Students and Madison residents will have a new housing
option in 2009: apartments on the northeast corner of North Mills and West
Johnson streets.

The construction for the apartment building set to be built
at 1022 W. Johnson St. was approved by City Council and the city planning
division earlier this month.

The 14-story apartment building will consist of 169 units with
one to four bedrooms, said Bill White, the process consultant for the
building?s architect and developer.

Accommodations for the building will include underground
parking for vehicles, mopeds and bicycles, a laundry facility on each floor and
a state-of-the-art security system, as the building will not have a 24-hour
concierge service.

White said the developing team and architect are working
with University of Wisconsin administration to create a landscape plan for all
of North Mills Street.

?I think it?s a well-designed project,? said Brad Murphy,
Madison planning division director. ?It should be an attractive building.?

Currently two homes and a parking lot occupy the building
site.

The home located on the North Mills side of the site is the
Conklin House. Remodeled by the Claude and Stark architectural firm in 1905,
the city considers it a potential historical Madison landmark because of its
Queen Anne architectural style.

Refusing to knock the Conklin House down, Murphy said the
City Council is currently in the process of approving a new resting spot for it
on the corner of East Mifflin and Franklin streets.

Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, said he would not support
constructing the apartment building if it meant destroying the Conklin House.

?It?s a beautiful house,? Judge added. ?It could use some
renovations though.?

The lot?s other building, the Johnson House, is also
considered potentially historic. However, the city approved a measure to
demolish it if a new relocation site cannot be found before construction
begins.

?We have gone to great lengths to relocate it, but we have
not finalized the search,? White said. ?It?s an ideal location, just a block
south of University Avenue.?

White said the cost of the building is still unknown, but
the apartments should sell at market price. Construction is scheduled to begin
in April 2008 and finish no later than Aug. 2009. Architectural firm Bruce and
Knothe is designing the building.