Residents in the Langdon Street area will soon have new neighbors in the form of dump trucks and construction workers.
Plans for a new four-story apartment building were approved Monday by the Madison Plan Commission, the final step before a proposal goes before the Madison Common Council. The complex, to be located at 211 E. Lakelawn Pl., is a scaled-down version of the six-story design previously proposed in March.
'The first was a taller, more contemporary style, but the new plan is smaller and more of a neo-classical design that better fits the architecture of the surrounding area,' architect John Sutton said.
The student-oriented design will have 19 units featuring 48 bedrooms and other amenities, such as underground bicycle and moped parking.
'There definitely is a need for this kind of housing,' said Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4. 'With enrollment in the university continuing to grow, the newer housing for students will be greatly appreciated.'
But the new housing won't be appreciated by everyone. The original design was put on hold because of concerns displayed by neighborhood residents.
Cicely Phillip, maintenance coordinator and resident of Martha's Co-op, 225 E. Lakelawn Pl., a housing complex adjacent to the new apartments, said she worries about some problems that may arise from the new complex.
'Parking is already bad, and the garbage from the apartments would have an impact on the lake,' Phillip said. '[The building] makes sense monetarily, but the impact on the neighboring community could hurt more than help.'
Verveer, too, had questions from the outset of the project last March.
'When this was proposed, there were many concerns by myself and area residents, but with the new plan, there was little or no opposition to the project,' he said.
With the plan now approved, the neighborhood could see construction begin as early as this fall. If everything goes according to schedule, the complex could be ready for new residents to move in before next school year.
Sutton said he firmly believes that current residents of the Lakelawn area will have no problems with the new addition.
Verveer echoed that sentiment.
'I'm very pleased with the end result; it will be a good addition to the area,' he said.
Some long-term residents of the area, like Phillip, do not agree.
'A lot of people will like it, but the people who already live here don't like it at all,' she said.
