The Hammes Co. chose to appeal to the Madison Common Council against the decision of the city's Landmarks Commission to deny a certificate of appropriateness to the proposed redevelopment of the Edgewater Hotel on Wednesday.
""We're hoping that the Common Council will review the Landmarks decision and weigh the benefits of the project … and will find that the project is in fact compatible and a positive impact to the area,"" Amy Supple of Hammes Co. said.
On Monday, the Landmarks Commission voted down the approval of the certificate largely because opponents of the project said the proposed tower is too big and would not blend in with the existing neighborhood.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said in his blog on Tuesday that the commission's decision to not approve the project ""reveals a broken City approval process that needs to be fixed.""
""I do think they erred significantly … by interpreting the language of the ordinance with regard to ‘buildings directly affected by the project' to mean all buildings in the historic district,"" he said. ""I see this building as being compatible.""
Supple said the proposal has been substantially reduced and, in doing so, the financial aspects of the project have become more difficult.
For the item to be repealed, it will need a 14-vote supermajority of the 20-member council.
Cieslewicz called the need for the superjamority to overturn the decision ""fundamentally undemocratic.""
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the appeal has all the makings of a close vote.
If the appeal is approved, Verveer said it would set a very dangerous precedent against historic preservation.
""I would like to see the Edgewater redeveloped, but not at the expense of the historic district,"" he said.
The Council will discuss the appeal Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the City County Building.
