Mayor Dave: 'Unreasonable Opposition'

In Mayor Dave's recent blog entry on the Edgewater Hotel proposal, he wrote that "What remains now is unreasonable opposition from a slim minority that vows to use every tool at their disposal, including the courts, to block this project."

I completely agree, as mentioned in my previous entry on this topic. Projects in Madison are too often fought tooth and nail, and it really does no one any good. Let this project proceed for Pete's sake!

Approve the Edgewater Hotel expansion

For a city built around beautiful lakes, it's a shame there are only a handful of public places (non-beaches/parks) to gather on the lake. Take Lake Mendota, for example: you have the Memorial Union and the Edgwater Hotel (places like Captain Bill's are not adjacent to the lake, as they claim).

Developers have proposed expanding the Edgewater Hotel, and plans include giving the pier a make-over. Of course, with every proposal in the city, it has to be fought tooth and nail. As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal, the proposal is supported by Downtown Madison Inc., the Wisconsin Alumni Association, nearby First United Methodist Church and several neighborhood leaders, but not by Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. and the Mansion Hill Neighborhood Association.

An issue that was raised was concern over traffic and noise. That's odd, since the Edgewater is one block from Gorham (very busy) and on Langdon Street (home of Greek row). Anyone living in that vicinity should already be used to traffic and noise!

One thing that former Mayor Paul Soglin correctly points out in his blog is that we need to have density in downtown or face more sprawl.

Lastly, I think the Edgewater would make a nice north-of-the-Capitol complement to the south-of-the-Capitol Monona Terrace (which should also have a terrace like the Memorial Union's--save that for another blog).

Early sign of spring?

It was nice to have a mid-50s day today. But the biggest indication of spring? Seeing a food cart on the Capitol Square.