Madison Central: The Dream Dies, It's Now Time to Renovate

 Back to the drawing board

Not gonna happen

Link to March 19 Wisconsin State Journal article, "New library is dead; city, Fiore Cos. agree to drop plans."

Excerpt:       A proposed $37 million, six-story glass and stone library and a larger, related development are dead, but Mayor Dave Cieslewicz is now vowing to renovate the existing central library.

After a nearly two-hour private meeting Thursday afternoon, the city and the Fiore Cos. agreed to drop plans for the new $37 million library at the corner of Henry Street and West Washington Avenue.

The city and Fiore and Irgens Development Partners were unable to bridge a $2 million difference in costs over the project.

"I'm fine with it and I'm at peace with it," Cieslewicz said after the meeting. "I'm confident we tried as hard as we can to make the project work. (Fiore executive vice president) Bill Kunkler did as well. Sometimes, you just can't work it out."

The city will now focus on renovating the existing 45-year-old facility at the corner of Fairchild and Mifflin streets into "a brand new, state-of-the-art library," Cieslewicz said.

Related articles:
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)