Madison's Edgewater Hotel, located at 666 Wisconsin Ave. and one of the city's most impressive landmarks, could receive a sizeable makeover by early 2010, but not without many hurdles.
At an informational neighborhood meeting hosted Tuesday by Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2 and Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, many residents seemed apprehensive toward redeveloping the Edgewater.
Most residents wanted assurance that the natural aesthetics of the waterfront and original design of the building would be left intact.
Ledell Zellers of the Mansion Hill Steering Committee, a volunteer organization opposed to over-developing the area, said the city has already lost many of its historic aspects and doesn't need to lose another.
However, the president of Hammes Company—the real estate development company leading the project—claimed the hotel had the potential to be a ‘vision' in the Mansion Hill neighborhood.
""We're creating a distinctive hotel and a portal to the lakefront,"" President Bob Dunn said. ""We want a complement to Monona Terrace.""
Dunn also noted that a proposal this size would bring several critical benefits to the neighborhood.
Dunn said stabilizing and improving city property values, creating close to 1,000 jobs and strengthening the residential base of the neighborhood were some of the benefits.
Among residents' other concerns with the development was public access to the waterfront. Lead architect David Manfredi said a streamlined architecture would provide a personal and residential space that would enhance the public's view of Lake Mendota.
One Madison resident said he has never been so inspired by the designs and never thought something of this magnitude could happen to the Edgewater.
Still, residents wanted answers to concerns about tax increases for residents within District 2, the site of the hotel.
According to the Mansion Hill group, Hammes Company is requiring $16.8 million in tax incremental financing.
Although not everyone is content with plans to move ahead, Verveer noted that the neighborhood process is important to city officials, and Tuesday's meeting was only the first of many opportunities for public comment.
Dunn left citizens with the notion that the Edgewater could turn Madison into a destination city.
""This could be a student union for adults,"" he said. ""I'm fairly confident we'll see a wide array of people who will want public access to this space.""
