Development Proposal to Demolish Four Homes at 7 & 11 N Franklin and 502 & 506 E Washington and Construct a Hotel

A neighborhood meeting was held on August 21 at St John’s Lutheran Church, 322 E. Washington to hear about a proposal to demolish four homes (11 N Franklin, 7 N Franklin, 502 E Washington, 506 E Washington) to construct a hotel consisting of 50-60 units and 18-20 parking stalls. The current plan includes one level of underground parking and 5 floors of units/lobby above ground. The ground floor may have a commercial/retail component. 

Initially the developers were proposing an extended stay hotel.  They have revised that to be a hotel with stays of less than 30 days.

You can find the slides of the proposal here.  You can find the development team’s submittal to the Urban Design Commission here.

Among the issues raised by attendees were:

• Question about adequacy of parking
• Demolition of historic homes, including 502 E. Wash noted as being “currently an uncommon style, most of this style have been torn down” and the home at 506 E Washington noted as being built by Leonard Farwell (second governor of the Wisconsin) with “post and beam construction”
• “Stark” architecture
• Desire/need for a comprehensive look at the E. Washington block face
• Traffic flow particularly given that N Franklin is one-way
• Impact on E Mifflin bike boulevard
• Displacement of affordable housing

A steering committee made up of residents and other stakeholders will be meeting with the developer to work through questions and issues.

The developer is planning to do an informational presentation to the Urban Design Commission on September 6 which meets in Room 351 of the City County Building at 4:30. 

I will provide more information in my weekly listing of Meetings of Possible Interest.