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By Ryan Hebel The Daily Cardinal
Negotiations on a new Madison Central Library collapsed Thursday after city officials and Fiore Companies failed to settle a $2 million budget dispute. According to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz’s blog, both sides made “good-faith” efforts to work out a deal in which a new library would have been built on West Washington Avenue and the current site sold to Fiore for redevelopment. After not reaching a compromise, Cieslewicz wrote that he hopes to remodel the existing library instead.
Isabel Álvarez/the daily cardinal
The UW-Madison dance crew Rhythm Per Second performs as part of Multicultural Night in Memorial Union’s Union Theater Thursday night.
Committee contemplates new downtown goals The Daily Cardinal
The Downtown Coordinating Committee met Thursday to discuss new business in the greater Madison area, as well as new downtown goals for 2010. Jennifer Tyler spoke on behalf of
the Overture Center to describe a two-year project that the center conducted to study its influence on Madison. “We asked what difference the Overture Center has made to downtown, to Dane County, to Wisconsin, to the entire region,” Tyler said.
The project documented the various impacts of the center on the city. “The Overture Center is enhancing the quality of life, the businesses and the economy of the greater Madison area,” Tyler said. She said the center has enhanced the cultural, educational and community opportunities available in Madison. The DCC also reviewed Madison’s Downtown Plan, concentrating on land use. The plan focuses on the appearance of Madison, including building heights and streetside views.
“We are learning to grow without letting go of our unique character.” Douglas Kozel member Downtown Coordinating Committee
Nelson cho/the daily cardinal
Jennifer Tyler speaks on behalf of the Overture Center, detailing its success over the years. The committee also heard testimonies regarding the 2010 Downtown Plan and goals for the upcoming year.
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Weekend, March 19-21, 2010
New Central Library plans fall through
All hands on deck
By Taylor Curley
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“We want to create a vibrant downtown. We like how you can basically walk anywhere on foot in this city,” said city planner Archie Nicolette, who presented the plan. “It creates a sense of place.” The Downtown Plan also proposes a new park by the Doubletree Hotel. “We want to extend East Campus Mall to the potential park,” Nicolette said. The plan requires approval by the Plan Commission before moving forward. Members also discussed the committee’s 2010 goals. Committee members said the ideas that were put downtown page 3
Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, said he wished Cieslewicz would have asked the Common Council to reconsider adding the $2 million that Fiore had asked the city for. Fiore wanted the money in return for design work the company had already put in. “I’m disappointed that the council didn’t have an opportunity to even discuss or debate putting $2 million more into the project,” Eagon said. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he was also upset that negotiations fell through despite surlibrary page 3
Reform would push back first day for lease signing By Nick Crowley The Daily Cardinal
The Madison Landlord and Tenant Issues Subcommittee recommended Thursday a reform of the landlord-tenant agreement on leases to push back the date when landlords can begin offering leases to new tenants. The current version of the agreement contains two provisions that have become controversial over the past decade, especially for prospective tenants and smaller apartment owners. The current rule requires that landlords wait until one quarter of the way through the current lease, typically around Nov. 15, before they offer leases to new tenants. However, the current version allows landlords to avoid this time limit if the current tenants sign an agreement. As a result, landlords who take advantage of this provision are able to solidify contracts to tenants for the next year as soon as the cur-
rent tenant signs the agreement. “The current policy presents a problem for landlords as well as tenants,” Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, said. “The larger landlords are able to maintain a competitive advantage because of this loophole. They use the provision to get new tenants right away,” she said. “In the meantime, their current tenants are forced to decide soon after moving in whether they will sign for the next year.” The reform would eliminate this provision and extend the amount of time before landlords can sign new leases. The period between the signing of each separate lease would be extended to the halfway point in the lease period, around mid-December. “This proposal forces everyone to slow down,” committee member David Sparer said. “This way, smaller leases page 3
Feingold to visit new office downtown By Cathy Martin The Daily Cardinal
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, will celebrate the opening of a new campaign office in downtown Madison Friday evening, beginning a weekend of statewide campaigning for re-election. The Madison office joins six others in Wisconsin. Campaign spokesperson John Kraus said four more offices will follow in April, totaling 11 with more than six months until the election. According to Kraus, campaign offices help organize strong grassroots efforts by area volunteers. “[Campaign offices] provide a
hub for our supporters and volunteers to work in communities around the state, to get the word out about Sen. Feingold’s record and to continue building the network we’re going to need to win in November,” Kraus said. The campaign had $3.65 million on hand as of January. Republicans Terrence Wall and Dave Westlake are currently running against Feingold in his bid for a fourth term. Former Wisconsin Governor and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson is reported to have feingold page 3
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”