On June 24, 2024, the planning team held the first community engagement meeting to listen to the community’s wants, needs, and dreams for the site’s reuse and redevelopment. Here is a summarized list of those wants, needs, and dreams for your further consideration, in order of the most often shared:

• Include home ownership opportunities
• The height and quantity of housing provided must fit within the context of the neighborhood
• Would like green space and playgrounds to be included
• There is a need for resident supportive services and case managers
• Would like to see more food options, access to healthy food and grocery
• We need more housing for seniors
• There are concerns about having adequate parking, and affordable parking options
• The design of the buildings must be high-quality, long-lasting, and welcoming
• Management must be local and have an on-site presence
• Ensure the housing serves a variety of incomes and demographics – multi-generational housing
• We need programming and engagement for teenagers, sports courts
• We do not want any additional commercial spaces
• The buildings should be environmentally friendly and use sustainable materials
• Spaces must be well-lit and consider crime prevention design measures
• Concern over the relocation of the police department
• Do not serve only the lowest incomes
• Ensure street crossings and crosswalks are safe, worried about increase in traffic
• Include housing for families, more three-bedroom apartments
• Housing needs to be affordable
• Concern over local school capacities, ability to support growth
• Would like apartments to have balconies, ample open air
• Afraid of displacement, gentrification
• Would like a new community center
• Don’t want to live above/next to a fire station
• Really like the aesthetics of Bayview
• Senior housing should be separate and more private
• Hold a candy drive to raise funding instead of tax dollars
• Bus stop should be on Badger not Hughes, Hughes and Cypress are too small
• Bus stop should be across from Madison College instead of on Hughes
• Make sure project is connected to the neighborhood, not isolated
• South Madison is not bike friendly
• Layout the Area Median Incomes and affordability information
• What is the engagement strategy to reach the LatinX community?
• Add a fitness center
• Add a community gym in the fire station
• Do not connect Perry Street across the beltline, it will bring unwanted traffic
• Would like a museum for kids
• Would like a community art gallery
• Add a pedestrian and bike tunnel under Park Street
• Concerned about the view from the Hub being impeded
• Don’t use Zoom to engage the community, it needs to be personal engagement
• Keep South Madison diverse
• We need a day care
• Provide as much density as possible
• Would like to see direct-entry housing, or town-home style housing
• We need community gathering spaces
• The new fire station should have some tie to Mrs. Jackson (black female firefighter living in South Madison)

What are the next steps?

We are working to address the insightful questions and suggestions raised during the community engagement session. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section will be added to our website soon.

Our planning team is currently analyzing the feedback received and evaluating how it can best shape our planning efforts. This session was the first of many interactions planned for 2024 as we collaborate with the community to develop a shared master plan – a conceptual vision for the future.

The second community engagement meeting is scheduled for early fall. During this meeting, we aim to present a draft of the conceptual vision, reflecting the community’s input and seeking further feedback. To stay connected and receive updates, please share your email below.

What can you do in the meantime?

Continue sharing your voice with us.