A city planning committee approved a permit to demolish two buildings at Brooks and Dayton streets Monday to make way for a five-story apartment building.
The proposed 14-unit apartment complex would be located at 202 and 206 N. Brooks St. near UW-Madison’s Educational Sciences building and would target student renters.
“It’s time to build on the site,” said property owner Joseph McCormick. “I think we have a nice looking building here, and we would like to get working on it.”
UW-Madison Facilities Planning and Management Director Gary Brown continued to speak against the project because the university believes the area should be used for academic and research facilities as outlined in the Campus Master Plan, a construction planning guide for the university.
Although the university disagrees, city planning staff member Brady Murphy said the city is not bound to the Campus Master Plan because it contains guidelines and not strict requirements.
City officials also approved a permit to demolish the former Don Miller Auto property at 754 E. Washington Ave. and 741 E. Mifflin St. to construct a 12-story multi-use building.
Gebhardt Development’s proposal for East Washington Avenue includes a four-story aboveground parking ramp and 215 apartment units.
“As a life-long Madison resident, it’s been exciting to be involved in a project like this that could hopefully really be a catalyst for the whole...East Washington district,” Gebhardt Development owner Otto Gebhardt said.