UW System defends decision to condemn Madison bar
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin System is defending its decision to condemn a Madison bar as part of a plan to build a $43 million music performance hall.
The owners of Brothers Bar & Grill on Tuesday sued the UW System Board of Regents, seeking to stop the condemnation and keep the bar they've operated for 15 years.
They claim the regents are prematurely exercising their eminent domain powers because they have not established the public purpose for the move. Their lawsuit says plans for the music building are incomplete and likely years away.
UW System spokesman David Giroux said the building is part of a long-term UW-Madison campus plan and was authorized by lawmakers in 2007. He noted the bar accepted the university's $2.1 million offer for the property before filing suit.
Oct 21, 2009 at 9:18 p.m.
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The thing is, "working on the details" meant "getting as high a price as possible" -- almost twice the value of the property. Apparently the university tired of this game. The owners had to have been advised this step would happen if they did not come to an agreement. It's apparent that other property owners have already sold to the university.
Oct 21, 2009 at 7:38 p.m.
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An "East Campus Mall" has been in the plans for many many years according to this article. It looks like this is a much bigger project than just a music hall. I also found that they have over $20 million in donor money for the music hall so far.
http://www.news.wisc.edu/10214
http://www.news.wisc.edu/9148
http://www2.fpm.wisc.edu/capbudg/CampusD...
Oct 21, 2009 at 6:34 p.m.
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anonymous...
....the university offered around $2 million...the brothers had accepted the offer in principle...they were working on the details when the board of regents retracted the offer that they had made. It wasn't the brothers that backed out of the deal
Oct 21, 2009 at 12:13 p.m.
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Pete-where does it say that taxpayers are paying for the building? How do we know it isn't being paid for by donors?
Oct 21, 2009 at 11:51 a.m.
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Pete,
The fact that it's popular doesn't have anything to do with their previous compliance to sell the property to the university.
Oct 21, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.
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my_3_kids- Go and research Eminent Domain. The governmental agency does not just come in and take the land/building and you are plain out. There is a process of negotiation prior to ED being used. And the owner is compensated at fair market value at the end of the process.
Oct 21, 2009 at 11:33 a.m.
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Pete- "It is one of the most popular bars, and the danger of entering in waiting in line in the cold to get in because of capacity limits." Just what are you trying to say this time? Very few of your posts make any sense at all...
Oct 21, 2009 at 11:07 a.m.
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They agreed to sell it already though... And for over 2 million dollars... Hm, I feel as though I know where this lawsuit is going to go.
Plus if anyone knows that building, it's probably the building in the worst condition on campus. My student org has its offices on the 2nd floor and it's hazardous even getting to the front door. There are loose steps and floorboards that are missing, the foundation is literally falling apart.
Oct 21, 2009 at 10:40 a.m.
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