The East Rail
Corridor Advisory Committee has been working for a year on a plan for future
development of the corridor study
area. The area runs between East
Washington and Williamson Street from Blair to the Yahara River. Previous planning for the Yahara River
Parkway has guided the development plans closest to the river while the bulk of
the corridor has been examined for its potential as future
commercial/industrial, housing and green space. This Phase I process (completion date mid-December, 2001),
was strictly looking at primary land use for the 177 acre district. Phase II will follow and will look at
design issues in more detail.
General guiding
principles include a strong recognition of the need to preserve the
working/production nature of the commercial/industrial district which provides
a quality job base close to the city center. Many small businesses and artist studios have also begun to
fill the area and it is hoped this trend can be enhanced throughout the
process. An increase in housing is
targeted to achieve 15% affordable housing with bonuses for an increase to 20%
affordable housing. The style of
the adjacent east side neighborhoods will be used to guide the design issues so
that the planned development fits with the existing scale, style and look of
the area housing. A green space
comprising approximately three full blocks connected by green linear pathways
along a walking/bike trail will connect the space to both the Yahara River and
the Lake Monona lakefront. Public
green space will be linked with private green space and courtyards with design
constraints to ensure a feeling of continuity between the spaces.
Critical to the
success of the plan is a rail alignment to the northern edge of the green
strip. The city has applied for a
grant to do brown field studies in the area. One of the many challenges is the hydrogeology of the
strip. The water table is only 3-4
feet below the surface. The entire site use to be marshland and was gradually
filled until completed in the 1940's with materials like foundry fill. The jurisdiction overlay of the area is complex with federal,state,
city and private interests.
Community input is strongly sought throughout the process.
The Friends of
the Yahara River Parkway (FYRP) list serve receives a posting of the minutes
and agenda. Sign up with the FYRP
list serve (friendsofyaharariverparkway@yahoogroups.com) or follow the progress
of the committee work on the City of Madison web page where you can read the
minutes & agendas: <http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/mayor/mycommit.html)
-John Steines