Madison’s Building Division in an Oct. 16 code violation notice alleged that a paved section of land where Hovde Properties recently demolished five single-story buildings to make way for the new Wisconsin History Center was put there illegally, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. The site previously housed the Mifflin Arcade, which included the former Silver Dollar Tavern.
Some of the site at the corner of West Mifflin and North Fairchild streets is unpaved, fenced off, and occupied by construction equipment; the paved section is a parking lot with concrete wheel stops and, until recently, painted parking stalls.
Madison’s zoning code does not allow surface parking lots in the core downtown. All uses of a site — even temporary uses — post-demolition must be approved by the city. The city initially ordered developer Hovde Properties, co-owned by former Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde, to remove the paving and striping by mid-November; a notice was reissued in early December to include all six street addresses encompassed by the site. It provides a new deadline of Jan. 11.
Hovde Properties reportedly says the site is in compliance with the city approvals it has received and is “consistent with what was represented” in plans submitted to the city.
