Neighbors met Monday evening to discuss a proposal for a new housing development on the corner of West Washington Street and North Broom Street.
Residents say proposed West Washington development ‘looks like a prison’
The proposal, by Up Urban Properties, consists of a six story residential building with 86 units. Up Urban Properties was previously known as Up Campus Properties at the beginning of the current project. The project will take the place of six current houses that are on the property, Melissa Huggins, spokesperson for Urban Assets, the project’s planning and lobbying company, said.
Residents raised concerns that the new housing would be substantially more expensive than current rental prices. Stephen Bus, managing partner at Up Urban Properties, said the 59 studio style apartments will run upward of $1,000 a month and the other one, two and three bedroom apartments will be around $700 a month.
Larry Warman, member of the Mifflin Steering Committee, said the height of the building does not match the surrounding buildings. Warman expressed fear that if the one six story project is allowed in the neighborhood, more tall buildings will follow.
Residents also expressed concern there would not be enough parking in the plan to satisfy the demand of the building itself. Fred Mohs, a developer and landlord, said based on his experience, the 35 stalls planned to be under the apartment building will not be enough.
Bus said this is not an issue because the people that will be living in the apartments will not have cars. The apartment is near a bus stop that travels to software developer Epic and other parts of the city so they will not be as reliant on cars, he said.
Residents were also worried that neighborhood meetings like Monday’s do not affect decisions made in the city and by developers. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said because of similar meetings the development teams have made many changes in the plan to accommodate the steering committee’s requests.
“I have not publicly stated my position on this [proposal], and from my perspective it is not a done deal,” Verveer said.
The proposal will be reviewed by the Plan Commission on May 23 and, if approved, will go to Madison Common Council at the end of June.
