A battle between preservationists and proponents of economic development has grabbed the attention of Madison officials in recent months.

The two sides squared off at last Tuesday’s Madison City Council meeting over a plan to tear down three old houses on the 400 block of West Dayton Street and replace them with a four-story condominium. The plan was eventually passed, indicating the majority of the City Council supports development.

While Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, opposed the demolition of the houses, she acknowledged the council’s favor of modern construction.

“The majority of the council doesn’t place as much importance on saving the character that downtown Madison represents,” Konkel said.

Still, many believe preservation of historical sites and expansion of development can coexist.

Daniel Stephans, an architect and member of the Landmarks Commission, said the city simply needs to identify particularly important buildings and neighborhoods.

“Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s worth preserving,” Stephans said. “The areas worth preserving need to be defined and that will still leave plenty of room for new development.”

From an architectural point of view, Stephans said preservationists and proponents of development must reach a compromise.

“When I’m building something, if the area has a pedestrian character, I want to continue to respect that while I build,” he said.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has made economic development a cornerstone of his administration. He has said development creates construction jobs, makes better use of land and allows people to live closer to work.

Gene Devitt, an executive member of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., said new buildings will work best in harmony with historical buildings.

“We are very fortunate to have a large stock of historical landmarks in our city,” Devitt said, noting that new buildings should fit in with the height and style of their surroundings.

Konkel, a recent UW-Madison graduate, also stressed the need for condos and apartments to compliment existing houses.

“It’s the style and the feel of the street that matters,” she said.

Devitt suggested forming a committee to survey downtown neighborhoods to decide which areas are ripe for development and which areas should be preserved.

“Part of the charm of coming downtown is its historical significance,” Devitt said. “You need to look at areas and say ‘these are worth saving.’”

According to Konkel, the city has so far failed to consider Madison’s past when approving construction proposals.

“It seems to me the political world doesn’t make it a priority to preserve the identity of its neighborhoods,” Konkel said. “Buts some are beginning to fight back because they are realizing that they are beginning to lose something.”