Plans for the redevelopment of the Edgewater Hotel showed signs of moving forward at Monday night's community listening session.
Bob Dunn, Hammes Company president, lead the session with a presentation focused on responding to the questions and concerns brought up at last month's Urban Planning Committee meeting.
""We've really been focusing on harnessing these issues and understanding them,"" Dunn said. ""We've found some very effective ways to address every one of the issues.""
The main concern voiced by many community members was the impact the new building would have on the historic Mansion Hill district. Objections to the structure's height, possibility of increased traffic, and destruction of natural topography were among the biggest issues preventing public approval.
""We negotiated with National Guardian to see if we could pull the building over 30 feet, and we just recently came to an agreement and repositioned,"" Dunn said. ""At its elevation, this building meshes with the capitol height limitation.""
The presentation also focused on potential benefits the proposed redevelopment could have for the city and the university.
Dunn said between 500 and 1000 jobs would be created as a result of this expansion, and the project would bring in substantial TIF funds that would be used to improve the aging Langdon Street neighborhood. The plan would also bring the building up to ADA standards, offering full lakefront accessibility for wheelchairs.
""Three top hotel analysts have looked at this proposal and studied the market, and all three came to the exact same conclusion working independently: this is an opportunity to develop a distinctive class of hotel in our district, and it is the perfect time to do it,"" Dunn said.
The responses from meeting attendees were much more positive compared to the last time Hammes Company addressed the public. Many members of the boating community and downtown residents expressed favorable views.
""I like your project the way it is,"" said one longtime Madison resident to resounding applause. ""I feel like this is the right project at the right time.""
