New Leaders Council nurtures upcoming progressive activists in Madison
Mark Greene doesn't like the fact that "politics" is so often a dirty word. "Politics are not an attractive thing and there's a reason for that," Greene says. "From an outsider's perspective, it seems...
View ArticleJudge Doyle Square heading toward negotiations
The city's Board of Estimates has approved moving into private negotiations with a development group for Judge Doyle Square, even though numerous questions about the project linger.
View ArticleMadison schools leery of TIF funding for Judge Doyle Square
The city is getting pushback from the Madison school district regarding the Judge Doyle Square project. In order to finance the project, the city needs to use tax incremental financing, or TIF, which...
View ArticleIs Epic driving push for Monona Terrace hotel at Judge Doyle Square?
Is Madison building a hotel for Monona Terrace or Epic Systems? That question was raised during Tuesday night's long Common Council debate over the controversial Judge Doyle Square project.
View ArticleFrom vision to reality: Computer renderings are shaping Madison development
Technology has made it possible to render nearly picture-perfect views of new development, but determining their accuracy is not so easy. "I don't trust them," says Ald. Ledell Zellers, who sits on the...
View ArticleMayor Soglin says downtown TIF money belongs to the city, not the Madison...
Mayor Paul Soglin wants to make one thing perfectly clear: money sitting in a tax incremental financing district downtown belongs to the city, not the schools. The city wants to use the TIF district to...
View ArticleIsthmus on WORT: How architectural renderings shape Madison developments
"Isthmus" staff writer Joe Tarr reported on the use of computer-based architectural renderings for proposed Madison developments in the February 28 issue, and discussed his story with WORT producer...
View ArticleMadison hopes to extend East Campus Mall to Lake Monona
This year, Madison will begin looking at ways to improve the "Triangle neighborhood" and Brittingham Park on the near west side, and looking for a way to extend the campus mall all the way to Lake Monona.
View ArticleMadison looks to install public toilets
Last month, Madison quietly installed portable toilets in two of its parking garages to help provide 24-hour access for both the homeless and visitors. The porta-potties are located in the State Street...
View ArticleMadison Metro buses are stalling due to waxing in engine fuel lines
In recent days, about 30 Madison Metro buses have broken down on the road, as the company struggles to deal with a waxing problem in its fuel lines. "It started about a week ago," says Metro...
View ArticleBus depot, land bridge to Lake Monona among ideas for Madison's south isthmus
Kenton Peters admits that he's been a bit of "a pest." The esteemed Madison architect has been following the process for the South Capitol Transit Oriented Development Study and decided to push a...
View ArticleInternal candidates Carl Gloede and Mike Koval named as finalists for Madison...
The Madison Police and Fire Commission has settled on two finalists for the city's next police chief, both of whom currently work for the city. The candidates are Capt. Carl Gloede, commander of the...
View ArticleCity of Madison gives up on alcohol density ordinance
When the city approved the alcohol license density ordinance (known by its Muppet-esque acronym, ALDO) in 2007, it was trying to reduce the number of bars and taverns heavily concentrated in the...
View ArticleSue Ellingson resigns from Madison Common Council, 2013 candidate Zach Madden...
Ald. Sue Ellingson resigned her seat on the Madison Common Council Thursday, surprising colleagues and leading to speculation about who would fill her near west seat.
View ArticleWisconsin bill that would return 17-year-olds to the juvenile system dies,...
When state Rep. Garey Bies was a deputy for the Door County Sheriff's Department, he wasn't particularly sympathetic to lawbreakers. "Back then I had a different mindset of catching bad guys and...
View ArticleAbandoned Drumlin Farm buildings in Fitchburg still standing, but in poor shape
Years after its tenants were evicted, the fate of the Drumlin Farm remains in limbo. The five-acre farm is wedged between Rimrock Road and Highway 14 in the city of Fitchburg. The Alexander Company...
View ArticleIs Paul Soglin traveling too much?
Mayor Paul Soglin had a busy March. He kicked off the month with a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., for the League of American Bicyclists' annual summit. A week later, from March 9 to 11, he was...
View ArticleCalls intensify to overhaul Madison landmarks ordinance after council rejects...
The Madison Common Council's decision to uphold the Landmarks Commission's rejection of a development project for West Gilman Street was a clear victory for neighborhood groups and historic...
View ArticleControversial Madison parks chief Kevin Briski resigns to take Florida job
Kevin Briski, the controversial head of Madison's parks division, is stepping down. His last day with Madison will be June 13, says Katie Crawley, an assistant to Mayor Paul Soglin. Briski is leaving...
View ArticleJudge Doyle Square opponents propose a referendum for TIF spending of $10...
Ald. David Ahrens is puzzled that the mayor and many Madison Common Council members support subsidizing a Monona Terrace hotel as part of the massive Judge Doyle Square project. Although many city...
View ArticleWill Scott Resnick lead the Madison Common Council?
So far, Ald. Scott Resnick is the only council member who has declared to run for Common Council president. But his campaign has not come without controversy. The problem is that Resnick, the council's...
View ArticleCommittee chooses newcomer Lucas Dailey over Madison Common Council veteran...
Ald. Mark Clear thought it would be a simple matter to decide among eight applicants for a Common Council seat vacated by Sue Ellingson, who resigned in March. "I expected Ken Golden to be a slam-dunk...
View ArticleMadison residents alarmed at yellow dots signifying 'death sentence' for ash...
Christina Newton fears what her neighborhood on the near west side will look like after Madison deals with the dreaded emerald ash borer pest."Our whole neighborhood is highly concentrated with ash...
View ArticleMadison Common Council members peeved by the call for a vote on Judge Doyle...
Ald. Mark Clear is no fan of referendums. "It's sort of mob rule," Clear says of letting citizens legislate at the ballot. "Whichever side has the most money is likely to be successful. This is why we...
View ArticleExperimental Occupy Madison village in Emerson East neighborhood is a go
Keith Valiquette's home is about two weeks away from completion. But until Tuesday night, he didn't know where it would be located. Now he knows: The Madison Common Council approved an experimental...
View ArticleTweaking the new Madison zoning code
Madison spent years completely rewriting its zoning code, which went into effect on Jan. 2, 2013. Since then, city officials have been watching to see how the code functions. Matt Tucker, the city's...
View ArticleAntiabortion activist Bob Lenz uninvited from Brat Fest after pushback from...
A controversial antiabortion speaker has been uninvited as a guest at this year's Brat Fest, after numerous public officials raised concerns. Bob Lenz, a Christian motivational speaker and president of...
View ArticleWill apartment boom bring more retail to downtown Madison?
For the past two years, A Room of One's Own has enjoyed a somewhat unusual situation for an independent bookstore: Business is doing pretty well. Sandi Torkildson, the store's owner, says the store got...
View ArticleBuild, baby, build! Is Madison getting too cozy with developers?
In the past year, critics fear, Madison's Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development has tipped the balance of power in favor of developers in the ongoing battle over the city's future.
View ArticleNew Chief Mike Koval wants Madison Police to be a force for good
In 1983, Mike Koval was an eager young police officer, fresh out of the academy and ready to save the world. But he quickly realized not everyone on the Madison Police Department shared his zeal....
View Article