Madison Central Library Project Faces Delay into 2011

Link to March 9 Capital Times article.

Excerpt: In early September, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz stood on the steps of the downtown Central Library with labor leaders and the potential developers of the new Central Library and Edgewater Hotel projects to trumpet the importance of the city's financial contribution to both as job creators in a tough economy.

Since the City Council agreed to set aside millions of dollars for both projects during its November budget meetings, though, council members have seen the Edgewater Hotel project dominate news headlines and city meetings while the library project has slid quietly into the background.

Now, council members have grown restless with the apparent lack of movement on the Central Library. But city officials and representatives of the Fiore Cos., which was chosen to lead the Central Library project, say that despite public silence, they are engaged in important negotiations about the best way to handle the project to get the city the most for its $37 million commitment.

As negotiations continue without a settlement, though, the possibility of the new library being delayed until 2011 is fast becoming a reality. Originally, construction on the six-story, glass and metal structure at the corner of West Washington Avenue and Henry Street was expected to begin this fall.

Related articles:

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)