Annual Report: 2008

Dear Fellow Capitol Neighborhood Members:
This is my last annual report message to you as CNI President. And so, how would I describe the experience of being CNI President?
The main thing that comes to mind is the opportunity I have had to meet and work with many really wonderful people. First, of course, are downtown neighbors and our alders. Many of our neighbors and certainly our alders put in countless hours working to make our downtown better. Among neighbors, I have to particularly recognize the CNI Executive Council (EC) who puts in so much energy and time to contribute to such things as better developments, the undergrounding of wires, the installation of historic pedestrian level lighting, and the writing of design guidelines and plans. In these projects and others, they also work with city committees and officials. Of course there are many neighbors other than those on EC who also take on activities that make the downtown better, including working on all of the aforementioned items as well as leading local cleanup efforts, spearheading gardening projects, planning programs for our members, and initiating membership drives and many, many other projects. My thanks goes out to all these neighborhood “activists”.
We are being very well served by four excellent alders. Two of those alders, Marsha Rummel and Eli Judge, are in their first terms. They clearly care about the downtown and are serving their constituents well. Add to that Brenda Konkel and Mike Verveer’s experience and dedication; we are indeed fortunate. They listen; they are responsive; and they are working hard to help make our neighborhood a great place to live.
As CNI president I have also had the chance to get to know city staff, retail and entertainment venue owners, people interested in moving downtown who want to get the impressions of someone who lives here, people whose ancestors lived here, developers, and business people interested in the vitality of the downtown
The downtown is not just another neighborhood. Its safety, vitality and beauty reflect on the reputation of the city as a whole. It is the heart not just of the city…but of the region, and since it is the Capitol, it is also the heart of the state. We need a heart that is healthy, beautiful, safe and diverse…a place that people want to live in and visit.
As downtown residents we can really make a difference. To help make that difference, I urge you to get involved in your neighborhood association. In Madison we have an opportunity to improve the quality of our life by working with the people I mentioned to make our wonderful city even better. Go the Capitol Neighborhoods web site (www.capitolneighborhoods.org/) to learn more about what is going on with your neighborhood association.
In last year’s annual report I mentioned two extremely important initiatives being undertaken that will impact the downtown for years in the future.
The first significant initiative now in process, which will have a huge impact on the look of downtown and ultimately on the quality of life downtown, is the creation of a Downtown Plan. This plan will provide details as to desired land use as well as goals related to transportation, housing, economic development, urban design, open space and recreation, and civic/cultural issues. The Downtown Plan will be a part of the Comprehensive Plan. The bulk of the Comprehensive Plan was completed in 2006. Focus on the downtown was deferred until this year. The writing of the Downtown Plan is expected to take about a year with much of the work and public input taking place this summer and fall. The Downtown Plan is focusing on the area which is pretty much contiguous with CNI’s boundaries. Again, I urge you to be involved in this important project.
The second major initiative is the project to rewrite the city’s zoning code. Zoning codes in Wisconsin specifically apply and interpret the land use portion of a comprehensive plan. Zoning usually includes regulation of the kinds of activities which are acceptable (such as open space, residential, agricultural, commercial or industrial), densities (for example low-density housing such as single family homes to high-density such as high-rise apartment buildings), the height of buildings, the amount of space structures may occupy on a lot, the location of a building on the parcel (setbacks), etc. Madison’s current zoning code is from 1966. The downtown particularly is affected by the outdated code with developments almost exclusively done via the “Planned Unit Development” (PUD) process. One hope of many is that the new code will allow for development to occur without going through the PUD process if the proposal meets the new zoning requirements. While that could be a good thing and could save time for developers, city staff and neighborhood residents, it would decrease the scrutiny that individual projects receive from city staff, the neighborhood, the Urban Design Commission, the Plan Commission and our alders. Such a lack of individual project review would mean that the zoning code must be written in such a way that it assures that the buildings that are built are of a size, scale, setback, quality and use that are desirable. And certainly, we don’t want to have demolitions occur that make way for new buildings that are of a lesser quality and beauty than what is being replaced. I encourage you to stay plugged into and to participate in this important process.
Bob Holloway has agreed to accept the helm of Capitol Neighborhoods as President in June of this year. He is well prepared having been on the Executive Council of CNI since 2004 and having stayed abreast of downtown issues since moving downtown in 2003. He is a natural leader, community builder and thoughtful contributor. We are fortunate to have him willing to step into the role of CNI president. Please pitch in to help him and to help the neighborhood be the best it can be.
And thank you for the opportunity to serve the neighborhood for these past three years as president of the organization.v
Sincerely,
Ledell Zellers
President
Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc.

The Capitol Neighborhoods area is growing! This is both as a result of new development taking place within our downtown and because two adjacent neighborhoods recently joined with CNI. The new districts are State Langdon on the west and James Madison Park on the east. We are delighted to welcome these new neighbors into CNI. The other source of growth in the number of residents within the CNI boundaries is as a result of new development in our downtown. That source of growth is indeed striking. The recent and planned residential developments include projects in each of CNI’s six districts. One major project on the drawing board and on the verge of final approval will be the largest mixed use development built to date in our downtown.

A challenge in the midst of the pressure to grow is to hold on to what makes our neighborhoods special…the historic homes, both grand and simple; green space, both our larger parks as well as the slivers of green that help create a pleasant downtown atmosphere; the small and unique locally owned shops; well designed and proportioned new buildings; and clean lakes. CNI members have an opportunity to actively participate in helping to maintain and improve the quality of residential life in our downtown. That is the core of our mission. We work with our four downtown alders who help give residents a strong voice in those things that impact the quality of life downtown. We also offer monthly programs that inform, excite and entertain our members and friends. We are governed by an Executive Committee that meets in the Capitol building on the second Thursday of each month.

We welcome the involvement in our organization by all who want to get to know their downtown neighbors better and who seek to make living downtown even better!

Ledell Zellers

President, Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc.