Vision Statement
| The Tenney-Lapham/Old Market Place Neighborhood will work with the EastJohnson Business Association to create a cohesive, economically viable,and distinctive retail community that builds on the existing strengths ofartisan spirit and quality craftsmanship of goods, while also serving theneeds of the local neighborhood. |
Neighborhood Goals
| Goal 1 | Improve the visual appearance, accessibility,and ambience of the area with storefront remodeling, streetscape improvements,and more effective traffic management. |
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| Goal 2 | Maintainand improve the active solidarity currently exhibited by the newly rebornEast Johnson Business Association and pursue all useful methods of communicatingthat identity and its resources to the public and related organizations. |
| Goal3 | Investigate and pursue opportunities for small-scale, mixed-useredevelopment which would expand the variety of shop sizes and the availablepool of parking spaces in the district, while also responding to neighborhoodneeds for goods and services and maintaining the number of affordable housingunits. |
Top Recommendations
| 1. | Work with City departments to bring sidewalksup to basic level of pedestrian safety and to install various streetscapeimprovements, such as (in order of priority): 1) bike racks, 2) pedestrianlights, 3) terrace treatments, 4) kiosks, 5) banners, 6) trees, 7) benches,and 8) murals. |
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| 2. | Work with the Department ofPlanning and Development to identify locations within the business districtsuitable for redevelopment, especially those sites which would maintaina more compact concentration around the East Johnson and North Patersonintersection. |
| 3. | Publicize the unified identityof the district with a promotional brochure, including a comprehensive businessdirectory and map. |
| Issue: Both residents and businesses have identified a need fora more attractive environment and practical amenities which are designedto increase the accessibility and safety of the district. (Identified inNeighborhood Survey and task force SWOT analysis.) | |||
| GOAL | RECOMMENDATION | IMPLEMENTATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
Improve the visual appearance, accessibility, and ambience of the areawith storefront remodeling, streetscape improvements, and more effectivetraffic management. | Storefront Rehab: Encouragethe use of inexpensive, but effective, methods of rehabilitation, such astraditional-style awnings and carefully chosen paint colors to improve theaesthetics of storefront facades. Provide information to businesses on costestimates and available providers for rehabilitation services and minorimprovements. | East Johnson Business Association (EJBA) | |
| Streetscape Improvements: Work with City departmentsto bring sidewalks up to basic level of pedestrian safety and to installvarious streetscape improvements, such as (in order of priority): 1) bikeracks, 2) pedestrian lights, 3) terrace treatments, 4) kiosks, 5) banners,6) trees, 7) benches, and 8) murals. Financing possibilities include: somegovernment sources (such as Madison CitiARTS, ISTEA/STEP Program), developmentfunds (such as Madison Development Corp. and Dane County Development Corp.),non-profit foundations (such as Evjue, MG&E, and Madison Community Foundations),local fundraising, and area-specific assessments (such as "BusinessImprovement District" or BID). | Engineering Division, ParksDivision | ||
| 1. | Bike Racks: Conduct localfundraising to finance bike racks to be installed in the paved terrace onN. Paterson Street just north of Johnson (next to Norris Court Grocery).After installation, the bike rack should be donated to the City to complywith current policy. | EJBA, Transportation Dept., Wisc. DOD,Wisc. DOT/ISTEA | |
| 2,3,7,6. | PedestrianLights, Terrace Treatments, Benches, Trees, and Sidewalk Improvements: Uselayout plan from the Planning Department to seek funding and arrange installationof pedestrian-oriented lamps (version currently approved by Madison DOT)on the south side of Johnson Street (800 block), along with benches, terracetreatments, and sidewalk improvements throughout the district. Explore possibilityof working with the State's Main Street Program (Dept. of Development) onthis project. | EJBA, Engineering Division, Transportation Dept.,Wisc. DOD, Wisc. DOT/ISTEA | |
| 4. | Kiosk:Work with the Transportation Department to follow through on proposed installationof kiosk in the terrace on Paterson Street just south of Johnson (next toU-Frame-It). | Transportation Dept. | |
| 8. | Murals: Encourage individual stores (such as Norris CourtGrocery and Whole Earth Foods) to replace or repaint exterior wall muralsfor aesthetic enhancement. Some funding has previously been offered by theTenney-Lapham Neighborhood Association and is also available from the CitiARTSProgram. | EJBA, TLOMP Neighborhood Associations | |
| Traffic Management: Work with neighborhood associations in theirefforts to create new and innovative ways to help enforce the speed limitand generally calm the flow of traffic on East Johnson Street in a mannerthat will improve safety and preserve the ambience of a small, neighborhoodbusiness district in a predominately residential area. (Note: It is hopedthat many of the new amenities proposed for the business district, suchas trees, banners, and street lights, along with any improved visual imageof the area, will serve to persuade car drivers to slow down and take alook around as they pass through). | EJBA, TLOMP Neighborhood Associations,Transportation Dept., Police Dept. | ||
| TrafficDiversion: Support the efforts of neighborhood residents, alders, andCity staff to fund and implement all phases of the Isthmus Traffic RedirectionPlan, which was adopted by the Common Council in 1981 and is currently lessthan half complete. (This plan is designed to divert approximately 20% ofthe thru-traffic off of the Johnson-Gorham corridor and onto East WashingtonAvenue.) | EJBA, TLOMP Neighborhood Associations, TransportationDept. | ||
| Parking Improvement: Continue toencourage business district employees to park off of East Johnson Streetso that there will be more visible parking available to customers. | EJBA | ||
Issue: A general perception is that the resources offered by thisbusiness district have not received appropriate publicity both inside andoutside the neighborhood and that the district has not presented itselfas a unified entity. (Identified in task force SWOT analysis.) | ||
| GOAL | RECOMMENDATION | IMPLEMENTATION |
|---|---|---|
Maintain and improve the active solidarity currently exhibited by thenewly reborn East Johnson Business Association and pursue all useful methodsof communicating that identity and its resources to the public and relatedorganizations. | Banners: Identify the location of the businessdistrict by means of street banners or signage. Conduct fundraising effortstargeted at printing and installation of street banners, which would bemost easily and effectively hung on the existing street lights along thenorth side of Johnson Street. | EJBA |
| Brochure:Publicize the unified identity of the district with a promotional brochure,including a comprehensive business directory and map. Initial printing shouldbe distributed through businesses that support it by way of advertising;other avenues for further distribution should be investigated (such as Isthmusinsert). | EJBA | |
| Joint Advertising: Maintaina consistent public identity by making regular use of joint marketing plansoffered by local media outlets; continue use of marketing contract withIsthmus weekly newspaper, which is considered to be the most appropriateand effective media outlet; investigate other suitable outlets for jointads. | EJBA | |
| Neighborhood Associations: Expandefforts to present a unified public identity in communications with thelocal neighborhood associations, City staff, and other business associationsin the area. Initiate and maintain a regular column in the local neighborhoodnewsletter, including announcements and issues related to the businessesand their employees. Support a business representative on the governingboards of the local neighborhood associations (as allowed by their bylaws)to maintain effective communication between the respective groups. | EJBA, TLOMP Neighborhood Associations, MG&E Economic Development Department | |
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| GOAL | RECOMMENDATION | IMPLEMENTATION |
|---|---|---|
Investigate and pursue opportunities for small-scale, mixed-use redevelopmentwhich would expand the variety of shop sizes and the available pool of parkingspaces in the district, while also responding to neighborhood needs forgoods and services and maintaining the number of affordable housing units. | Consensus Building: Communicate the East Johnson BusinessAssociation goal of fostering a well-defined, compact business districtand its underlying issues to neighborhood residents in order to determineif there is enough consensus to pursue redevelopment opportunities. | EJBA, TLOMP Neighborhood Associations |
| DevelopmentPlan: Work with the Department of Planning & Development to identifylocations within the business district suitable for redevelopment, especiallythose sites which would maintain a more compact concentration around theEast Johnson and North Paterson intersection. Current proposals includea mixed-use building and parking at 838p;846 East Johnson and a parkinglot wrapping around 855p;857 East Johnson. | EJBA, Planning Unit | |
| Developer Contacts: Discuss redevelopment potential in thedistrict with local developers of small-scale, mixed-use projects to geta better idea of the variables involved in similar projects. One of theobjectives of the neighborhood is to incorporate residential units on thesecond floor of new commercial buildings. | EJBA, CED Unit, MG&E EconomicDevelopment Department | |
| New Business Prospects:Create and maintain a list of prospective business owners (or entrepreneurs)interested in locating in the district, including space and other requirements.Improved communications with the Department of Planning & Development p;Community and Economic Development Unit and MG&E Economic Development Departmentwill help in matching businesses to the district. | EJBA, CED Unit,MG&E Economic Development Department | |
| Adaptive Conversions:Investigate opportunities for remodeling any of the residential propertiesin the district which are zoned commercial into a space suitable for retail.Compile information on special requirements of converting residential propertyto commercial, and make this available to any prospective business owners. | EJBA, CED Unit, MG&E Economic Development Department | |
| CommercialFinancing: Compile information on financing mechanisms that are availablefor new start-up business, upgrading existing equipment, or purchasing newequipment. | EJBA, MG&E Economic Development Department | |
Introduction
Summary of Neighborhood Issues
Summary of Recommendations
Neighborhood Boundaries
Neighborhood Profile
Relationship to the Isthmus Neighborhoods / Census Information
Community Services Recommendations
East Johnson Business District Recommendations
Housing Recommendations
Parks and Open Space Recommendations
Redevelopment Recommendations
Sidewalks, Streets, Terrace and Other Public Infrastructure Recommendations
Transportation Recommendations
Maps
Original Plat for Tenney Park
Neighborhood Asset Map
East Johnson Business District
Historic Districts and Landmarks
Tenney-Lapham / Old Market Place Neighborhood Zoning Map
Residential Structures Map