Industry Noize: Neighborhood Mulling Venue Plans

Frank Productions announced in June it was building a 46,000 square-foot space with a flexible wall system to reduce capacity for more intimate shows, a VIP lounge and seating area, large dressing room facilities and offices for Frank Productions’ staff.

More detailed plans from project developer Stone House Development show the construction will require the demolition of the Madison Dairy Produce plant and also include the construction of 65 units of four-story row housing, according to the Capital Times.

The new venue would apparently be set in the middle of the block, and a four- to five-story office building with a parking ramp would sit adjacent.

A second phase of the project would include more housing and offices and another parking structure.

Developers presented the plans during a public meeting hosted by the Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association. A TLNA official told the paper the crowd was split evenly between fans and those who weren’t quite sold.

“There was a mixture of strong support and serious concerns about traffic, parking and patron noise,” TLNA President Joe Lusson said.

Alderman Ledell Zellers, who also attended the meeting, added that the biggest concern was parking. “Noise was also mentioned several times, particularly in association with the prospect of venue attendees parking in the neighborhood,” she told the Times. “But there was enthusiasm expressed about the affordable housing and about the prospect of additional jobs in the neighborhood.The music venue also garnered supportive comments.”

Pending land-use approvals and financing, construction on the project is expected to begin in later this year.

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