A developer is seeking approval in Madison, Wisconsin, to tear down nine vintage homes and replace them with a six-story, mixed-use project.
The site of the proposed development is six blocks from Capitol Square and falls under the provisions of the Mifflandia Neighborhood Plan, adopted by the City Council in late 2019. The city’s downtown plan designated the area as one requiring a separate zoning and development design.
The Mifflandia plan sets regulations on building heights, setbacks and density. It also clarified which buildings in the area are of cultural or historical significance. The proposed $22 million project seems to fit the recommendations, and it is one of the first tests of the Mifflandia plan. The project calls for 2,500 square feet of commercial space on the first floor of an H-shaped complex, and it also would include 103 apartments and parking for 100 cars.
The buildings to be torn down, which are near the corner of West Washington Avenue and North Bassett Street, haven’t been designated as historic.
“It’s clearly a bold proposal, not only because of its size and scope but also as the first significant project since the Mifflandia Neighborhood Plan was adopted,” the local alderman told the Wisconsin State Journal. “Generally, the project fits well with the themes of the neighborhood plan.”
The developer was sent back to the drawing board after a first proposal didn’t meet regulations, but officials seemed pleased with their first glance at the revised project. The city’s Urban Design Commission is scheduled to hear a presentation on the proposal soon.
This project appears to be one where the developer and their representatives worked with the city to make sure the proposal fit the zoning and land use plan. Because real estate development is so complicated a process, it’s always wise to have experienced assistance from the start.
