The Tenney-Lapham/Old Market Place Neighborhood Steering Committee identifiedtwelve major issues that would enhance this central city neighborhood.
The common threads that emerged from the twelve month planning process are:
1. Preserve the central city architectural history. The neighborhood hasbeen influenced by prominent Madisonians and is rich in quality, historicstructures. Any revitalization efforts should enhance TLOMP historic structuresand places, while updating them for current and future uses.
2. Enhancing Yahara River Corridor as a place to live and play. The YaharaRiver connects Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The future vision of the rivercorridor (the lands lying immediately to the east and west of the riverbanks) is to develop pedestrian and bicycle paths that will provide a safe,aesthetic passageway along the corridor. Improvement of pedestrian travelacross bridges and busy intersections, a connection to Burr Jones Fieldand Tenney Park, and the enhancement of the shoreline to accommodate moregreenspace will provide greater recreational opportunities to residentsin this park-deficient central city neighborhood. Redevelopment of existingindustrial lands lying to the west of Thornton Avenue would provide theopportunity to construct medium-density residential buildings that wouldhave the nearby amenities of the Yahara River and Tenney Park.
3. Linking new and existing park systems to the neighborhood. Due to thelimited opportunities for acquisition of park and open space areas, it isimperative for the City and neighborhood to identify future parkland areasfor acquisition, improve existing parkland, and improve the linkage of existingparkland to other City park systems that are within or outside the neighborhood. Capitalizing on the Yahara River Corridor by acquiring and developing landalong the river, including the MG&E property, and improving the pedestrianaccessibility to Burr Jones Field and Tenney Park would help diversify theparkland opportunities within the neighborhood.
4. Providing community services to residents by forming a closer partnershipwith Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center. Less than a mile away is the Wil-MarNeighborhood Center that offers a variety of programs for youth, families,and senior citizens. Informing neighborhood residents of the programs atWil-Mar Neighborhood Center, improving cross-Isthmus bus transportationto the center, and exploring a satellite center with programs and activitiesoffered within the neighborhood would improve the accessibility of servicesto residents.
5. Cross-Isthmus transportation to shopping, schools, and social serviceagencies. Establish a cross-Isthmus bus route directly connecting the Tenney-Laphamand Old Market Place Neighborhoods to the Marquette Neighborhood. Accessto Lapham, Marquette and O'Keeffe Schools, Wil-Mar Community Center andother social services in the area, as well as East Johnson and WilliamsonStreet Business areas, would be greatly improved.
6. Strengthening the vitality of the neighborhood commercial core on EastJohnson Street by encouraging rehabilitation of existing buildings, somenew commercial construction, and installation of a municipal parking area. To strengthen the vitality of this neighborhood commercial district, itis important to concentrate business activity around the East Johnson andN. paterson Street core with the possibility of building a municipal parkinglot for the convenience of customers. It is important for the area to continueto support a strong residential base by providing housing opportunitiessuch as apartment units on the second floor of commercial buildings. Renovationof existing buildings and design of new construction should blend into thehistoric character of the area.
7. Attracting and retaining businesses that blend with the artistic, Bohemiannature of the area. The East Johnson Business Association recognizes thestrength of the unique shopping experiences in the area. Antiques, stainedglass, clothing, musical instruments, furniture, picture-framing, and culturalartwork form the start of an artistic center.
8. Ensuring that affordable, quality housing opportunities continue throughoutthe neighborhood. It is the goal of the neighborhood to continue to providea range of housing choices. The rise of property values within the Cityand the neighborhood affects the availability of a wide range of affordablehousing opportunities for both renters and owners, especially seniors. We will continue to support organizations that provide housing options withinthe neighborhood for individuals and families of low and moderate income,and we will promote both home ownership and renter programs for such individualsand families.
9. Maintaining older housing stock. Reinvestment of absentee landlordsin the housing stock will increase the overall appearance of the neighborhood. We will increase communications with these individuals and groups so thatthey will understand the depth of concern for timely maintenance on theirproperties and our interest in their active participation in the implementationof this plan.
10. Increasing homeownership in the Lapham Elementary School area. TheTenney-Lapham and Old Market Place Neighborhood has an overall low percentageof homeownership largely due to a substantial student population. Withthe recent enrollment cap on UW-Madison enrollments and increasing rentalopportunities closer to campus, the number of university students in theneighborhood could be decreasing. This would be an opportunity for rentalhousing units (single-family to four units) to be converted to owner-occupiedunits with the right incentives.
11. Redeveloping underutilized properties. There are several large piecesof property in the neighborhood that could be redeveloped for more appropriateuses in our vision for the area. The old Trachte warehouse property (inthe 1400 block of E. Dayton Street) and the Reynolds truck storage lot (inthe 600 block of E. Mifflin Street) have already been the subject of planproposals by neighborhood groups and City staff, with the purpose of creatingnew medium-density housing. It is hoped that the Reynolds property mightextend the success of the nearby Dayton Row redevelopment by offering townhouse-styleunits for owner-occupancy. It is also hoped that a Trachte property redevelopmentcould include a substantial number of owner-occupied units of similar stylenear E. Dayton Street, while medium-density, mixed-use structures wouldbe appropriate closer to East Washington Avenue.
12. Beautifying East Washington Avenue, Fordem Avenue, East Gorham and EastJohnson Streets. The overall visual quality of the area could be enhancedby improving East Washington Avenue, Fordem Avenue, East Gorham Street andEast Johnson Street through better landscaping of building exteriors, Cityterraces, and parking lots. Installing decorative, historic street lightingin the East Johnson Street Business District would spruce up this neighborhoodfocal area, while also improving pedestrian safety.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