Meeting Notes October 3rd

Block 258 Project – Notes from Public Meeting on 10/3

Concerns of Neighborhood

- It was brought up to consider the cost of upgrading the current property.

- Concerns that tearing down current structures will start a “trend of disregarding history in Madison.” – “tear the buildings and the history down and we can never get it back.”

- Total bedroom count?

- Square footage of green space?

- When will the project start?

- What will the rent be?

- Low income housing issue – will there be any in this project?

- Community car parking space? – Using local materials – reusing building materials from torn down structures and/or working with Dane County ReStore – energy efficiency.

- Size of commercial space for Pinkus?

- How well will the architecture of the new building match the Pinkus building?

- Parking revisited – transition of downtown and parking use/needs

- Concern with trucks parked on E. Johnson unloading to Pinkus in regards to hazard to those riding bicycles – a way to have a loading dock?

- Comment suggesting the development may cause traffic issues in the neighborhood.

- Suggestion to keep all the houses as they are – historic preservation of all of the buildings.

- Plea to “make project smaller, make a little less money” and to preserve the building next to Pinkus (on Hamilton) – “History of Madison.”

- Suggestion to consider town-homes – “make more money.”

- Inclusionary zoning? (doesn’t work for rentals) – other options?

- Project may take away affordable housing.

- Project as a catalyst for other projects in the neighborhood (not sure whether the comment in my notes was intended as positive or negative).