City unveils preliminary plans for Phase II downtown

Larry Anderson looks at plans for downtown Madison on July 9. (RECORD PHOTO/ALDO AMATO)

By Aldo Amato

Staff Reporter

MADISON — The downtown Madison Station area is a few steps closer to much needed structural improvements.

Amy Bell with the Planning Department met at Main Street Cafe with business owners from downtown Madison and the Main Street area on July 9. Bell presented preliminary plans for the sidewalk areas and east end of Main Street.

In the designs, Main Street curving into Church Street will have more of a 9o degree angle around Bandito Burrito and the proposed site for Old Black Bear Brewery, scheduled to move in around January. The proposed plan will widen the area near the front of  the restaurant allowing more room for tables and possible shrubbery.

“I think this is a great start,” Councilman DJ Klein said. Klein represents all of the proposed area in District 3. “We feel like if we put in new and nice infrastructure, businesses will start to inquire about moving to the area.”

One of the highlighted points on the plan is the removal of a drainage pipe running down Main Street under one of Larry and Walt Anderson’s property next to Bandito Burrito. The drainage will be redirected up Main Street to the corner of Garner Street. If that process is completed by December, Old Black Bear Brewery will begin moving into the building owned by Walt and Larry Anderson.

“When it’s done we can get started on that building and we’ll be delighted,” Anderson said. “Looks like a good plan for now.”

Anderson added that the proposed table space would not only benefit his business, but surrounding businesses as well.

“It’s wonderful because now businesses will be able to use adjacent seating,” he said.

Though there was an overall positive consensus on the preliminary plans, business owners made suggestions regarding garbage disposal, light fixtures and keeping Garner Street open to traffic rather than shutting it down and converting it into a pedestrian walkway.

Bell said there will be another meeting to discuss Phase II in the near future before final plans are revealed.