An array of ethnic restaurants adorn the street, unique retail stores provide diverse shopping and students and Madison residents alike come to shop, socialize and enjoy the general atmosphere of Madison. Over the years, State Street has become the face of Madison.
I love walking out of my front door and being amidst what I would consider [to be]the epitome of Madison,\ said Megan Gussick, a resident of State Street and a UW-Madison sophomore. ""It's where the city and the university come together.""
The year 2006 has not been one of the greatest in terms of the street's aesthetics, however, as the State Street Design Project continues above the street and structural improvements are being made below.
Above the street, the concrete pavement and sidewalks are being redone to make the street more modern and attractive. Other changes include more benches, better bus shelters and more contemporary light posts.
The underground construction will replace the sanitary sewer, water main and storm sewer, as well as the street light's and traffic signal's electric conduits. According to Brian Manning, the assistant construction engineer with the City of Madison, the sanitary sewer and water mains are nearly 100 years of age and nearing the end of their ""usable lifespan.""
""We really designed the entire State Street reconstruction around two things: saving the trees—as many as possible—and keeping access to every store front during all of the normal business hours,"" said Ald. Austin King, District 8.
Construction has caused minor inconveniences for residents, shoppers and businesses alike, including loud noises, water shutoffs, closed lanes on Gilman Street and decreased delivery options for businesses. However, many feel that it's better to be inconvenienced now rather than later and that the construction is necessary to avoid future problems.
""If the reconstruction had not been done at this time, there may have been increased costs associated with continued maintenance of the existing facilities,"" Manning said.
Apart from enduring minor inconveniences, State Street continues to prosper and flourish in terms of business.
""I don't really think it affects [business] because there's so much foot traffic anyway,"" said a coffee shop manager located on State Street. ""No one's driving a car down here, or if they are, they're parking.""
As old businesses vacate and new ones arrive, students and other individual business owners worry that State Street is losing its unique atmosphere and becoming too commercialized.
""The new businesses are a huge disappointment to me: a Fuddruckers next toStarbucks? What's next, a Wal-Mart?""UW-Madison graduate student Sommer Alexander said.
Located on State Street for eight years, the owner of The Art Gecko, 507 State St., feels similarly about the other commercial chains beginning to appear in what she considers a unique environment.
""[State Street] is a place where you go to find cool independent stores that have unique merchandise that you can't find other places. I feel that it's taking away from that whole concept and feeling,"" Nosheen said.
Local ownership has fallen over the last decade, however, the trend is not overly prominent.
""I mean the change has been in the wrong direction but it hasn't been as significant as you might think,"" King said, estimating that local ownership is only down to 84 percent from 88.
The Overture Center, 201 State St., has also been a large addition for 2006 in terms of public use, but was not an easy goal to achieve.
""I was a big skeptic of it originally,"" King said. ""It caused a lot of havoc in terms of property values going through the roof and assessments really spiraling out of control, but it ought to be, in many ways, something that the city will hold on to and love for decades. It's an unimaginably beautiful facility.""
As State Street continues to change, the atmosphere and general appreciation remain.
""I still think that State Street is the coolest place on the planet and that's not going to change anytime soon,"" King said. ""It's still a place where you can congregate with your friends, run into tons of interesting people and waste an entire afternoon getting nothing done, and that's what's beautiful about it.""
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