The Sconi

Construction projects across Madison are increasing funding due to rising costs. This includes the city's investment in improvements for the Village on the Park mall.

Madison.com reported that city officials earmarked $16.2 million for the South Side project, an increase of about $5 million.

City officials previously signed off on steering upwards of $11 million from a tax incremental financing district for redevelopment activities in the vicinity of the mall, including supporting the creation of the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub for $25.5 million, which is now under construction, and a $9.1 million parking garage at the mall.

Of the additional $5 million added for the Village of the Mall project, almost half of the increase is due to stormwater issues, which were foreseen with the high water table in the area. The revised project also accounts for additions of $1.4 million for a cost overrun for the parking structure, $1 million to demolish a building north of the mall and create the new parking lot, and $200,000 for public art

“It’s not at all unusual for amendments like this to occur,” Tag Evers, a Community Development Authority board member and alderman whose district is near the site, said. “It was anticipated that stormwater costs could go up once we got in the ground due to the high water table. But most of this can be attributed to inflation — rising material and labor costs — which is burdening construction projects all over the city.”

The CDA acquired the site of the Village on the Park mall nearly 20 years ago as part of an overall plan to turn it into a multi-purpose space. In addition to accepting funding for the project, they have also sold off part of it to the city of Madison to use for the Urban League and the Madison Public Library.