The Plan Commission approved Phase II of construction Monday night for Metropolitan Place Condominiums, 360 W. Washington St. The City Council will vote on the project Tuesday night at its monthly meeting.
The expansion consists of 164 additional condominium units, 320 additional stalls of parking and 16,000 square feet of commercial space.
When the Plan Commission last met April 18, several Metropolitan place residents raised questions regarding Phase II's effect on their property, such as new parking structures, requests for guest parking and access easement from the rear of the existing building and Washington Ave.
Bob Holloway, one of the residents, discussed these issues with the Metropolitan Place developers then submitted sufficient clarification of their actions to the commission in a memorandum of understanding. The 174 current residents of Metropolitan Place feel much more comfortable with this explanation, according to Holloway.
\No one has said, 'We don't want Phase II,'"" said Holloway.
Although Metropolitan Place owner Cliff Fischer wants to use the additional commercial space for a grocery store, he has not received any offers. Current Metropolitan Place resident Pat Heiser requested the Plan Commission allow Fischer to follow through with this plan. She cooks from scratch everyday and fails to see the variety in products she uses at the two grocery stores in her area. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, explained that the Plan Commission neither encourages nor discourages Fischer's proposed grocery store.
Twenty others attended the meeting in support of the project, such as resident Jean Connor.
""We're all eager to see it finished,"" Connor said.
The Plan Commission also heard a request from Delta properties developer John Koffel for the demolition of 551 W. Main St. He hopes to use this property for a three-story office building covered by a mezzanine structure.
The current building, built in 1917, contains four apartments and the design studio for Madison Children's Museum, which is being relocated to Capitol Square.
The Plan Commission attempts to restore all buildings unless they are structurally unstable or economically unproductive. Koffel failed to prove the building met these criteria, so the commission voted to refer the item for discussion in two weeks.
""It would be a lot of work to rehab this building,"" argued Verveer, who lives across the street from the building.
