In case you have not noticed, downtown Madison is littered with new apartment complexes and it is not very aesthetically pleasing.
Although it is obvious the State Street redesign project aims to gentrify and yuppify the downtown business district, it is becoming increasingly clear that the city wants to remodel the entirety of the campus area.
New apartment buildings are springing up on an almost constant basis, accompanied by all the repercussions: constant construction, higher rent and the destruction of an area that once embodied student life.
One reason downtown Madison has always been idealized as unique, is because of the campus. By allowing these new high-rises to be built, the city is ultimately detracting from the one aspect that has put Madison on the map. Historically, the campus has kept the heart of downtown Madison going. In the future, Madison might not be a haven for students but rather a community of professionals.
Areas that are not being reconstructed, e.g., the Willy St. district, may soon turn into slums-richer students and professionals will take over the downtown area, while the poorer residents will be pushed further to the outskirts.
The new buildings are expensive and lack adequate parking. Because students' housing needs have largely been met, students do not benefit from this construction. Granting permits to landlords benefits the affluent landlords, while hurting small-property owners to the east and west of campus.
The flair that once differentiated Madison from every other big school in the nation is on a slippery slope. If Madison is to preserve its image, it must be welcoming to the students who built it.
