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Will K-Mart Site Get the Green-Light Special?
By Jeremy Kautza; RNA Webmaster
December 11, 2004
Having stood vacant for over a year, the K-Mart building on Madison's East Washington Avenue is one step closer
to being back in service. No, the retailer which recently teamed up with Sears is not going to be offering blue-light
specials in Madison anytime soon, but developer Peter Frautschi has a special plan of his own. The $23.5 redevelopment
plan would bring a dramatic new look to the nearly 12-acre site along with new shopping and dining opportunities.
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| Shoppers take advantage of a "sneak preview" at Dick's Sporting Goods (Photo courtesy of WSJ) |
Shoppers Choices Expand at East Towne
By Jeremy Kautza, RNA Webmaster
October 22, 2004
Ridgewood residents have 2 new shopping opportunties, along with a new quick-service oil change garage.
Gordmans, which opened in September, touts that it offers "something unexpected." According to their website, the company's mission statement is to "delight our guests with big savings on name brands in fun, easy-to-shop stores."
Dick's Sporting Goods opened officially on October 24, 2004, although a "sneak preview" offered eager customers the chance to shop the sporting
good retailer early. Dick's offers two floors of merchandise appealing to a wide variety of interests.
Both Gordmans and Dick's are part of a major renovation of East Towne Mall and face Zeier Rd.
Jiffy Lube, located on the corner of Lien and Eagan Roads, is also open. They offer full-service oil changes
along with other minor automotive repair and maintenance services.
Veridian's Autumn Lake Gets Final City Approval
From the Aug. 4, 2004 "The Capital Times"
For the full story click anywhere on the article below to be taken to the story on madison.com
Neighborhood Development Continues
Jeremy Kautza, RNA Webmaster
February 18, 2004
The Goldleaf Development project was approved by the Plan Commission on Monday Night. Bob Schaefer, Jim
Zernicke and Joe Campana spoke in favor of the project but also spoke about the need for an integrated Lien Rd improvement
and traffic management program to discourage the Autumn Wood III (Goldleaf) and the Autumn Lake (Veridian) residents from
using our neighborhood streets as North-South Connectors. The Plan Commission added our request
as a condition.
In other development news, Veridian Homes recently announced that it is proceeding with plans to develop "the
Drumlin" (this is the area between Ridge Oak and South Ridge). Road construction will begin this Spring and should be completed by
fall. Afterwards home construction will begin. This area had been previously approved for eight single family homes. The condo
project once rumored for that location will not happen.
A much larger Veridian Homes development, known as Autumn Lake, has also been approved by the Madison City
Council. See the story below.
City Council Approves Veridian's Autumn Lake
By Jeremy Kautza, RNA Webmaster
Jan. 02, 2004
On Tuesday night, December 2, 2003, the Madison City Council approved a general development plan for the Village
at Autumn Lake, a 285-acre subdivision by Veridian Homes. Located east of Interstate 90-94, on Lien Road, the subdivision
is to be developed over the next five to 10 years, ultimately including about 500 homes. Based on new urbanist principles
of narrow streets, mixed uses and back alleys, the project also includes a man-made lake that will be open to the public.
Keep checking here for further updates or visit www.veridianhomes.com.
Proposed Jiffy Lube at 4530 Lien Rd
By Joe Campana, RNA Co-Chair
December 21, 2003 -- Jeff Pauly of Fullmoon Properties, who has
developed several Jiffy Lube Service Centers in the Madison Area contacted the Ridgewood Neighborhood Association about a
proposal to build a Jiffy Lube Service Center on the northeast corner of Lien Rd and Egan Rd. This currently
vacant land near East Towne Mall is next to the former home of Sears National Tire and Battery.
Jeff Pauly said that Jiffy Lube has data that shows that their service centers generally draw
customers from a 1.5 mile radius which would be from the immediate neighborhood. The picture below shows what the
front elevation of the store would look like.
If you have any comments you may contact Joe Campana (campana.rna@charter.net); our Alder Santiago Rosas (district17@cityofmadison.com) or contact Jeff Pauly (jeffpauly@yahoo.com) or by phone at 836-6563.
--Jeremy Kautza contributed to this report.
Autmun Wood III Project Update
By Joe Campana, RNA Co-Chair
December 17, 2003 – Gold Leaf Development went back to the drawing
board following the Neighborhood Meeting on December 8 where they received neighborhood comments and suggestions on Plans
B and Plan C from several residents. Today, Gold Leaf presented a new plan –
Plan D – that incorporates some of the preferred features of Plan B and Plan C. Plan D moves the condo units off of
Lien Rd to the Northwest corner of the development; it reflects a lower density; and it shows the preferred east entrance
to the development east of Glacier Hill Drive – eliminating a potentially challenging and hazardous intersection at
Glacier Hill Dr.
The chart below reflects the addition
of this new plan. The former Lockwood--Eastpoint Commons project plan is also shown for comparison. Although that project included 197 two- and three-bedroom units (total bedroom count of 382), the 264 unit
Gold Leaf Plan D has approximately 320 bedrooms because it is a mix of smaller units (efficiency, one- and two-bedroom units).
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Plan A |
Plan B |
Plan C |
Plan D |
Lockwood |
|
Apartment Units |
267 |
258 |
249 |
252 |
197 |
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Condominium Units |
40 |
16 |
18 |
12 |
0 |
|
Total Units |
307 |
274 |
267 |
264 |
197 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Bedrooms |
|
|
|
320 |
382 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apartment Buildings |
6 |
7 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
|
Condo Buildings |
10 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Total Buildings |
17 |
11 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trip Generation |
2005 |
1804 |
1756 |
~1750 |
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If
you have suggestions on how to improve this project, please email Joe
Campana (campana.rna@charter.net) or our Alder Santiago Rosas (district17@cityofmadison.com) or contact Jerry Connery (825-6612) at Gold Leaf Development.
--Jeremy Kautza contributed to this report.
To see pictures of the plans, click on this link!
Autumn Wood III Development Proposal
Goldleaf Forwards Two
New Options for Consideration
By Joe Campana, RNA Co-Chair
December 8, 2003 – The Ridgewood
Neighborhood Association met with Goldleaf Development this evening to hear about revisions to their proposed Apartment Complex
along 5014 Lien Rd (the Gerke property). The neighborhood met with Goldleaf Development
several times since the beginning of this year about this project development.
At the last October meeting many residents expressed concerns about the proposed 307 unit apartment/condominium project
(PLAN A). These concerns included the density and similarity to the Lockwood
Project, which the neighborhood strongly opposed to development on the same site over three years ago. Other concerns
expressed in October included the configuration of a widened Lien Rd.; the lack of “green space;” buildings located
in environmentally sensitive areas; and the appearance that few recommendations of the Ridgewood Neighborhood East Central
Development had been considered.
As a result of the concerns raised by
residents at the October Meeting, Goldleaf Development withdrew their project for consideration. It had been scheduled for
presentation at the October 20 City of Madison Plan Commission Meeting. Instead,
Goldleaf Development entered into discussions with Santiago Rosas and Joe Campana to discuss how their project may be improved to be accepted by the Ridgewood
Neighborhood Association and the Friends of Starkweather Creek, a local environmental group whose efforts
are to restore vitality to the creek.
At this evening’s open house, Gold
Leaf Development unveiled two new proposals (PLAN B and PLAN C) which are more in agreement with the Ridgewood Neighborhood
Plan, developed by the neighborhood a couple of years ago. Both of
these new plans show significantly increased green space and lower density. A comparison of some of the characteristics of
Plans A, B, and C are given below.
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Plan A |
Plan B |
Plan C |
|
Apartment Units |
267 |
258 |
249 |
|
Condominium Units |
40 |
16 |
18 |
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Total Units |
307 |
274 |
267 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apartment Buildings |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
Condo Buildings |
10 |
4 |
3 |
|
Total Buildings |
17 |
11 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
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Trip Generation |
2005 |
1804 |
1756 |
Plans B and C also include bike/walking
trails and a club house which would be accessible to the neighborhood. These
features make the development integral to the neighborhood. For example, the
club house could be used by the neighborhood for neighborhood meetings. The additional
green space is located in an area that would also help recharge Starkweather Creek as would the “rain gardens”
proposed which will improve infiltration of rainwater from the roofs of the buildings.
Higher infiltration means more water to feed the Starkweather Creek Spring which is close by.
The living units proposed are primarily
efficiency and one bedroom apartments (with some two bedroom units) and condo units.
Some of these would be economically priced. For example the condos are expected to be in the $130 - $150,000 price
range. Also, this mix of housing will not be attractive to families with children,
which will minimize any impact the development might have on local schools. An
important factor discussed by the residents and developer is that the development will be locally owned, developed, constructed,
and managed. Currently Gold Leaf Development owns, operates, and manages the
Autumn Wood Apartments on Lien Rd.
Gold Leaf Development, also included
an area in their development that could accommodate a neighborhood commercial business (for example, a coffee house, shop,
or eatery) in the bottom right of Plan B and Plan C, if such a commercial use
would be appropriate and economically feasible.
Also, Gold Leaf Development proposes
an alternative to a four-way intersection at Lien Rd. and Glacier Hill Drive (see Plan B).
This alternative can also be easily adapted to Plan C. Those residents that expressed a preference seemed to like Plan
C (lowest density) with the alternative intersection of Plan B.
Several residents expressed concerns
over the lack of detail on the City’s side of the project – the widening of Lien Rd. Those details are not currently available from the City. The
City will not complete the design of the new Lien Rd until a developer has made a commitment.
Gold Leaf Development has agreed to support the neighborhood on Lien Rd designs that would help minimize additional
traffic through our neighborhood from the development.
Gold Leaf Development has shown an interest
and commitment to work with the neighborhood by addressing neighborhood concerns over the last several weeks. Now it is time
to comment on these proposals so they can either move forward or terminate their project planning. Please complete the
poll at the right so our neighborhood leaders know how you would like them to proceed.
--Jeremy Kautza contributed to
this report.
East District Police Station to be Built
By Jeremy Kautza, RNA Webmaster
November 3, 2003
East-side Madison residents won't have to wait much longer for a police station to be built on Madison's far east side.
Cap't. Jill Klubertanz indicated in an email to Ridgewood Neighborhood Association Co-Chair, Joe Campana, that planning and
design will commence sometime in 2004. The station is set to open sometime in 2005 at the corner of Cottage Grove Rd.
and N. Thompson Dr.
Residents will have a chance to look at preliminary plans and offer suggestions or concerns. This meeting will
take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003 at 7pm at 1201 Droster Rd.
Residents Meet with Gold Leaf
They Register Significant Opposition to Autumnwood III Project
By Jeremy Kautza, RNA Webmaster
October 2, 2003
Madison--Residents of the Ridgewood Neighborhood Association along with their Alder, Santiago Rosas, met with developers
from Gold Leaf Development to hear and discuss a project known as Autumnwood III.
At the October 2nd meeting
residents heard about and saw new plans for the property located to the north of Lien Road and west of the Interstate.
After a short presentation by Gold Leaf, residents peppered the developers with questions and concerns. By far the largest
concerns were traffic congestion and safety, parking, and whether the area could handle addtional development of this density.
Environmental concerns were also registered and a representative from the Friends of Starkweather Creek expressed apprectiation
for the efforts Gold Leaf has made, but also reservation over an extremely environmentally sensitive area.
The neighborhood's Alder, Santiago Rosas also cautioned the developers to expect a rough road on the way to committee
and full council approval as he saw several inconsistencies wi
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