Construction Still Happening Around Downtown
$500,000 Worth Of Projects Under Way
Updated: 7:59 am CDT September 23, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Around the University of Wisconsin-Madison, construction is running full tilt with nearly $500,000 worth of projects under way.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportAmong the recently finished projects is a major update and overhaul to the Wisconsin School of Business.Elsewhere downtown, the main construction focus is on smaller-scale projects like housing developments.But planners said when expansion comes, they'll be hard-pressed to find available space."What's next is, I think, a couple of opportunities left on the square," said Madison's planning director Mark Olinger. "That's why we went through this major planning process over the next couple of years is to really try to take a look at what potential East Washington has."Olinger said a downtown grocery story is still a priority but a challenge at the same time.He said grocery chains typically prefer to build from scratch on 2-3 acres of open space, which doesn't exist around the Isthmus.Developers would also like to add another 500 hotel rooms to downtown Madison. Olinger said studies have shown the additional rooms would keep the Monona Terrace Convention Center competitive.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportAmong the recently finished projects is a major update and overhaul to the Wisconsin School of Business.Elsewhere downtown, the main construction focus is on smaller-scale projects like housing developments.But planners said when expansion comes, they'll be hard-pressed to find available space."What's next is, I think, a couple of opportunities left on the square," said Madison's planning director Mark Olinger. "That's why we went through this major planning process over the next couple of years is to really try to take a look at what potential East Washington has."Olinger said a downtown grocery story is still a priority but a challenge at the same time.He said grocery chains typically prefer to build from scratch on 2-3 acres of open space, which doesn't exist around the Isthmus.Developers would also like to add another 500 hotel rooms to downtown Madison. Olinger said studies have shown the additional rooms would keep the Monona Terrace Convention Center competitive. Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
