Fiore Departure Seen as Beneficial to Madison Central Project

Madison Public Library

Link to March 23 UW-Madison Daily Cardinal opinion column by Kathy Dittrich, "Library snag may mean opportunity".

Excerpt:   If there is one thing most Madisonians agree on, it is that downtown Madison and the South Central Library System are in need of an efficient and modern keystone library. This dream could be a reality now that some more of the red tape barring progress on the library project has been peeled away. A new downtown library has been long, long overdue, and in light of the dissolution of negotiations with Fiore Company the city should move ahead with the plan to renovate the existing Central Library structure.

Frankly, it is somewhat surprising that renovation was not the city’s first choice. As previously stated, remodeling and working with the existing building will be cheaper (to the tune of $10 million) and greener, making this choice seem more attractive to the fiscally conservative and environmentally conscious alike. I have to say annoyed as I am about the duration of this library planning I like this renovation idea better.

Related articles:
Matter of Principle" Dooms New Central Madison Library.  (3/20/2010)
Madison Central: The Dream Dies, It's Now Time to Renovate. (3/19/2010)
Dispute over Construction Costs Threatens to Derail New Central Madison Library. (3/17/2010) Madison Public Library Project Faces Delay in 2011. (3/9/2010)
Construction, Cost Concerns May Delay Madison Central Library Project. (1/25/2010)
New Madison Central Library Wins Council Approval. (11/11/2009)
Capital Times Endorses New Madison Central Library. (11/10/2009)
Madison Council Begins Review of Mayor's Budget on Tuesday. (11/6/2009)
More Questions About Madison Central Library Project. (11/1/2009)
New Madison Public Library's First Change Order: Rooftop Garden. (10/28/2009)
Call for Referendum on New Madison Central Library Not Attracting Support. (10/21/2009)
Madison Board of Estimates Rejects Library Referendum. (10/13/2009)
Some Madison City Council Members Want Referendum on New Central Library. (10/9/2009)
Wisconsin State Journal Editorial on New Madison Central Library. (9/13/2009)
New Madison Central Library: Let the Positioning Begin. (9/1/2009)
New Madison Central Library on Mayor Dave's Front Burner. (8/30/2009)
New Madison Central Library: Build or Renovate? (7/7/2009)
Motley Brown Not Reason Enough. (6/11/2009)
Fiore Plan Receives Unanimous Support. (6/5/2009)
Fiore Plan Gets Nod from Committee. (5/15/2009)
Public Forum Focuses on Central Library Options. (4/24/2009)
Developer Sweetens the Deal. (4/21/2009)
Visualizing a Remodeled Madison Central Library. (4/4/2009)
Renovation Plan Put on Table for Madison Central Library. (3/26/2009)
Residents Critique Proposals to Rebuild Downtown Library. (1/9/2009)
Competing Developers Defend Their Central Library Plans. (1/8/2009)
Comparison of Downtown Madison Library Proposals. (12/17/2008)
Two Proposals for New Madison Central Library. (12/3/2008)
Best Headline of the Week. (9/6/2008)