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Mike Ivey: For the love of books

Mike Ivey  —  6/04/2008 7:21 am

The most contentious vote in Fitchburg this November won't be Obama vs. McCain.

It will likely center on a referendum over building a $14-million public library that could boost property taxes by $200 annually on the average home.

With some 24,000 residents, Fitchburg is by far the largest city in Wisconsin without its own library. Heck, it doesn't even have a downtown.

But a group of citizens has been working for several years to change that. They've identified a site off Lacy Road next to the Fitchburg city hall and have put together fairly detailed plans about design, financing and operation.

"We think it could be a tremendous resource for the entire community," says Jayne Kuehn, president of the Fitchburg library board.

Still, Kuehn is realistic and knows it could prove difficult to convince residents to raise taxes on themselves -- even for something as laudable as a new library.

"If it was just a question of whether you want a new library I'm sure the answer would be yes," she says. "The issue is how do you pay for it."

Plans call for the city to borrow $10 million, with private fund-raising making up the remaining $4 million. Estimated operating costs are another $1.5 million annually.

The Fitchburg library board considered partnering with other systems but decided it wasn't feasible. It also decided not to pursue creating a branch of the Madison library since Fitchburg would lose governing control.

A survey is now being sent to all residents to get an early gauge on support.

"With construction costs rising so fast, we either need to do it now or it's probably not going to happen," says Kuehn, an attorney for DeWitt Ross & Stevens who has twin grandchildren, ages 2, who also live in Fitchburg.

It's all about the kids, right?

Full speed ahead

Who says the local housing market is in the tank? Several interesting projects are moving forward despite tight credit markets and a glut of available properties.

Owners of Sequoya Commons will today again present plans to the Madison Urban Design Commission for Phase 2 of the redevelopment of the former Midvale Plaza shopping center.

Plans from the team led by developer Joe Krupp call for 100 apartment units and 10,500 square feet of retail space built around a central courtyard. Parking would be provided underground.

The project runs the full width of the block between busy Midvale Boulevard and more residential Caromar Drive, taking up the entire western end of the property. Initial plans showed a two-story building facing Caromar but the latest plan shows a three-story building there with four stories fronting on Midvale Boulevard.

DeWitt Real Estate Development is pressing forward with a 42-lot subdivision called Coyle Highlands South Addition just south of Cottage Grove Road in the village of Cottage Grove. The plat also includes two multi-family lots and 5 "Neighborhood Office" lots.

An earlier subdivision, Coyle Highlands, north of Cottage Grove Road has sold nearly all of its 191 lots after five years.

"Notwithstanding the chilly economic climate, we remain confident in one of the Madison area's many resilient neighborhoods," says John DeWitt. "This subdivision has many single family homes, a couple of small multi-family lots and a string of neighborhood office lots."

A new urbanism inspired project is slated for the far eastern end of Milwaukee Street on land owned by Homburg Equipment Inc. featuring small lots, alleyways and front porches

Dubbed "Eastlawn," the first phase calls for a mixed residential neighborhood of 26 duplex units and eight 4-unit homes on roughly five acres on the south side of Milwaukee Street east of Interstate 90-94.

"This blend of housing options creates a diverse, vibrant walkable neighborhood," says project manager Chris Landerud of Vandewalle & Associates.

The transformation of South Park Street into an ethnic restaurant destination is continuing with plans to turn the former Liquid Lyrics Lounge into the Edo Steakhouse at 610-614 S. Park. The property was acquired in July 2007 by Jing-Jun Jiang, who also operates the Edo Garden Japanese Restaurant just a few doors away.

Architect Barry Yang said redevelopment of the property would begin this summer, with the new restaurant opening this fall. The Edo Garden would continue to operate as well.

Pump woes

Has your employer done anything to help offset record gasoline prices? If not, they're in the minority.

Nearly 57 percent of some 100 firms sampled by Chicago-based HR consultant Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. are offering some type of program to mitigate increased commuting costs.

The most popular program is offering a condensed workweek, which typically consists of four 10-hour days. Other options include organizing employee car pools, subsidizing the cost of public transportation and expanding telecommuting options.

"Part of the reason employers offer these gas-saving perks is to keep their best and brightest workers from seeking positions closer to home," explains John Challenger.

So far, only a handful of companies surveyed have actually had an employee leave due to increased commuting costs. However, 34 percent reported that potential job candidates turned down offers because of long commutes.

Nationally, the average commute is currently about 30 miles roundtrip but experts are predicting that with high gas prices, the average distance between work and home could decrease significantly.

In a February survey by online job search site SnagAJob.com, 37 percent of respondents said that 10 miles is the farthest they will travel to a job. Another 30 percent said 20 miles is the maximum distance they would commute. Only 15 percent said they would be willing to travel more than 20 miles for a job, which is roughly the distance from Mount Horeb to the state Capitol.

You wonder what figures like that will mean for housing markets in bedroom communities surrounding Madison. It can't help.

Mike Ivey  —  6/04/2008 7:21 am