Nearly a decade after the city enacted a plan to revamp State Street, residents and officials gathered Monday to celebrate the grand reopening of Madison's signature downtown drag.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., joined downtown alders and business representatives for a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside State Street Brats at the intersection of State Street and Frances Street.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the State Street Strategic Plan began in 1999 as a project to reconstruct the 100 through 600 blocks of the street. Cieslewicz acknowledged local officials, designers, renovators, residents, students and business owners for their work and cooperation during the construction of the most attractive pedestrian transit mall in the country.""
The mayor applauded city engineers and designers, who sought new ""cutting-edge"" technology and functionality when planning the project. Cieslewicz said the renovations not only resulted in an aesthetically pleasing ""classic look"" but also made State Street more durable and easier to take care of.
""This look will really serve us very well for decades and decades to come,"" he said.
Cieslewicz also thanked Baldwin for obtaining nearly one third of the project's $15 million cost through Congressional earmarks. Baldwin said she was happy to get money to renovate what she considers a vital part of the relationship between the state, city and UW-Madison.
""The Capitol connection with the campus is at the very heart of Madison, and State Street obviously is the main artery in this connection,"" Baldwin said.
Mary Carbine, executive director of Madison's Central Business Improvement District, said State Street's 350 shops, restaurants and service businesses are thriving despite the country's current economic situation. She attributed part of the success to the recent renovations.
""I know it was a long summer of construction, but look at the beautiful street that we have now,"" she said.
While the major street construction is complete, renovations in the State Street area are not over. Verveer said a water feature created in collaboration with the Madison Arts Commission will be installed in the spring. Additionally, the city plans to fix up Peace Park along State Street and adjoining side streets, beginning with Gilman Street next year. The city will also continue working on the reconstruction of Library Mall on the 800 block of State Street.
""This obviously is the state's most famous street, and it's about time that we gave it the tender loving care and facelift that it needed,"" Verveer said.
