The controversy over the redesign of Mifflin Street was the center of attention at Tuesday's discussion of the Downtown Plan at Memorial Union.
The meeting addressed a more detailed plan for the next 25 years in the city's main downtown areas. Bill Fruhling, one of the principal planners, said that although the committee is far from being done, it is starting to move toward recommendations.
The committee has received a great deal of feedback from previous meetings, including the April meeting at which some students brought to the committee's attention their worries about the potential redevelopment of the Mifflin area.
Fruhling said most people are divided on the issue of redevelopment. He said many residents feel that even though Mifflin Street may not be the most well-maintained area, it has character and tradition. These people tend to have a strong emotional attachment to the current look of Mifflin, he said.
Others feel Mifflin needs a plan for transitioning over time, Fruhling said. He said the city needs to look 25 years into the future and make sure Mifflin will still contribute to the city. There is a need to keep houses in good shape for Mifflin to have a viable future, according to Fruhling.
Fruhling and principal planner Michael Waidelich said it was important to keep the neighborhood at its current level or improve it.
If Mifflin Street is to be conserved, the planners have suggested that buildings in the area would be kept at two or three stories. If it is redeveloped instead, some of the houses could be replaced by buildings four to six stories tall.
In addition to its historical background, the Mifflin neighborhood is also an area with low-cost housing available. It contains some of the least expensive housing options for UW-Madison students, according to Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8.
