Preserve Music Madison: City fast tracks controversial East Washington music venue

Contact: Andrew Gusset
Phone 608-213-8585

Madison – A controversial 2500 person concert venue, conference center and bar that was rejected by city staff two years ago is now slated to be up for a vote before the Common Council in less than two weeks.  There have been no public hearings on the 800 Block Development Agreement, and it has not been voted on or vetted by either of the local neighborhood associations. The total cost of the project is estimated at $76 million dollars, with $16 million coming from the City of Madison for a parking garage to be used by new tenants.
 
“The Frank Productions venue is a zombie — you kill it in one place and it re-appears in another. After my neighborhood stopped them at Stonehouse Dairy block, they re-appeared next door,” said John Belknap, who lives two blocks away. “Now they are at it again, moving a block down and across the street. It’s a slap in the face to the neighborhood, and no way to spend TIF money.” The second venue is proposed for the 800 block of East Washington Avenue, while the first rejected attempt was at 1000 East Washington.
 
Other residents are feeling concerned about the lack of community consideration of the project. “I have grave concerns about the way that a unilateral, developer-driven music venue could negatively impact our community”, said Mary Beth Collins, a resident from Mifflin Street who opposed the venue in 2014. “I am worried that a developer-driven plan to quickly place a venue in this key city-owned location, before the community has a meaningful chance to understand what this will mean for music and other issues in Madison, and weigh in.” On Wednesday, October 18th the development agreement is scheduled at two committees simultaneously, frustrating opponents who are unable to attend meetings set several blocks away with from each other with votes at the same time.
 
The city staff rejected the venue proposal in 2014 based on noise, traffic, pedestrian safety, alcohol and parking concerns. This new development agreement going up for a vote includes several additional entities, but has not been scheduled for consideration at the Plan Commission or many other major committees. “The city should not be bundling this bad idea with smart development projects like The Spark and Starting Block,” said Eve Paras, a former Marquette neighborhood resident and former operator of the Orpheum Theater. “Why aren’t these developments going though the normal city approval process and being discussed as separate agenda items?” 
 
“If this were a cable bundle package, the venue in the landline nobody wants or needs”, said Andrew Gussert, a local activist and lobbyist who opposes the venue. “It’s not ‘progress’ if we lose the ability to see shows at the Barrymore, Overture, High Noon Saloon or Orpheum.  A redundant hall subsidized by the city has real potential to create new blight if multiple other venues are put out of business.”
 
In 2014, local neighbors created “Tenney Lapham for Smart Development” to oppose a music venue, which they fear would bring traffic, noise and congestion to their neighborhood. Parking was also a major concern, as many homes in the neighborhood don’t have driveways or off-street parking options. “It’s not clear where 1000 new cars will park three times a week, or how hundreds of concert goers — all able to buy wine, beer and liquor — will safely cross a crowded East Washington Avenue at midnight,” added Gussert. He has organized with neighborhood residents, local activists, music lovers and venue owners to create an opposition group to preserve music choices in Madison. More information can be found at http://preservemadisonmusic.com