A developer has won city approvals to raze a small church, a former Italian deli, two houses and Buckingham’s Bar and Grill — a historic building — for a 10-story structure with housing, commercial space and parking on the 800 block of Regent Street.
The Plan Commission on Monday voted unanimously to approve CRG Acquisition of Chicago’s proposal to remove all buildings on a rectangular strip of land between North Park Street and the East Campus Mall. The project only needs City Council approval of a certified survey map, which is considered noncontroversial.
The redevelopment includes 178 apartments, 3,000 square feet of neighborhood-oriented commercial space, underground parking and bike storage, and a 1,500-square-foot outdoor area on the ninth floor.
The site includes Faith Community Bible Church, 826 Regent St., a one-story structure built in 1971 and renovated in 1996; a former location of Fraboni’s Italian Specialties and Delicatessen, 822 Regent St., which closed after 47 years in 2018 and consolidated with its store in Monona; rental houses at 816 and 818 Regent St.; and Buckingham’s, 802 Regent St., built in 1923 and renovated in 2000.
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The Buckingham’s building, originally the Ben DiSalvo and Sons Grocery Store, is one of the few remaining structures in the historic Greenbush neighborhood connected with its once-bustling Italian population. Many of the surrounding buildings were razed amid national urban renewal efforts in the 1960s.
CRG recognizes the importance of the block and intends to incorporate elements of public art including a historic mural and timeline graphic to acknowledge the history of the site, vice president for design and development Alison Mills told the commission.
“We heard many stories from the neighborhood,” she said. “There’s a big story from the neighborhood we want to tell.”
“Generally, commissioners found that the proposal met the demolition standards — and some were particularly impressed with the commitment on the part of the developer to incorporate a mural relating to the history of this part of Madison,” city Planning Division director Heather Stouder said later.
CRG intends to begin construction in the fall and open the building in 2024, according to a letter of intent.
PHOTOS: The Progress Center for Black Women has a new home
The entrance to the new home for the Progress Center for Black Women has a reading area for children. Sabrina Madison, founder of the center, wants to encourage literacy by making books available to members and visitors of the center.
A central lounge at the Progress Center for Black Women has been set up for conversation, games or meetings.
One corner of the space serves as a relaxation and meditation space, complete with a portable fireplace and white noise machine.
The new space is nearly twice the size of the center's previous location in Fitchburg.
Books are available for members to borrow. A new book club will launch next month, starting with with, “The Memo, What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table” by Minda Harts. Madison Public Library donated 30 copies of the book to the center.
The new space for the Progress Center for Black Women has a relaxation and meditation corner, a library, meeting space, a lounge area, work tables, a children's reading area and a kitchen.
A painting by Jasmine Wyatt is displayed over the coffee station at the new home for the Progress Center for Black Women. According to founder Sabrina Madison, Wyatt is an artist with Madison roots.
A painting by Jasmine Wyatt is displayed next to Melissa Austin’s photographs of women from a past Black Women’s Leadership Conference.
Words of encouragement are written on the dry erase board in the meeting room at the new home for the Progress Center for Black Women.
Sabrina Madison speaks with Latonya Jackson about the plans for Jackson’s new business, Waiting to Exhale Events, at the Progress Center for Black Women in downtown Madison.
Sabrina Madison gives event planning advice to Latonya Jackson as she plans the kickoff event for her new business, Waiting to Exhale Events.
Sabrina Madison gives Latonya Jackson a tour of the meeting room. A logo for Ambition, a new professional development program, has been applied to the wall.
Sabrina Madison tells Latonya Jackson about the photo backdrop that was installed on the wall of the center.
Sabrina Madison tells Latonya Jackson about the new space.
Dean Mosiman | Wisconsin State Journal
Dean Mosiman covers Madison city government for the Wisconsin State Journal.
