The Madison City Council has given the green light to a long-term housing initiative for the homeless on the near east side, despite some resistance from local residents, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The approved project includes an eight-story, 70-unit building at 521 E. Washington Ave., situated within a block of The Beacon homeless day services shelter and the Salvation Army of Dane County’s shelter for homeless women.
During the July 8 Plan Commission meeting and the July 16 City Council session, several nearby residents and business owners voiced concerns about the area’s existing issues with frequent police calls, arguing it is not a suitable location for low-income housing.
Conversely, supporters of the project highlighted its potential benefits. They noted that the new building, which will also house office space for Porchlight Inc., Dane County’s largest provider of housing and services for the homeless, would be a significant improvement over the vacant Monarch Health building currently occupying the site.
Following the completion of the new Porchlight facility by developer LZ Ventures of Madison, the existing Porchlight building at 306 N. Brooks St., near UW–Madison, will be demolished to make way for a 15-story, 189-unit student housing tower.
Both components of the proposal received unanimous approval from the City Council.
