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Minutes of Mifflin West District Meetings
Minutes
of October 14, 2009
Minutes of November 11, 2009
Minutes of December 9, 2009
Minutes of April 14, 2010
Minutes of May 12, 2010
Minutes of June 9, 2010
Minutes of July 15, 2010
Minutes of August 12, 2010
Annual Report, 2008
The Mifflin West District is home to such major attractions
as the Kohl Center, the Overture Center, and four blocks
of upper State Street. With the completion of Phase
II of Metropolitan Place, the district also contains
the largest condominium project in the city with almost
350 housing units in a single city block. The Metropolitan
Place project was also going to become home to the
first major grocery store downtown as Willy Street
Co-op made plans to expand to a second location in
early 2008. Unfortunately, the expansion never took
place as the condominium developer and the co-op both
became victims of a major slowdown in downtown condominium
sales. Meanwhile Mifflin Street Co op was also forced
to close its doors after almost forty years in the
same location.
The district also contains a significant number of
older homes which have, for many years, been used primarily
as student housing. There are several projects currently
underway which involve the replacement of older homes
with relatively small three story apartment buildings.
The Lurican apartment in the 400 block of West Dayton
is a good example of this trend.
There is also a strong possibility that within a few
years the Madison Downtown library which is located
on West Mifflin may be torn down and replaced with
a large glass structure that would also house office
space and retail businesses.
There is some hope that the Mifflin Street party which
is held the first week end in May will evolve into
an organized event that focuses on music and food similar
to what has happened to the annual Halloween party
on state Street.
(From Capitol Neighborhoods' 2005 Annual Report)
The Mifflin West neighborhood continues its transformation,
becoming Madison's premier entertainment district
as well as a fine residential area for long-term
owner occupants and student renters alike. Much
has happened over the past year, and now our neighborhood
enters the "Season of Phase II's" for the Overture
Center, State Street Reconstruction, and Metropolitan
Place. These projects and other developments
are brush strokes that add to the portrait of our neighborhood. A
portrait that hangs outside our doorsteps for us to
experience on a daily basis. How has this image
changed in the last year?
Last fall was marked with the celebration
of the opening of the Overture Center for the Arts,
Madison's signature entertainment venue. We are
fortunate to have this wonderful asset in our backyard. For
us it is only a short stroll to enjoy the opportunities
that abound there. As phase II of construction
completes during the upcoming year, Overture Hall will
be joined by the renovated Capitol Theater this November,
The Playhouse in February, and the Madison Museum of
Contemporary Art in April of next year. Anticipated
is the Museum's rooftop garden, a unique setting for
modern sculpture juxtaposed with Capitol and State
Street views. Phase II is taking shape. The
last limestone slabs of the exterior masonry are being
mortared into place adjacent to the Capitol Theater
Tower. The
elements of Cesar Pelli's dramatic flat-iron inspired,
glass stairway are being composed at the corner of
State and North Henry Streets, and just down Henry
Street one can also get a sense of the scale of the
Cross Roads Entry ( www.overturefoundation.com/construction/).
State Street is a much-loved amenity of our
neighborhood -- the premier dining and shopping area
downtown with its mix of trendy and unique shops
and restaurants, as well as surviving Madison originals
such as Ginos, Fontana, and the Soap Opera. On
this street, like dandelions in spring, yellow construction
vehicles again have appeared as the reconstruction
of the 200 block commences. As with Phase I,
this year's reconstruction focusses on the underground
utilities first, followed by a facelift matching
that of the 100 block of the street (www.cityofmadison.com/statestreet/construction.htm).
Farther down the street, in an area that includes
the current Buckeye Parking lot and several homes,
construction may begin on a parking ramp accompanied
by commercial and residential units. Across Gilman
Street from this development is the Woman's Building,
which was designated in the past year as a Madison
landmark thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group
of citizens. You can learn more about historical
buildings along State Street by attending a regularly
scheduled walking tour offered by the Madison Trust
for Historic Preservation (www.madisontrust.org/tours/).
The past year saw the completion of several
buildings tailored for the student rental market, most
being near the campus side of the Mifflin West neighborhood
at the corner where Gorham Street bends into University
Avenue. Concerns have been expressed to the City
about the canyon of tall buildings that is forming
at this corner. Some expect that this concentration
of new student housing will stabilize rental markets
and allow for homes in other areas to be reclaimed
by owner occupants. This assemblage of tall buildings
is soon to be joined by The Equinox, another 12-story
building that the City's Urban Design Commission has
also judged to be extraordinary architecture by granting
two bonus stories above the 10-story limit. The
neighborhood is appreciative of this developer's cooperation
with the relocation of two of the five late 19th- and
early 20th-century homes, as well as their efforts
to salvage the interior and exterior architectural
fabric from the three buildings that were demolished. However,
it is unfortunate that The Equinox will eclipse the
views of the Capitol along University Avenue for generations
to come.
Other residential developments proposed for
the area include Cliff Fischer's Metropolitan Place
Phase II on West Mifflin Street, The Alexander Company's
Capitol West in block 51 (site of the defunct Meriter
hospital buildings), and a contentious proposal from
the Madison Development Corporation in the 400 block
of West Mifflin Street. After months of discussions
about amendments to the original design of the second
phase of Metropolitan Place, tenants of the already-constructed
wing arrived at a mutual understanding with the developer
for the completion of the second wing of this complex. Construction
will begin in the months ahead. Across West Washington
Avenue from Metropolitan Place, Capitol West, which
is just outside the boundary of our district, is an
extensive mixed-use development that proposes to add
hundreds of residential units during several phases
of construction. Concerns have been raised by
residents about the height of new construction and
especially about the proposal to build into what is
called the Broom Street setback. Construction
in this setback would eliminate the greenspace that
exists there and would limit future enhancements to
this important entry into the downtown. Residents
are currently proposing a compromise that would retain
sufficient space to implement future enhancements while
enabling some construction in the setback. Another
proposal that drew significant opposition from many,
including student neighbors, was Madison Development
Corporation's 4-story, 23-unit apartment building on
the 400 block of West Mifflin. Though the idea of providing
some units of affordable housing was liked, the proposal
was seen as incompatible with the existing streetscape
and an inappropriate precedent for the curturally-significant
Mifflin area.
We too are an essential part of our neighborhood's
portrait. We contribute the vibrancy and vitality
that brings life to this image. The pace of developments
in our district shows no signs of slowing, and
this requires residents that are informed and involved. Keep
informed by subscribing to the Mifflin West list server
at MifflinWestNeighborhood-subscribe@yahoogroups.com,
and encourage your neighbors to become members of Capitol
Neighborhoods. Thanks to those who have
devoted their time and efforts to neighborhood issues
over the past year, and we invite you to join us in
painting the portrait that hangs outside our doorsteps.
-Jim Skrentny
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