Help Us Envision Downtown Madison
The City of Madison’s Planning Division is beginning work on its Downtown Area Plan as part of Envision Downtown Madison.
Envision Downtown Madison is a strategic partnership between the City of Madison and Downtown Madison, Inc. (DMI) that will provide a vision for the future of downtown. It’s comprised of two separate but coordinated efforts: the City of Madison’s Downtown Area Plan and the Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy (or simply, the Downtown Strategy).
The Downtown Area Plan will guide future growth, public policy and investments, and will build off the success of the 2012 Downtown Plan. Led by DMI, the Downtown Strategy will focus on opportunities for long-term investment in downtown that ensure growth is viable, sustainable, and inclusive.
The last time the City created a plan for the downtown area was 2012, and a lot has changed since then. Downtown has seen multiple residential buildings and thousands of homes added, more types of businesses offering a wider variety of services and cuisines, and a Bus Rapid Transit system making it easier to get downtown than ever before. The future could hold even more possibilities, including a potential Amtrak station, the repurposing and redevelopment of several centrally located state office buildings, and more.
Envision Downtown Madison Kickoff Event
The City is beginning work on the Downtown Area Plan in conjunction with DMI’s Greater Downtown Economic Investment Strategy. These efforts will run at the same time over the course of the next 18 months.
Both efforts will kick off with a public open house at 6:00pm on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at the Madison Concourse Hotel. A virtual option will also be offered via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.
The event will start with opening remarks from Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Downtown Madison, Inc. President Jason Ilstrup, followed by a presentation outlining the partnership and project goals. After the presentation, attendees will be able to share their perspectives on the future of downtown Madison with project team members. The same presentation and engagement activities will be offered to in-person and online attendees.
Those wishing to attend virtually will need to register ahead of time to receive a Zoom link. Those attending in person are still asked to register so City and DMI staff can get an estimate of how many people are planning to attend. Both registrations are free.
About the City’s Area Plans
This plan will follow the City’s Area Plan Framework, which was established in 2022 to simplify the City’s sub-area planning and make it more equitable. Over the next decade, 12 Area Plans will be developed to cover the whole city and future growth areas. These plans will address a consistent set of topics, provide an opportunity to consider how the recommendations of older plans have been implemented and which can be archived, and ensure plans are updated each decade to reflect an ever-changing city and keep Plans in sync with other City initiatives.
The West and Northeast Area Plans were approved by the Common Council in 2024, and work on the Southwest and Southeast Area Plans is ongoing.
The City’s Downtown Area Plan will focus on the area between Park Street and Blair Street, bordered by Lakes Mendota and Monona. This area covers about 700 acres and is home to 34,000 people and more than 60,000 jobs.
