City decides to acquire Allied Dr. property, delay U. Square razingThe Madison City Council elected Ald.Austin King, District 8, as its new president Tuesday and approved the purchase of several properties in the troubled Allied Drive neighborhood.
The council also delayed action on the proposed demolition and redevelopment of University Square in the 700 block of University Avenue until its May 16 meeting. Approving the resolution was delayed until the financing package related to the project could be reviewed.
Developer Potter-Lawson plans to demolish the existing shopping center and build two 12-story towers with retail space and office space, a health center and 350 apartments.
King and Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, faced off in an election between two of the council's newer members. King, a former UW-Madison student and well-known Madison liberal, defeated Cnare by a vote of 15-4.
I'd like to thank my fellow council members for having the confidence in me to lead you in the new term,\ King said following his election.
The City Council presidency is a largely symbolic position, with the council choosing who would best publicly represent it. Aside from being a high-profile liaison, the president does not make committee appointments and does little to shape policy.
Despite that, King said he plans to use his individual strengths while serving as president.
""I am a hard worker and I think I have won a lot of respect on this council even from folks that don't agree with me on issues because they recognize the amount of work I put in,"" King said.
Following a hotly debated discussion, council members voted to approve a plan for the city to purchase three properties in the 2300 and 2400 block of Allied Drive. The properties, on the southwest side of Madison, are expected to cost the city up to $5.875 million.
Developers in support of the city purchases maintained that private companies would be allowed to purchase the buildings in the future, but that stable city leadership is currently needed.
""I think this is the single most important thing we can do right now to improve conditions on Allied Drive,"" Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said.
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