Ambitious library plan gets a few critics
Plans to rebuild Madison's Central Library as part of a multi-story, mixed-use building drew some criticism at a public hearing Monday night.
While only three residents elected to speak at the meeting, two raised concerns about the proposed format for the new building. Local developer Terrence Wall presented a plan at a May 1 meeting of the Madison Public Library Board that would create a nine-story building with underground parking, retail space on lower levels, library space on middle levels and office space on the top levels. The board voted unanimously then to begin the process of selling the library and seeking out developers, with Wall as the strongest contender.
Wall's plan proposed a building design "complementary" to the neighboring Overture Center, but speakers questioned the ability of a library within a mixed-use building serving as the "flagship" library for the city.
Downtown resident Paul Ostlind called libraries a reflection of how a community views its education and culture and said a mixed-use facility would diminish the importance of the library.
"I think a stand-alone facility has a lot to do with how a community feels about itself and its institutions," he said. "I'm not sure that we would be having this discussion if the question were, should we take city hall down and put a mixed-use facility in there and incorporate city hall into it?"
He also stated concerns about the stability of renting condominium space within a larger structure.
Library Board Chairman Tripp Wilder said the city would own the library space, modeling the plan after the library's Sequoya branch in development on Midvale Road, which is also part of a larger structure.
Another resident, Timothy Gary, called the large scale of the building "too ambitious" and said that the library should focus on smaller improvements to the current building to save Madison taxpayers money.
"I think Madison residents are taxed to their limits already, and I believe the Overture, Monona Terrace and Goodman Pool on the city side the reality that we've seen has not reached the promises that were made when they were sold to us prior to their approval," he said.
The Madison Public Library Board is currently in the process of writing a request for proposals for library plans, although Wall's plan has been the basis for current library rebuilding plans. Criteria for the request for proposals are due July 10, and once the request is issued, architects will have 60 days to respond.
File photo
Developer Terrence Wall's proposal would create a nine-story building with underground parking and retail, library and office space.
