The Joint Southeast Campus Area Committee met Monday and tackled a number of issues ranging from shenanigans in downtown parking ramps to renovations on Regent Street and campus construction this summer.
The parking ramp across from Witte Hall, known to many as the ""Taj Garage,"" has long been an abused building near campus. Numerous cases of burglary, public urination and even shootings have occurred in the infamous lot.
""People are using it as a restroom and as their stopping off point after going to liquor stores,"" said Rob Kennedy, transportation planner of UW-Madison.
Kennedy said police and maintenance costs are starting to add up. He detailed plans on upkeep and safety for the parking ramp, and said more than $120,000 in renovations will be put toward it. Such renovations include new mirrors and light bulbs in stairwells, as well as a new paint job for much of the ramp.
""The idea is to brighten it,"" Kennedy said, adding that increased visibility would inevitably act as a deterrent to those ""tempted to do something wrong in the parking structure.""
Little debate sparked over the ideas of revamping the parking ramp. However, members of the committee said that installing a public restroom in the structure might be a reasonable way to put an end to public urination.
Still, public urination in the ""Taj Garage"" was not the only topic on the committee's agenda.
Alan Fish, UW-Madison's Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management, quelled concerns about summer construction on campus and future Regent Street area renovations.
Fish said the Regent Street area is going to have to brace itself for an influx of student housing in the next few years. He said current trends shows students are either moving into high-rise apartment complexes close to campus or buying bus passes to live in houses five miles from campus.
""The big plan is to accept that trend,"" Fish said, adding that the Regent Street could see new high-rises, while traditional student housing on Mifflin and Dayton streets would decline.
Some were not swayed by Fish's argument and pointed out that trends are not justified. City official Kevin Hoag asked Fish what would happen to the new high-rises if the trend were to reverse back to housing in 20 years.
""They have one thing going for them,"" Fish responded, ""an amazing location.""
Fish also talked about plans for construction in the heart of the campus over the next two summers. This summer he said Ogg Hall will be torn down—piece-by-piece—and utility tunnels will be built under W. Johnson Street.
He said construction should not interfere too much with traffic flow because most of it is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Still, Fish pointed out, ""it's really going to get torn up.""
