Towering Isthmus: Latest plans to repurpose Madison Central High School

A 2019 proposal to convert the building to a 207-room Drury Plaza Hotel didn't pan out.

Photos by Retiring Guy

The latest proposal:

City of Madison current planning projects

Rendering:  City of Madison Plan Commission

Other Towering Isthmus posts:

2024

Madison McCormick apartments. (6/17)

Chapter Apartments on Regent Street.  (6/17)

Atmosphere Apartments. (June 2024 construction site visit),  (6/17)

East Wilson Street luxury housing development (June 2024 construction site visit)

Adria mixed-use development as seen from Monona Terrace.  (6/1/2024)

Oliv looms over State Street.  (6/1/2024)

Bus terminal and student housing under construction on Lake Street in Madison WI (May 2024 site visit).  (5/31)

Views of Hilton Garden Inn and Atmosphere Madison from top of nearby parking ramp.  (5/13.) 

Chapter at Madison apartments from above street level.  (5/13)

Like another brick in the wall: 2-story State of Wisconsin Investment Board building makes way for 14-story luxury housing development.  (5/7)

Embassy Suites at Judge Doyle Square.  (5/5)

Oliv.  (5/3)

Madison McCormick.  (5/1)

Chapter at Madison.  (4/13)

Say goodbye to the Lake Street side of the State Street Campus Garage: March 2024 construction site visit.  (3/10)

12-story apartment building going up behind Kohl Center .  (4/12)

Madison McCormick housing project on Broom Street.  (2/1)

oliv on State Street in Madison WI is heading toward the finish line.  (2/1)

15-story apartment complex to replace demolished Paisan's building on West Wilson Street.  (2/1/2024)

Like another brick in the wall:  2-story State of Wisconsin Investment Board building makes way for 14-story luxury housing development.  (1/31)

12-story apartment building going up behind Kohl Center site visits. (1/31)

10-story mixed-use development at Park and Regent site visits.  (1/30)

Embassy Suites by Hilton nears completion.  (1/30)

12-story apartment building going up behind Kohl Center.  (1/26)

2023

Madison McCormick housing project on Broom Street.  (4/29)

Judge Doyle Square hotel project.  (2/9)

145 West Wilson Street.  (2/9)
oliv on State Street.  (2/9)

Verve Living. (1/10)

2022

Developer to transform the Library Mall end of State Street in Madison WI.  (3/27)

2020

Downtown Madison MATC campus proposal.  (2/13)

2019

AC Hotel Madison is open for business.  (11/12)

Keeping tabs on HubbA HubBa and the West Gorham Street canyon.  (4/21)

Uncommon unbranded.  (4/21)

To buutique or not to boutique.  (4/8)

151 East Wilson. (1/4)

2017

East Washington corridor.  (9/12)

Two views of the Lyric Apartments from a sunny East Mifflin vantage point.  (9/12)

2016
The Lux on West Johnson Street.  (10/23)

Another look at Ovation 309.  (10/22)
Capitol's Edge Apartments, the final shots.  (9/16)

2015
The Towers of Porta Bella.  (8/13)
670,000 square foot development risin' on the 800 block of East Washington.  (4/19)

Sleeping and entertainment destination to rise in the middle of this photo.  (1/11)

2014
Cranes at dusk.  (12/11)

The Towering Isthmus: A behemoth hogs the skyline from Bascom Hill.  (12/4)
The Hub, the new hulk in town.  (11/16)
North Bedford Street Project Still in the Proposal Stage.  (11/11)
Blue Velvet.  (9/10)
The New Edgewater Hotel gets ready for its fireworks celebration.  (9/10)
Among the first wave of towers on the Isthmus.  (9/9)
For those of you who haven't stood at the intersection of West Gilman and State Street in Madison Wisconsin lately.  (9/9)
A tree grows on West Gilman Street.  (9/9)
Nobly or otherwise, this is no longer the question.  (9/8)
The towering isthmus (left to right).  (8/27)
The Towering Isthmus (and the 3 cranes): For folks who can afford the view.  (7/22)
That Was Then, This is Now: The 400 Block of West Gilman.  (7/18)
New housing rising.  (5/8)