Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, is proposing an amendment to the 2010 capital budget which would allocate an estimated $1.8 million in Tax Increment Financing funds to complete the renovation of Capitol Square.

Under the proposal, improvements include new benches, trash and recycling receptacles, planters, bicycle racks, sidewalk and landscaping.

The amendment proposes removing the current benches with armrests, which prevent a person from reclining, and replacing them with new divider-free ones. While the debate over benches and inevitably the issue of homeless people sleeping on them may be a more controversial component of his proposal, Verveer said it is not one of his main concerns.

Verveer said he would prefer if people would not monopolize the use of the benches by sleeping on them, but he does not see any reason to alter the new benches by putting dividers in them.

“My main interest in getting the Capitol Square renovations done is not so much an issue of bench dividers, but rather trying to complete the Capitol Square so it doesn’t look like a hodgepodge of different designs as you walk from block to block,” Verveer said.

The project would be a continuation of an ongoing downtown renovation process, which most recently involved upgrading the brick street furniture on State Street, West Gilman Street, and North Broom Street. Now, Verveer said, it is time to finish the Capitol Square.

“Over a period of years, due to limited resources, we used a piecemeal approach to the streetscape around the Square,” Verveer said. “The design will be mimicking the design of State Street to keep it consistent.”

Despite the significant cost, Verveer is optimistic about the future of the project.

“Although some may argue it is expensive, which it is, I think it is very meritorious,” Verveer said. “In these tough financial times, the fact that we don’t have to borrow the money and we have the cash available that has to be spent within these specific geographic TIF districts, I think, will be persuasive to the mayor and my city council colleagues. The Capitol Square, which borders three TIF districts, would be eligible for TIF funding if the proposal is approved.

Madison’s Central Business Improvement District, an organization that represents the commercial property and business owners of Capitol Square and the State Street area, supports Verveer’s efforts to complete the renovation of the Capitol Square.

“The downtown area is very economically important to the city of Madison,” BID Executive Director Mary Carbine said. “Since it’s a retail and business area and it attracts a lot of visitors, the way it looks and the way people can interact with the street are pretty important. It’s more than just cosmetics; it has a lot to do with how people utilize the street.”

Verveer’s proposal, as well as all other budget amendments, will be formally announced at the end of this week. The Board of Estimates will vote on the amendment Oct. 12 and throughout the week of Nov. 16, the City Council will consider the 2010 capital budget.