[media-credit name=’Rendering courtesy of Potter Lawson’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

A Madison city committee again chose to refer its decision of initial approval for controversial renovations to State Street’s 100 block to a later meeting, but did give the proposal tentative support.

After listening to presentations by the Block 100 Foundation regarding the proposed alterations to the State Street renovations and testimonies of several downtown citizens, the Urban Design Commission ultimately did not vote to approve the plan. The commission instead chose to provide the foundation with support for the concept of its project with further investigation.

“It is not an initial approval in the traditional sense, but it is a signal that if other things can be resolved in a positive way, the project may move forward,” UDC Chair Richard Wagner said.  

The decision to refer comes after the Landmarks Commission chose in an earlier meeting not to vote on the approval of the landmark Schubert Building demolition, which would leave space to create an open garden area.

UDC members discussed several controversial aspects of the Block 100 Foundation’s proposal, including the planned demolition of the Schubert Building and the Fairchild/Stark Building to create the garden.

Block 100 Foundation Project architect Eric Lawson said the garden space, which would be located at the corner of Fairchild Street and Mifflin Street, would create an open area that would enhance the neighborhood.

Lawson added he hoped to gain the initial approval of the garden area but would continue to be open for discussions concerning the area’s architectural aspects.

“We’re hoping for approval of the massing of this concept, the idea of the garden space, but not the actual design,” Lawson said. “Are will willing to talk? Yes, but that’s what we’re looking for.”

Lawson said while the foundation would support moving the Schubert Building to create space for the garden, it was not willing to keep the building in its current place.

Metropolitan Place Condominiums Board of Directors President Mary Kolar said a survey distributed to the condo residents found that 92.9 percent of residents were in favor of the Block 100 Foundation’s proposal to renovate State Street.

Kolar added the garden space was one of the more appreciated aspects of the plan, in her opinion.

Block 100 Foundation members presented other changes to their plan to renovate the 100 block of State Street that addressed concerns voiced by UDC at its last meeting.

Doug Hursh, another designer for the 100 block plans, said alterations to the proposed development’s homogeneity were taken into consideration, following UDC’s suggestions. He presented renderings that suggested breaking the development building into three separate heights.

“We’ve heard comments about architecture of the building being too heavy,” Hursh said. “The idea was to take what was flat and break it up … so instead of one large element, we broke it down to three major elements of varying heights.”

Lawson also addressed UDC’s earlier recommendations and said a potential restaurant on the first floor of the development would have entrances both on State Street and Fairchild Street.

Future alterations to the plan will be discussed at a later UDC meeting.