District 19 Private & Public Development Update

Major District 19 development projects are now open and new projects, both private and public, are moving forward. Here are some of the most significant.

Trader's Way (open house this week)

This 3-story building at 6624 Old Sauk Road has144 market-rate apartments and is now leasing. The project by Stone House Development is holding an open house from 4 to 6 pm on Tuesday, October 27. The developer is inviting neighbors to come and see the completed project.

Merchant Place (open house this week)

On this parcel at 6704 Odana Rd, Northpointe Development has completed a 5-story apartment building with 124 units, some of which are restricted to long-term affordability. Now leasing, the developer is hosting an open house on Wednesday, October 28, from 1 to 3pm.

5501 University Avenue

Like several other churches around Madison, the Dale Heights Presbyterian Church has determined that it can best continue as a congregation by sharing its site at 5501 University Avenue with affordable housing. Dale Heights Presbyterian along with Sah Lang Presbyterian, which shares the facility, are partnering with Threshold Sacred Development to build a 4-story structure with 100 to 120 affordable units for tenants earning 70% to 80% of area median income. The two congregations will continue to occupy space on the first floor. The project is making its way through the permitting process.

University Place

This triangular parcel formed by University Avenue, Whitney Way, and Old Middleton Road, is currently occupied by multiple low-rise commercial buildings. Galway Companies is proposing to redevelop it with three 7-story apartment buildings with 493 units. The building at the corner of University and Whitney Way would also include 6,000 square feet of commercial space. This parcel is zoned for this use and only requires the approval of the Urban Development Commission.

Oakwood Village Independent Living

Oakwood Village plans to add an independent living facility to its campus at 6201 Mineral Point Rd and demolish three older buildings, the Tower, Gallery, and Hebron/Hebron Oaks buildings. The new 5-story structure will contain 92 apartment units, amenities, and community space.

West Towne Pond Improvements

This is a Madison climate resilience project intended to significantly reduce the flooding of streets, commercial buildings, and residences in the neighborhoods bordering Mineral Point Road, Odana Road and Grand Canyon Drive. Slated to begin during the 2026-27 winter, the two wet cells will be combined and about 204,000 cubic yards of soil will be removed.

District 19 Street Resurfacing and Reconstruction

Madison maintains a five-year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) which it updates every year. Large projects, especially those stretching over more than a year, are usually reflected in the capital budget and five-year capital plan. The latest TIP proposal covering 2027 to 2031 includes multiple projects in or adjacent to the Spring Harbor neighborhood.  Street resurfacing means removing the asphalt layer and replacing it. Street reconstruction means removing paving, curbs, and everything down to underlying soil and replacing it. Reconstruction projects also replace failing water mains, sanitary sewers, and stormwater sewers. They are also the best time to add sidewalks and paths where there were none. Here is the latest list:

• 2026-27 Reconstruct Capital Avenue from University Avenue to Lake Mendota Drive. One neighborhood meeting was already held. Engineering is currently preparing a preliminary design for further neighborhood comment.
• 2027 Replace the Old Middleton Rd railway culvert with a purpose-built underpass connecting Old Middleton Rd with Craig Avenue and University Row. There was a recent neighborhood meeting.
• 2027 Reconstruction of Norman Way from University Avenue to Lake Mendota Drive plus Wood Circle. The section of Norman Way between Temkin and University may be added to the project to facilitate traffic management for the proposed 5501 University project.
• 2029 Reconstruction of Risser Rd, Minocqua Crescent, and Merrill Springs Rd between the Merrill Springs/Risser intersection and the intersection of all three streets with Lake Mendota Drive.

• 2030 Resurfacing of Flambeau Rd and Tomahawk Trail plus Merrill Springs Rd between Flambeau Rd and Risser Rd.

  2031 Reconstruction of Camus Ln and Greening Ln