Madison is kicking off the process of selecting a development partner for the last empty block downtown — a 2-acre parking lot bounded by East Washington Avenue and East Main, South Butler, and South Hancock streets, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. City staff presented a draft request for proposals for the city-owned Brayton Lot at a public meeting Monday.
The lot has roughly 270 parking stalls and recently functioned as a construction staging area for Madison’s new Bus Rapid Transit route. Staff said buildings there could be up to 10 stories, with the potential for additional stories if certain units are reserved for lower-income residents.
Future projects at the site must meet some Federal Transit Administration standards, for instance having no more off-street parking spaces than the current 270, increasing demand for transit service in the area, and returning the value of the lot — $9 million — to Metro Transit.
Qualifying proposals will be scored by the city on elements like affordability, accessibility, sustainability, design quality, and more. The City Council must approve the final request for proposals before the city can begin to consider its options. The council will later vote on the selected development partner, and the city will then negotiate a development agreement for the site.
