Reinventing the Residential Gateway to a Capital City
Union Corners, Madison, WILong-abandoned Parcel Becomes Vibrant Live-work Community
After nearly two decades of attempts by the City of Madison to redevelop one of its most prominent parcels, Gorman & Company partnered with local stakeholders to create a mixed-use residential and retail complex that fits into the fabric of the surrounding area.
Once a grand crossroads for trade, the 13-acre parcel sat vacant as developers and city leaders determined how to redevelop this strategic corridor to downtown.
After a major environmental remediation, a recession, and a change of hands from a private developer back to the city, Gorman was awarded an RFP in 2012 and purchased the land for $1 as part of the city’s new land banking program.
Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future
Union Corners’ central location in the four-lakes region was previously home to the Ho-Chunk people. By the Civil War, it transformed into an embarkation point for Union soldiers.
The French Battery & Carbon Company plant (which later became Rayovac) ushered in many working-class families to the immediate surrounding neighborhoods.
Although most of the factories and businesses of prior eras have closed, they are honored in name, art installations, and architecture across the development.
To meet the needs of today’s residents and workers, Gorman met with local stakeholders including neighbors, businesses, and city leaders to address concerns and shape the project.
Completion of an $85 Million Development
A Fully Integrated Approach
Each Gorman & Company project is led by a team of industry leaders in development, architectural design, construction, and portfolio management. This allows Gorman to provide the highest level of customer care to our partners.
Market
This particular development in Wisconsin’s capital responds to the county’s call to address the regional housing crisis.
As Madison grows more dense, Union Corners’ mix of 132 affordable and 123 market-rate units helps build capacity to meet housing needs. Learn more about our Wisconsin market.
Development
As is often a concern with new developments, neighborhood associations were concerned about families being priced out of the area.
Gorman strategically structured complex financing models to provide a variety of housing opportunities, including a significant number of affordable housing units. In exchange, Gorman will receive tax credits from the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, plus the city will recoup its losses for the $1 land banking sale in 2012 through increased revenue from property taxes on the site. Learn more about our development team.
Architecture
Neighborhood residents clearly explained that the development should be compatible with the surrounding area. Care was taken when configuring the building placements such that the buildings would be visually acceptable from both high-traffic East Washington Avenue on one side and the single-family neighborhood on the other.
They were also geometrically positioned to avoid casting shadows on neighbors, and range from one to five stories. Surface parking was kept to a minimum, yet ample enough to draw in retail clients. And a portion of the parcel gives legal right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists in the spirit of European Woonerf. Learn more about our architecture team.
Construction
Gorman General Contractors, LLC has often led the way with communities and state housing authorities in establishing a strong preference to Section 3, minority-owned, women-owned, and emerging subcontractors.
Building superior relationships with strong subcontractors allows us to achieve top quality results and often finish projects ahead of schedule. Learn more about our construction team.
Portfolio Management
Our management team has continued to earn high marks from Union Corners and other local communities, partners, investors, owners, and state agencies for its professional and exemplary high standards and performance. Learn more about our portfolio management team.
Thank You to Our Union Corners Partners
Meeting the Needs of the City and the Neighborhood
Every apartment in Union Corners was full by the grand opening. “It’s a show of the need of what we’re doing,” said Ted Matkom, Wisconsin market president.
This multi-phase walkable community is now a place residents can work, live, shop and socialize in an area with low commute times and access to rapid transit bus.
Union Corners In the News
- Capital Times, ”Union Corners completes redevelopment after a decade”
- Wisconsin State Journal, “Here is the story behind the Union soldier statue on Madison’s East Side”
”We have built over $2 billion of projects in 12 states. Union Corners is the one I’m most proud of.”
Gary Gorman
Founder & Chairman of the Board
“Union Corners is a great example of a city developer and neighborhood partnership that really was successful, added a ton of value to a neighborhood that was up-and-coming but questioning where it was going.”
Ted Matkom
Wisconsin Market President
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