Advocates of the Hammes Co.'s proposed Edgewater Hotel renovation presented to members of the Madison Common Council once again Thursday evening.
The proposed project has incited controversy over its possible violation of zoning ordinances in the historic Mansion Hill neighborhood and possible obstruction of lake views.
Representatives of the development project addressed these concerns. Brad Murphy, the planning division director of the Edgewater project, said despite these concerns, the new hotel would be an indispensable addition to Madison.
""This can become the place that is uniquely Madison,"" Murphy said.
He also said the development team is considering adding an ice rink to the property. Murphy said if the opportunity was rejected it ""would be regretted by the community for years to come.""
The development team has been attempting to gain the city's approval of their plan for months. Their fatigue showed as Murphy complained of the ""hardships [the team] has gone through to get this plan off the ground.""
Among the many arguments in favor of the plan brought up by the development team was that the renovated hotel would become a cultural hub.
""The open space that would be created by the development could be used in all seasons, especially in the summer, possibly as an expansion of the art fair,"" Murphy said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, asked Murphy about rumors that had circulated accusing the Edgewater development team of inflating the projected number of jobs that would be created by the renovations.
The team said their project would create around 500 jobs, but specified that not all of them would be on-site.
""If someone flies into the airport and takes a taxi to the Edgewater, that's a job,"" Murphy said.
The presenters left questions about the public funding of the proposed project via tax increment financing mostly unanswered.
Public funding for the project was included in the Edgewater's budget, but the predicted appreciation of the properties surrounding the proposed development, and the increased tax revenue it would bring, is anticipated to make up for the money the city would put toward the project.
