Suddenly, Madison has two major, unique redevelopment proposals for the same full-block site on East Washington Avenue. Although another developer already is negotiating to acquire the city-owned site, Metcalfe's Market is proposing a $45 million alternative including a supermarket with a rooftop farm, a hotel, office and commercial space, housing and a parking garage on the full 800 block of the street.

GRANDVIEW COMMONS' PROPOSED GROCERY STORE CREATING TENSION

A two-year fight over adding a big-box grocery store to the new urbanist neighborhood has pitted residents against developer and City Council member, neighbor versus neighbor and council member versus council member.

OVERTURE CENTER OPERATING ENTITY OPTS TO TAKE A BREAK

The entity that ran Overture Center from its inception until a nonprofit assumed operations Jan. 1 is taking a recess, but some on the Madison Cultural Arts District believe it still has a role in shaping the area's cultural scene.The private, nonprofit Overture Center Foundation took control of operations at the arts center at the beginning of the year.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE COMING TO MADISON IN 2015 

Development experts will converge on Madison in 2015. The International Economic Development Council, based in Washington, D.C., has chosen Madison as the site for its annual spring conference in 2015. More than 250 people are expected to attend, with a local economic impact estimated at more than $230,000.

SOLD HOMES IN OR NEAR FORECLOSURE MAKE UP LESS THAN 30 PERCENT OF LOCAL MARKET FOR FIRST TIME IN 15 MONTHS

Dane County's Distressed Property Index in January was 29 percent, down from 31.1 percent in January 2011 and down from 30.3 percent in December. January's reading of the slice of sold homes in the market that were in or near foreclosure also was well down from the record high of 36.8 percent posted in July. Though still making up a higher-than-normal piece of the local market, distressed properties in January also fell below 30 percent for the first time in the last 15 months.

 WISCONSIN HOME SALES INCREASE IN JANUARY, WHILE PRICE LAGS

Sales of existing homes and condo in Wisconsin rose in January compared with last year, but median sales price was down, continuing a long-standing pattern in the market statewide and locally. Sales in January were up 10.8 percent, from 2,584 to 2,862, the Wisconsin Realtors Association reported Monday. Median price fell 7 percent to $119,500.  

DEAN, ST.MARY'S DISCUSS MERGER

Dean Health System and St. Mary's Hospital owner SSM Health Care are discussing a merger or an acquisition by SSM of all or part of Dean. Meanwhile, Dean and St. Mary's will apply next month to the federal government to become an "accountable care organization," or ACO, encouraged by the 2010 health reform law. A merger or acquisition between Dean and SSM would integrate two health care organizations that have collaborated for decades.

LEGISLATURE PASSES WETLANDS DEVELOPMENT BILL

The state Assembly has passed a bill that would help developers win wetland construction permits. The plans would detail how developers would offset damage they might cause by working to restore or enhance other wetlands, giving builders another way to convince the Department of Natural Resources they deserve a permit.

BOARD OF ESTIMATES APPROVES DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD PROPOSAL INCLUDING PLANS TO DEMOLISH MIFFLIN AREA HOUSING

City officials unanimously approved a plan for proposed redevelopment in the downtown area Monday, which includes possible plans to construct high rise apartment buildings in the Mifflin neighborhood. The plan would call for demolition of houses on Broom, West Dayton and Bedford streets, replacing them with apartment complexes. "There needs [to be] some measure put in place, so that this neighborhood can really thrive," Downtown Plan Director Steven Cover said.

MOST UNIONS SUCCESSFUL IN FIRST CERTIFICATION VOTE

Most unions seeking state certification were successful in the first round of balloting for local government workers under the Wisconsin's controversial new collective bargaining law. In voting that concluded Tuesday, 35 of the 39 bargaining units recertified with vastly decreased negotiating power, according to the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, which oversaw voting.

WEDC FLOATS PROGRAM TO BOOST EARLY STAGE INVESTING

A proposal that would get the state of Wisconsin involved in funding for early-stage companies is in the works. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is hoping the program will be unveiled next week, chief executive officer Paul Jadin said Friday. The plan involves selling tax credits, dollar for dollar, to corporations with a tax liability. The proceeds would be combined, creating a pool of money the state could dip into to co-invest with angel investors, Jadin said.
  

COUNCIL COMMITTEE OKS MSOE PARKING STRUCTURE

Milwaukee School of Engineering's plan to develop a downtown Milwaukee parking structure topped with a college soccer field received another round of approvals Wednesday, setting the stage for a spring construction start. The Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee recommended approval for zoning changes and a development agreement for the $28 million project, to be built north of E. Knapp St. and west of N. Broadway.

VACANT NORTH AVE. BUILDING TO BE CONVERTED TO CAFE, HOUSING

A local development group plans to buy a city-owned building on Milwaukee's north side and renovate it into two upstairs apartments and street-level commercial space, including a restaurant. McNeil Property Management LLC, formed by Virgil and Danyel McNeil, would pay $5,000 for the vacant 5,000-square-foot building, at 2501-2509 W. North Ave. The Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee recommended Wednesday a purchase option be granted to the group.

BUSIINESS INCUBATOR BUILDING PURCHASE COMPLETED

 A former warehouse that will be converted into a business incubator for water technology firms has been sold, and work to convert the building will begin by early summer.A local investors group, Water Accelerator LLC, this week completed its purchase of the seven-story industrial building, 223 W. Pittsburgh Ave., in Walker's Point.The incubator, known as the Water Technology Research and Business Accelerator Building, is to be completed by late spring 2013, said Dean Amhaus, executive director of the Milwaukee Water Council, a trade group that's leading the project. 

 MEQUON TARGETS MORE REDEVELOPMENT ALONG PORT WASHINGTON ROAD

Hoping to spur redevelopment in its commercial corridor along North Port Washington Road, the Common Council on Tuesday approved two rehabilitation and conservation tax-incremental finance districts. TIF allows municipalities to create districts for redevelopment. Taxing bodies within the district agree to forgo taxes that are greater than those in place at the time of the district's creation, allowing that money to be used toward the cost of development instead. 

SEVEN START-UPS CERTIFIED AS ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS

Seven state start-ups have been certified as qualified new business ventures by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the agency said Wednesday. With the certification, the companies' financial backers will be eligible for a 25% tax credit on the amount they invest in the company. The start-ups are: SnowShoe Foods, Madison, is creating smartphone apps that provide loyalty programs and coupons for grocery stores and consumers. 

With Kohl's Corp. announcing it won't be moving downtown, Milwaukee officials face a decision on two buildings that a city affiliate controls through purchase options. The former Palomar condos sales center, 520 W. McKinley Ave., and a storage building, at 1300 N. 4th St., operated by C. Coakley Relocation Systems, were optioned to help accommodate two parking structures that would have been built for Kohl's employees. 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR COTTAGE GROVE COMMERCE PARK?

The Cottage Grove Commerce Park is dressed for success. Its brick and stone retail and office buildings are attractive and e-friendly, and its location off the revamped Interstate 94 Cottage Grove interchange gives it great exposure. Some say what's needed is a signature hotel, restaurant or medical facility that can further showcase Commerce Park and give the village of Cottage Grove a stronger identity in Dane County. But that's not easy to find for even the best business sites in a challenging economy.

NEW BUSINESS IS ROCK SOLID

A local DeForest couple, Jeff and Heather Fiess, are proving that even in these murky economic times, the American dream of owning your own business is still alive and well. The couple owns and operates a small local operation called "Rock Solid Hard Surface Cleaning." In business since May 2011, they say that even though business could be better, they are doing well. The company uses professional equipment and methods to clean hard surfaces for both commercial and private clients.

DEFOREST, WINDSOR LOOK TO DEVELOP

Aiming to build on the recent positive turn in DeForest-Windsor governmental relations, both sides are looking to amend their 2010 intergovernmental boundary agreement to clear the way for new development. According to a joint DeForest-Windsor release issued Monday, a task force comprised of elected and appointed officials from both communities have been working recently to add to the boundary agreement, specifically working through remaining issues with the proposed Bear Tree development.

NEW BERLIN CONSIDERS NEW RULES FOR HOME UPKEEP

City officials don't want to delve too closely into the touchy area of maintenance rules for homeowners, but they don't like having their hands tied when, say, a home has a tree growing in a gutter. Corliss Tischer, New Berlin code compliance specialist, recalls such a real-life complaint and how she had to respond to it. "I have to look at people and say I can't do anything," Tischer said. .

ON APPEAL, NEW BERLIN KEEPS ITS LARGE-LOT RULES

Homeowners in a neighborhood with larger yards are breathing sighs of relief after the Court of Appeals for District 2 upheld New Berlin's rules governing splitting lots. The court ruled that New Berlin had not acted arbitrarily or discriminated against Richard Guse of the 19100 block of Hillcrest Drive when the Common Council refused to let him split his lot. Aldermen said the split-off lot would not be big or wide enough based on the average size of lots in the neighborhood.