Texas developer Villas Student Housing has submitted preliminary plans to construct a 16-story student apartment building near the UW-Madison campus on the site where Porta Bella Italian restaurant has stood for nearly 60 years, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The plans would demolish the restaurant at 425 N. Frances St. — one of Madison’s oldest — as well as the apartments at 446 and 450 W. Gilman St.
The new building would offer 115 residential units with one-five bedrooms, 250 square feet of retail space, 105 vehicle parking spaces and 240 bike parking spaces.
Amenities would include a top floor fitness room and basketball court and a rooftop pool and hot tub.
The proposal will have to go through a number of city reviews before the Porta Bella property can be redeveloped.
