City planners sought input from Madison community members on the proposed Library Mall redesign at a meeting Tuesday.
The redesign would include the 700 and 800 blocks of Library Mall and State Street. At a similar meeting in April, community members suggested improvements such as adding more green space, additional lighting and ways to accommodate bike traffic.
Construction on the State Street portion of the redesign is set to begin in spring 2014, and Library Mall construction will follow, pending university approval, according to MSA Professional Services Project Manager Jason DiPiazza.
City planners presented two potential designs for the Library Mall and State Street area. One design features an oval-shaped green space with two cross-cutting diagonal pathways, while the other design presents Library Mall as a large rectangular green space with one diagonal pathway.
Both designs incorporate a 26-foot-wide corridor spanning the 700 and 800 blocks of State Street, which would allow fire and emergency access as well as better bike traffic flow, according to DiPiazza.
Other features of the designs include additional seating, distinct entrances to the mall area and reorganization of the Library Mall food carts.
The new designs would distribute food vendors throughout the 700 and 800 blocks of State Street, allowing as many as eight additional food carts to operate on the mall, according to SmithGroupJJR Vice President Bill Patek, a project consultant.
Community members brought concerns about maintenance, seasonal utility and preserving campus icons such as the Library Mall fountain and clock tower.
The oval design preserves the fountain as a focal point, but the rectangular design excludes the fountain. Instead, the rectangular design features a water exhibit along the west side of Memorial Library. Both designs include the clock tower but place it in different locations.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said he sees pros and cons in both designs, but he is excited to see the future of Library Mall and State Street.
“Hopefully we can come up with a destination that all of Madison will be really proud of,” Resnick said.
City planners will bring the proposed designs to the State Street Design Oversight Committee Aug. 22 before moving on to Common Council for review.
