After hours of public testimony and deliberation, Madison's Common Council approved the construction of a new apartment complex on the corner of Brooks Street and University Avenue early Wednesday morning.
The 80-unit, eight stories high complex will be located on the land currently owned by the St. Francis House near Grainger Hall.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said the city has a vision to bring students closer to the campus area.
Resnick said development more central to campus allows students to be closer, condenses UW services and lets areas outside of the campus area where students aren't living be redeveloped for other purposes, whether for young professionals or other residents of Madison.
""This is the kind of redevelopment will keep Madison going strong for the next 25 years,"" Resnick said. ""That's the kind of development I support.""
Members of the Luther Memorial Church strongly opposed the project out of fear they would lose regular church attendees as a result of increased student congestion, trash and noise, as well as significantly decreased parking space.
""I don't care how good your worship is,"" former Lutheran Bishop Jon Enslin said. ""If it's too difficult or complicated to come, people won't come.""
Several Luther Memorial members claimed the new building is going to cast a shadow that will interfere with the way natural sunlight reflects off of the building's stained glass windows during mass.
Green space on the 1000 block of University Avenue that will be compromised due to the project also concerned Luther Memorial and other opposition.
Supporters said the partnership between the new apartment building and St. Francis will allow the church to bring student housing to its site and provide funding to sustain itself and its ministry on campus.
""[St. Francis] is in danger of being denied their need to expand and grow, even exist, so that a stained glass window of [Luther Memorial] can project sunlight through their window a few hours a week,"" Madison Episcopal Priest Charles Granger said.
Resnick said the project adds up a new dynamic to keep the St. Francis ministry going forward.
""We don't know what the future holds,"" Grace Episcopal Church Priest Director Jonathan Greisser said. ""But we need to adapt our churches, our ministry and our city to changing circumstances and realities.""
