Category Archives: Madison

Changes Made to Orton Park Festival

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MNA holds second meeting to address noise, environmental concerns

Residents are concerned about noise during the Orton Park Festival as well as the affect of thousands of feet on the turf and tree roots.

The success of neighborhood festivals in the Marquette Neighborhood is starting to show some strain on residents. Last week (July 31) the Marquette Neighborhood Association held a second meeting to address concerns regarding noise during the upcoming Orton Park Festival and wear and tear on the turf and the tree roots.

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Potential Union Corners Developers to Give Presentations

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Developers to take questions about proposals

Following a meeting on August 6 to score the five proposals for development of Union Corners, a second meeting will be held August 15. At this meeting the developers who have submitted proposals will be given 15 minutes each for a presentation and time will also be made for questions from the public.

The session will be held for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Goodman Community Center. The results of both meetings will be compiled and presented to the selection committee for consideration as the process moves forward.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

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Five proposals for Union Corners redevelopment revealed

Union Corners has been vacant for quite some time but the City sees its redevelopment as one of the crown jewels of resurrecting the Capitol East corridor. Many of the plans submitted for the site include using the bricks (left) from the French Battery Company plant that used to reside on a portion of the site.


Everyone wants Union Corners developed. Once the location of a Kohl’s food store and the French Battery Company plant, it has sat grass-covered and empty for years. Now five proposals have been submitted in response to the City’s recent Request For Proposal and the vetting process begins.

We have been down this road before, McGrath Associates had an approved plan with neighborhood support for mostly residential buildings in 2004 but the economic downturn derailed the project by 2007. Union Corners had been dying a slow death for decades as businesses struggled to exist on that corner and Ray-O-Vac’s manufacturing plant faded away. In 2010 the city purchased the site for $3.57 million and issued an RFP in June.

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Madison Contests Livingston Rail Crossing Closure

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Update on appeal at Vehicle Commission meeting, stop signs grow on Baldwin

If a Wisconsin State commission’s ruling stands, the railroad crossing at Livingston Street will be closed by June 2013 and cul de sacs installed.

A key municipal meeting is coming up today at 5 p.m. at City Hall. The Pedestrian/Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Commission will meet to discuss a few ongoing items that directly affect multi-modal movement along the Capital City Bike Trail and Central Park.

On the agenda is whether to install an All-Way stop sign at South Baldwin and East Wilson Streets and discussion on the City’s response to the State Office of Commissioner of Railroad’s (OCR) recommendation to close the railroad crossing at South Livingston Street.  Continue reading →

Gallery: Live On King St.

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Cloud Cult delights with high energy and thick harmonies

Hundreds showed up for the 2nd Annual Live on King Street summer concert series which was expanded to four dates this summer. Majestic Resident DJ Nick Nice cast music down upon the gathered crowd from his perch including a pre-concert set along with music in between performances.

Nice was followed by the up and comping pop duo MS MR from New York City and the headliner Cloud Cult, which after a two year absence played like a band earnestly making up for lost time and the crowd responded with enthusiastic love. Video of Cloud Cult in action including the on-stage painters is below.

You can read a review of the evening from the Isthmus here

Atwood-Fair Oaks Intersection to Open Soon

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Paving is complete as City expects to open the intersection the week of July 23

With paving finished, the Atwood-Fair Oaks intersection is expected to open the week of July 23, 2012.

In just over a month, construction crews are nearly finished with the complete reconstruction of the intersection of Atwood and Fair Oaks Avenues. In an update posted on the City of Madison website, the intersection was being paved and signs and markings would be installed soon in preparation for an opening the week of July 23.

Indeed by Thursday (July 19) contractors were observed paving the intersection and by Saturday morning the intersection appeared completed, save for lighted traffic signals, signs and pavement markings. So far the project is at least a week ahead of schedule.  Continue reading →

Olbrich Deep Well Activated for Drought Support

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Water Utility says nearby Kipp contamination not a concern

Deep Well #8 on the Olbrich sledding hill. This seasonal well is the last of the 22 wells to be activated by the city in their drought response.

We’re not sure if Madison is running out of water, but as part of its drought response, the city has activated its last remaining dormant well as a precaution. Well #8, located at Welch and Lakeland Avenues also known as the Olbrich sledding hill, is in the process of being flushed so it will be ready in case demand increases again. The well has been dormant until now and some are raising concerns about water quality since its blocks from the Madison-Kipp Corporation plant where ground contamination has been an on-going concern.

In a letter to Madison 6th Ward Alder Marsha Rummel, Madison Water Utility Public Information and Conservation Official Gail Gawanda said that flushing of Well #8 began the week of July 17. The well is being placed in service as a precaution since all the other wells and booster stations are running at nearly non-stop pace to meet current demands.

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Live On King St. Debuts Friday

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Cloud Cult to headline Block Party, DJ Nick Nice atop the Majestic marquee

The 2nd annual Live On King Street free summer concert series kicks off Friday July 20th featuring Cloud Cult, an experimental indie rock band from neighboring Minnesota. The band was started by Craig Minowa to support some of his solo projects and has grown to eight current members and almost an equal number of alumni. Cloud Cult features mostly traditional instruments including guitar, cello, violin, bass, keyboard, trombone, drums, and trumpet.

One unique aspect of Cloud Cult’s performances is the employment of one or two painters (including Craig’s wife Connie) on stage that complete pieces during the performance. The pieces are auctioned off at the end and audience members can also commission works to be done during the show.

Opening for Cloud Cult is MS MR, a Brooklyn-based duo with poppy, retro, and sometimes experimental sounds. Their first single “Hurricane” was released this month and is available on 7’’ vinyl. You can download their Track Addict Mix Series, including “Hurricane” from Soundcloud.

Majestic Resident DJ Nick Nice. Courtesy: Nick Nice

The all ages concert begins at 5 p.m. (21 to drink) with Majestic Resident DJ Nick Nice spinning from atop the Majestic marquee as he did last year. Nick Nice will then move inside the Majestic and host the 80s New Wave Rave beginning at 10 p.m.

Have You Seen This Thief?

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Passerby rummages through cars, takes bike from Sector67

This thief wandered into the Sector67 parking lot early Tuesday morning (July 17), looked through these two cars then took a bike.

Management at Sector67, a technology center at 2100 Winnebago Street reports that a thief rifled through vehicles in their parking lot at 12:55 a.m. on Tuedsday (July 17) and stole a bicycle.

Chris Meyer, director of Sector67 asks anyone who has seen the bike or recognizes the person in the video below to contact Sector67 at 608-241-4605 or call Madison Police.

A photo of the stolen bike, a Schwinn Frontier. Courtesy: Sector67

Willy Street Co-op Expansion Pays Off

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Co-op profitable two years ahead of schedule

Perfect weather made for a great opening night to La Fete de Marquette 2012. Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, plus Sarazino got the crowd dancing.

The first day of La Fete de Marquette was a nice mix of community, fun, and music. It was the perfect night to start a 4-day music festival with temperatures in the mid-70s, no wind and clear skies. The Willy Street Co-op held their annual membership meeting on the grounds, offering a free dinner to members, while also reporting on the state of the Co-op 18 months after opening Willy West in Middleton.  Continue reading →