Visions for downtown Madison 2: full-block redevelopment

I recently wrote about the work of a group of design professionals to create visions for making downtown Madison more vibrant and sustainable. Their work was recognized by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association (WAPA). WAPA presented the design group a special award (meaning they don’t conveniently fit the prescribed categories) for their design service. Congratulations design professionals!

The pdf (8mb) of their report, Design Visions for City of Madison Downtown Plan, can be downloaded here.

This post highlights the full block development concept for Mifflin Street. The design professionals observed that Mifflin Street, from the Library to North Shore Drive is a “hole in the donut.” Meaning the areas all around it are transitioning to a built environment more like the central urban core: greater density, mix of uses, infill and renovations. But Mifflin Street remains largely student housing in converted frame buildings, many in poor shape.

This hole in the donut observation prompted the designers to create visions for full-block redevelopments: “a densely built mixed-use neighborhood that preserves and enhances the social fabric of ‘Miffland’.”

One full block redevelopment calls for adding four- and three-story mixed-use buildings at the ends of the block, retaining traditional 2-story houses in the center portion of the blocks and creating shared public space in the center of the block. Quoting from the report:

“The premise for this Mifflin block design is that there are many existing structures that contribute to the historical context and human scale of the street that should be preserved to create a core at the center of the block. Th ese existing vernacular structures form a “nucleus for social interaction” identified as the Miffland Forum Park.

“New housing is part of new infi ll buildings that gradually gain in size as they progress towards the perimeter streets, Bedford and Bassett. This organization avoids hemming in the smaller residential structures. Th e rooftops of these large buildings can include green plateaus, plazas and gardens to create architectural diversity and avoid the “flat-topping” eff ect that is prevalent today. Varying building setbacks can also create nodes and pocket parks for social interaction.

“The block is served by two main auto access points, leading to lower level parking (with a plaza cover) and enclosed parking as part of the larger buildings. In this way, service access and driveways can be consolidated for collective effi ciency and to create connective green space.

“Sustainable design is a core value of the neighborhood and is manifested in a mix of carbon-neutral, single-family and
multifamily buildings and landscaping that is part of individual buildings and public streetscaping. Green space, green roofs, rain gardens, solar access, and shared services all enhance the community, respect for our resources and spring from the progressive Miffl in neighborhood tradition.”

Design professionals visions for downtown Madison

A group of design professionals – architects and planners mostly – met over the last year and a half to brainstorm and develop visions for a more vital and sustainable downtown Madison, WI. Created by Downtown Madison Inc. (DMI), the Downtown Design Professionals Work Group (DDPWG) recently released their report, Design Visions for City of Madison Downtown Plan (pdf 8mb link here). As the title implies, the visioning supplemented the City’s Downtown Master Plan process. The report cites the following goals:

• Create a bold and exciting vision.
• Build on Downtown’s historical and regional context.
• Promote sustainability through density, place-making, regional transportation connections, and pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly design.
• Identify catalytic opportunities that stimulate economic development and jobs growth.
• Promote density, place making and sustainable design.
• Celebrate downtown’s Isthmus location by creating new opportunities to access and interact with the lakes.

Local media coverage (here and here) about DDPWG focused on one of the recommendations: undergrounding John Nolen Drive as it leaves Monona Terrace Convention Center, continuing through the intersection  with E. Wilson Ave./Williamson Street, and emerging near East Washington Blvd. Burying John Nolen makes possible a waterfront park and access, enhances redevelopment opportunities, and calms traffic going through the Marquette neighborhood. The proposed waterfront park would create something Madison has always missed: a great downtown connection to Lake Monona. In fact, downtown lakefront access is downright poor. Monona Terrace offers a nice view. But except for fishing, waterfront park space and lake access could be described as pathetic for a capitol city.

What I find great about the Downtown Vision Report – full disclosure, I had the good fortune to participate for some of the efforts – is that it dreams big. It is rare to work together with creative designers on visions without the usual client,  political or financial constraints. But more than the positive collaboration, the Design Group interjected big picture ideas into the planning process. As I discussed in my first blog entry, we need to go beyond the usual solutions to bold approaches if we are to achieve sustainability within the next few generations. I hope to profile other downtown visions in future posts.