Behind every strong neighborhood is a group of people who are passionate about where they live and the amenities their neighborhood provides. This is especially true of a new group of citizens who have come together to form the Hoyt Park Area Joint Neighborhood Planning Committee.
The City of Madison, in partnership with the Hoyt Park Area Joint Neighborhood Plan Committee is working to prepare a plan for the near west side of Madison that is roughly bordered by Midvale Boulevard, Franklin Avenue, University Avenue and Mineral Point Road. With the assistance of a $50,000 grant from the City, the group is working with Vandewalle & Associates to develop the neighborhood plan. Similar neighborhood plans have been developed for the Midvale Heights and Westmorland neighborhoods.
One of the precursors to the formation of the committee was current plans to rezone the former Mt. Olive church site on Mineral Point Road. However, the committee is looking at everything from traffic flow to area city park use. Part of the planning process includes a neighborhood survey. To date, more than 300 residents have submitted completed surveys.
The next step in the planning process is a public meeting to gather additional opinions and insights from neighborhood residents. The public meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sequoya Library. For answers to questions about the project, visit the Hoyt Park Area Joint Neighborhood website.
Kudos to these volunteers for stepping up to give of their time and talent for the betterment of the near west side of Madison. If you care too, plan to attend the meeting of September 13. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Segoe Road My Secret Segway
I call Segoe Road the secret segway. It's easily maneuverable, winds neatly through the neighborhood of ranches and raised ranches and cuts diagonally from University Avenue to Odana Road. There are also a couple of small parks along the street, that add to the pleasure! Although it's a major artery similar to Odana Road or Nakoma Road, it doesn't have the traffic density of, say, Mineral Point Road or Midvale Boulevard.
I noticed a few month ago in my travels around the west side of Madison that bike lanes have been added to Segoe Road between Hilldale and Mineral Point Road. This stretch of the road went from two lanes of traffic in each direction to one-lane for vehicles, with an additional lane for parking and a bike lane.
At Mineral Point Road, Segoe widens to accomodate a center median. I understand plans are underway to continue the "re-striping" of Segoe Road from Mineral Point Road to Odana Road to include a bike lane and street parking.
A few years ago, the city reconfigured the lane striping on Odana Road, too. They added center islands at some of the intersections and included a bike path lane. As far as I can tell, it hasn't caused any problems. In fact, I'm sure it slowed traffic and the islands certainly added visual interest to the street.
Now that my secret segway is slated to have a bike lane added, it probably won't be so secret anymore. But at least it still be a convenient thoroughfare!
I noticed a few month ago in my travels around the west side of Madison that bike lanes have been added to Segoe Road between Hilldale and Mineral Point Road. This stretch of the road went from two lanes of traffic in each direction to one-lane for vehicles, with an additional lane for parking and a bike lane.
At Mineral Point Road, Segoe widens to accomodate a center median. I understand plans are underway to continue the "re-striping" of Segoe Road from Mineral Point Road to Odana Road to include a bike lane and street parking.
A few years ago, the city reconfigured the lane striping on Odana Road, too. They added center islands at some of the intersections and included a bike path lane. As far as I can tell, it hasn't caused any problems. In fact, I'm sure it slowed traffic and the islands certainly added visual interest to the street.
Now that my secret segway is slated to have a bike lane added, it probably won't be so secret anymore. But at least it still be a convenient thoroughfare!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Meet in the Street
On many of the streets that wind through the Sunset Village, Westmorland and Sunset Hills neighborhoods the front yards stretch all the way to the street. There are no sidewalks!
In the winter, this is a blessing! Much less snow to shovel. My back is so much happier!
During the other three seasons, I feel doubly blessed for having no sidewalks! Here's my thinking. Sidewalks separate a neighborhood into "sides". People cross to the other side of the street if they are uncomfortable encountering another pedestrian. The expanse of street and parkway keep neighbors further apart when they are out and about in the neighborhood. And I think sidewalks inhibit chance encounters and therefore impromptu conversations.
My neighborhood is without sidewalks and I wouldn't have it any other way! Without those sidewalks, the separation narrows and neighbors walking dogs or strolling children meet in the street. It's the chance meetings that keeps me connected to the neighborhood. I find out that the woman around the corner fell and had to be taken to the hospital (she is doing well). Or that the neighbors down the street are on vacation and need their tomatoes watered. Or I learn that the couple on the corner need a babysitter for their toddler. Of course, these may seem like inconsequential conversations, but it's contact and it matters. It makes me feel safe. It makes me appreciate my neighbors. It makes me glad I live where I do.
Sure, sidewalks may be safer, but I'll take meeting in the street instead any day!
In the winter, this is a blessing! Much less snow to shovel. My back is so much happier!
During the other three seasons, I feel doubly blessed for having no sidewalks! Here's my thinking. Sidewalks separate a neighborhood into "sides". People cross to the other side of the street if they are uncomfortable encountering another pedestrian. The expanse of street and parkway keep neighbors further apart when they are out and about in the neighborhood. And I think sidewalks inhibit chance encounters and therefore impromptu conversations.
My neighborhood is without sidewalks and I wouldn't have it any other way! Without those sidewalks, the separation narrows and neighbors walking dogs or strolling children meet in the street. It's the chance meetings that keeps me connected to the neighborhood. I find out that the woman around the corner fell and had to be taken to the hospital (she is doing well). Or that the neighbors down the street are on vacation and need their tomatoes watered. Or I learn that the couple on the corner need a babysitter for their toddler. Of course, these may seem like inconsequential conversations, but it's contact and it matters. It makes me feel safe. It makes me appreciate my neighbors. It makes me glad I live where I do.
Sure, sidewalks may be safer, but I'll take meeting in the street instead any day!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
From Books to Bank
I was sad when the Borders bookstore at the end of Midvale Boulevard on the edge of Shorewood Hills closed. It was a nice, neighborhood destination to purchase a gift, read a few chapters or have a cup of coffee. It was close. It was convenient. It was easy.
With my Pollyanna attitude, I had visions of a new retail store opening in it's place. How about a Crate and Barrel or a Garnett Hill? Maybe a sporting goods store. Actually, I was hoping for any other retail store that would draw the masses.
Ah, no such luck. As I'm sure you already know, the new lease holders, UW Credit Union, plan to move the walk-in and drive-thru banking portion of the business from the current headquarters building on University Avenue a few blocks west to the former Borders site. The move is to accommodate additional administrative and office space at the current headquarters location on University Avenue.
I have nothing against the UW Credit Union. In fact, I'm a member. That's where I do all my banking. And when I put myself in their shoes, it's a logical move. But from my own, selfish perspective I was hoping for something more "fun"!
Perhaps I should save my pennies rather than spend them anyway. Saving can be fun, right?? I'm sure the UWCU will be a good addition. There's always Hilldale!
With my Pollyanna attitude, I had visions of a new retail store opening in it's place. How about a Crate and Barrel or a Garnett Hill? Maybe a sporting goods store. Actually, I was hoping for any other retail store that would draw the masses.
Ah, no such luck. As I'm sure you already know, the new lease holders, UW Credit Union, plan to move the walk-in and drive-thru banking portion of the business from the current headquarters building on University Avenue a few blocks west to the former Borders site. The move is to accommodate additional administrative and office space at the current headquarters location on University Avenue.
I have nothing against the UW Credit Union. In fact, I'm a member. That's where I do all my banking. And when I put myself in their shoes, it's a logical move. But from my own, selfish perspective I was hoping for something more "fun"!
Perhaps I should save my pennies rather than spend them anyway. Saving can be fun, right?? I'm sure the UWCU will be a good addition. There's always Hilldale!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
July Housing Market
July was HOT and HUMID! The housing market on the near west side of Madison, um...a little cool. Don't get me wrong, houses are still selling. In Westmorland, Dudgeon-Monroe and Sunset Village homes continue to move fairly quickly.
For instance, a home in Sunset Village was on the market for only 4 days when it received an accepted offer for 97 percent of the asking price. In Dudegon-Monroe, a house sold the day it was listed for the full asking price.
However, there are other homes in the area that have not sold as rapidly. There are currently 40 homes on the market in these three neighborhoods, running the gamut from 2 bedroom ranches to 5 bedroom cape cods. Certainly something for every buyer!
So what has cooled the market? I think it's vacation. Yes, that's right, vacation. Now I know that isn't a scientific answer based on sales statistics and price ratios. It's my gut feeling. Here's the thing about late July and early August: swim team season and Little League have concluded, but fall soccer and football have not begun. It's the perfect opportunity for families to take vacation. No one wants to be relaxing at the cottage while they have a home offer pending...how relaxing is that!
So I'm confident things will pick up again in late August. Interest rates continue to be at all-time lows and there in certainly inventory. And summer vacations will be coming to a close.
See what happened in July below. For information on other neighborhoods in the city, visit the hyper-local neighborhood blog at What's Happening in My Neighborhood.
Sunset Village-July Sales
Westmorland July Sales
Dudgeon-Monroe July Sales
For instance, a home in Sunset Village was on the market for only 4 days when it received an accepted offer for 97 percent of the asking price. In Dudegon-Monroe, a house sold the day it was listed for the full asking price.
However, there are other homes in the area that have not sold as rapidly. There are currently 40 homes on the market in these three neighborhoods, running the gamut from 2 bedroom ranches to 5 bedroom cape cods. Certainly something for every buyer!
So what has cooled the market? I think it's vacation. Yes, that's right, vacation. Now I know that isn't a scientific answer based on sales statistics and price ratios. It's my gut feeling. Here's the thing about late July and early August: swim team season and Little League have concluded, but fall soccer and football have not begun. It's the perfect opportunity for families to take vacation. No one wants to be relaxing at the cottage while they have a home offer pending...how relaxing is that!
So I'm confident things will pick up again in late August. Interest rates continue to be at all-time lows and there in certainly inventory. And summer vacations will be coming to a close.
See what happened in July below. For information on other neighborhoods in the city, visit the hyper-local neighborhood blog at What's Happening in My Neighborhood.
Sunset Village-July Sales
Address | 1st Price | Last Price | Sold Price | SP/FP | SP/LP | Cum. Days of Market | # Days From Last Price Change Until Offer |
4012 Hammersley Ave. | $149,900 | $149,900 | $125,000 | 83% | 83% | 9 | 9 |
222 Alden Dr. | $225,000 | $225,000 | $217,365 | 96% | 96% | 26 | 26 |
225 S. Owen Dr. | $250,000 | $250,000 | $260,000 | 104% | 104% | 4 | 4 |
224 W. Sunset Ct. | $375,000 | $375,000 | $365,000 | 97% | 97% | 11 | 11 |
Average Total | $249,975 | $249,975 | $241,841 | 95% | 95% | 13 | 12.5 |
Address | 1st Price | Last Price | Sold Price | SP/FP | SP/LP | Cum. Days of Market | # Days From Last Price Change Until Offer |
563 Toepher Ave. | $259,900 | $259,900 | $259,900 | 100% | 100% | 5 | 5 |
536 S. Owen Dr. | $255,000 | $255,000 | $260,000 | 103% | 103% | 6 | 6 |
Average Total | $257,450 | $257,450 | $259,950 | 102% | 102% | 6 | 5.5 |
Address | 1st Price | Last Price | Sold Price | SP/FP | SP/LP | Cum. Days of Market | # Days From Last Price Change Until Offer |
2322 Keyes Ave. | $224,900 | $204,900 | $205,000 | 91% | 100% | 117 | 66 |
2103 Keyes Ave. | $345,000 | $345,000 | $345,000 | 100% | 100% | 0 | 0 |
2237 Rowley Ave. | $429,900 | $429,900 | $434,900 | 101% | 101% | 6 | 6 |
Average Total | $284,950 | $274,950 | $275,000 | 96% | 100% | 59 | 33 |
Saturday, August 6, 2011
What's Up?
 |
| This house on Mineral Point Rd. is raised for a new basement and rear addition |
When Michael Ebeling and Moira Crowley bought their little cabin in 2000, they had no idea that 11 years later their home would be up on stilts!
Nestled on a nearly one acre lot on Mineral Point Rd., the house is a little piece of country in the city.
"When we bought the house the sellers had better offers, primarily because of the lot," says Ebeling. "But the owners knew we wouldn't tear it down. I guess they were right! Look at it now!"
Ebeling and Crowley were looking to add on to the small house. The 1300 square foot, 2 bedroom, 1 bath home was getting tight for the couple and their 7 year-old daughter, Ingrid. Working with an engineer, they raised the house. Beneath the home, they found the foundation was made from logs with the bark still intact. They plan to pour a basement under the current home as well as under the rear addition. When the remodel is complete, the home will be about 2000 square feet.
"We are hoping to be done by October so we can have it reappraised to take advantage of the current low interest rates," says Ebeling.
Built in 1863, it's clearly one of the oldest homes in the area. And passersby take notice.
"We have people stop all the time," notes Ebeling. "It's a pretty unusual house for the area and people are curious."
Even more curious now, as the house sits precariously atop supports waiting for the new foundation that will carry it long into the future.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
If You Grew Up in Madison...
I grew up in Madison in the West Lawn neighborhood, not far from Edgewood. I think that neighborhood is now called Dudgeon-Monroe, although years ago the boundaries for Dudgeon-Monroe really started at Commonwealth Ave. and stretched to Glenway St.
But I digress, the point of this post is to tell you about a Facebook group called "If You Grew Up in Madison You Remember..." Now I have a Facebook page, but to be honest, I'm not as Facebook savvy as most. Every now and again I'll "like" a comment from one of my friends and occasionally I'll even post my own original comment!
Today, however, I found myself on Facebook nine times!! I joined the "If You Grew Up in Madison You Remember..." group and I couldn't wait to see what other long-time (and not-so-long-time) Madisonians had to say.
These Facebook friends remember things such as Gimbles (a department store) that was in the space currently occupied by Macy's at Hilldale Mall. They remember elephants at the zoo, driving on State Street, a Millins grocery store in the current Knickerbocker Place and a Fauerbach's grocery store just a few blocks away. They remember a Rennebohm's (pre-Walgreen's drug store) on almost every corner. They remember when the Beltline was two lanes, when West Towne Mall was in the "country" and Westgate was the "big mall" with a JCPenney's. And they remember LOTS of now defunct bars and clubs. Oh, the memories!
Of course, not everyone will remember these things, and certainly if you are a relative newcomer you won't, but it's great fun for any Madisonian. Of course, there are still long-time community staples like Vitense Golfland, The Village Bar and Mallatts Pharmacy that continue to add value to the near West Side.
But here's what strikes me about this new Facebook group; it's clear these folks have a great love for the businesses and neighborhoods that make up this city. No matter if the entries are about the east side, the west side or the "country", you can feel the nostalgia. And that's what makes for strong, vibrant and healthy neighborhoods...people who care! People who love the past, but are also excited about the future.
So kudos to those who formed the "If You Grew Up in Madison You Remember..." Facebook group. Great idea...wish I would have thought of it!
But I digress, the point of this post is to tell you about a Facebook group called "If You Grew Up in Madison You Remember..." Now I have a Facebook page, but to be honest, I'm not as Facebook savvy as most. Every now and again I'll "like" a comment from one of my friends and occasionally I'll even post my own original comment!
Today, however, I found myself on Facebook nine times!! I joined the "If You Grew Up in Madison You Remember..." group and I couldn't wait to see what other long-time (and not-so-long-time) Madisonians had to say.
These Facebook friends remember things such as Gimbles (a department store) that was in the space currently occupied by Macy's at Hilldale Mall. They remember elephants at the zoo, driving on State Street, a Millins grocery store in the current Knickerbocker Place and a Fauerbach's grocery store just a few blocks away. They remember a Rennebohm's (pre-Walgreen's drug store) on almost every corner. They remember when the Beltline was two lanes, when West Towne Mall was in the "country" and Westgate was the "big mall" with a JCPenney's. And they remember LOTS of now defunct bars and clubs. Oh, the memories!
Of course, not everyone will remember these things, and certainly if you are a relative newcomer you won't, but it's great fun for any Madisonian. Of course, there are still long-time community staples like Vitense Golfland, The Village Bar and Mallatts Pharmacy that continue to add value to the near West Side.
But here's what strikes me about this new Facebook group; it's clear these folks have a great love for the businesses and neighborhoods that make up this city. No matter if the entries are about the east side, the west side or the "country", you can feel the nostalgia. And that's what makes for strong, vibrant and healthy neighborhoods...people who care! People who love the past, but are also excited about the future.
So kudos to those who formed the "If You Grew Up in Madison You Remember..." Facebook group. Great idea...wish I would have thought of it!
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Quick Book Fix
I was on a bike ride through Sunset Village today and as I rounded a corner, there it was; a small "house" perched on top of a sturdy post. On closer inspection, I realized the "house" was filled with books. The Little Library has come to Sunset Village!You may have seen the article in the Sunday July 31st edition of the Wisconsin State Journal about Little Library's sprouting up throughout Madison. Filled with books and magazines of all types, "Take a Book, Leave a Book" is the slogan of the Little Library.
According the the WSJ article, the program was started by Rick Brooks of Madison and Todd Bol of Hudson. The date, there are 20 spots in Madison that house a Little Library.
In Sunset Village, our Little Library is located at the corner of Owen Drive and Hillcrest Drive. And while our neighborhood is within easy walking distance to Sequoya Library, this Little Library offers residents a quick book fix.
In a technology-filled world, the concept of the Little Library offers a wonderful reason to slow down, visit with neighbors, take a walk and enjoy the day. What a great addition to the neighborhood!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)