of State Street.
“State Street is a walking-oriented place,” Jane Bomba said.
Another Madison resident agreed.
“It is only about a five-minute walk down State Street. The streets are running full now and we don?t need more traffic, but it?s like the field of dreams — if we build it, they will come.”
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said although there was no clear consensus among constituents, he was convinced the Buckeye lot is the best location for a parking ramp.
“There is enough solid ground to look more intensely at the block,” Verveer said. “As to what size and type the ramp is, this is clearly a work in progress, and we will have more neighborhood meetings to work out these issues.”
Mark Olinger, the city planning department director, said neighborhood input is important.
“This kind of discussion takes a while, but it is worthwhile because we want to do it right,” Olinger said. “It is imperative that we start designing a model and get more feedback in future neighborhood meetings.”
The Parking Utility would finance the ramp through a 20-year bond bought with money reserved for constructing a parking ramp and purchasing property.
Ramp construction would begin between late 2003 and early 2004.
