Byline: MARY YEATER RATHBUN The Capital Times
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz will introduce a $66 million capital budget Tuesday that commits the city to building a new central library by 2010 and having redevelopment plans for the historic Garver Feed Mill completed by the end of next year.
Public-private partnership is crucial to three of the six building projects he highlighted Thursday afternoon. Cieslewicz is challenging the private philanthropic community to fund half of the library project's $18 million cost. Private sector funding also is crucial to the mayor's plans for a Warner Park swimming pool.
In January, city Parks Superintendent Jim Morgan said an outdoor pool at Warner Park like the Goodman Pool would cost about $6.1 million.
A unified public-private partnership also is at the heart of Cieslewicz's vision for a near east side Central Park. He is calling for a committee to complete formation of just such a partnership to redevelop a former railroad yard and industrial land into this park.
'When the committee's work is complete, I will evaluate city investments for subsequent capital budgets,' he said Thursday.
In contrast to the other major capital projects he began unveiling in 2005, Cieslewicz did not mention private funding in the redevelopment of Villager Mall on South Park Street. The city acquired the aging shopping center on Madison's south side in 2005. The mayor's 2008 budget plan calls for the city to spend $9 million to renovate the mall, including adding space for Access Community Health Center and the Wingra Clinic as well the Urban League, Planned Parenthood and other organizations. The money would also go toward increasing the size of the south branch library.
Cieslewicz also so far has not called for private funding to help create a year-round indoor public market. He said he hopes the city will have identified a site for the market by the end of next year. Advocates in 2006 estimated that a 30,000- to 60,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor public market - such as those in Seattle, Baltimore and Minneapolis - could cost $10 million to $17 million.
This market would not replace the Farmers' Market on the Square during the summer but might become the home of the winter market, planners said in 2006.
As for the sprawling Garver Feed Mill behind Olbrich Botanical Gardens, artists' work spaces, exhibit areas and sales areas have been a part of the discussion of reuse plans. Earlier this year, supporters estimated rehabilitation of the century-old building would cost $3 million to $4 million beyond what the project is anticipated to attract in historic preservation tax credits and federal redevelopment funds.
The City Council has the final word on city spending and is not expected to produce a final document designating 2008 projects until November.
mrathbun@madison.com
CAPTION(S):
FILE PHOTO
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz wants to replace the central library (above) by 2010. He
hopes gifts from the private sector will pay for half of the projected $18
million cost.
