Smart Growth Greater Madison - new

10/12/2026

I am retiring soon! Please help spread the word that Smart Growth Greater Madison is seeking to hire a new Executive Director. A strong candidate would have experience with advocacy to elected officials (as part of their job or as a community volunteer) and some knowledge of the real estate development municipal project review and entitlement process. Below is a link to the opportunity announcement on Indeed.

Smart Growth Greater Madison, Inc.

10/06/2026

I was happy to see that the Plan Commission voted unanimously to grant a demolition permit for the Wonder Bar. There was no persuasive case for continuing to prevent the demolition of that rundown building. No one had proposed a viable plan for reusing it.

09/24/2026

Hurray! Well done, Village of Cottage Grove!

The Village Board cited a combination of economic and environmental impacts. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

09/21/2026

Good to see the news media continuing to cover this issue.
https://madison.com/news/state-regional/wisconsin/article_5bfa322f-07de-57a2-af94-a76251208ef4.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_madison.com&fbclid=IwY2xjawUeBbZwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWJORzhnN0gxN20ySEF1WnJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKmoZj7_lDf7UnsK33Rcl2JcuDl9oMXNVar_IUMSSGaWUmUBb9xb7r1vn0pg_aem_lQunxYO4QiQ1s3gloJlcTw

Editor's note: This story was produced as part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab, a consortium of five news outlets − the Appleton Post-Crescent, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Green Bay

09/11/2026

Plenty of people at Downtown Madison, Inc.’s Annual Celebration at the new Madison Public Market on Thursday evening.

09/01/2026

This is great news for Downtown Madison!

The budget committee’s approval sets the stage for a developer’s plan to convert the 2.5-acre block currently housing GEF 2 and 3 into a mix of apartments and commercial space. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

08/19/2026

I am listening to speakers talk to the Madison Urban Design Commission presenting nonsense about the alleged historic value of the Wonder Bar, asking that the UDC to give very little feedback to the developer about the developer's informational design presentation because they believe it is likely that the Plan Commission won't grant a demolition permit for the Wonder Bar. Let's hope the Plan Commission does the sensible thing and grants the demolition permit.

08/04/2026

Thankfully, the Madison Landmarks Commission recommended that the Common Council not bestow landmark status on the former Wonder Bar. Now we just need the Common Council to follow that recommendation and the Plan Commission to grant a demolition permit, so the redevelopment project proposed for that site can works its way through the arduous processes toward zoning approval and obtaining a building permit.

The Prohibition-era roadhouse was found to have historic value, meaning a proposal to demolish it will require additional review. ⤵️ Find a link to the story in the comments.

08/03/2026

There is no case for making declaring the former Wonder Bar building a landmark. None. Absolutely ridiculous. If the Madison Landmarks Commission votes to declare it a landmark, there is something seriously wrong with that commission.

07/27/2026

Fly, Maynard, fly!