The District 3 Dispatch | CIP approved; development updates
Four years ago this Saturday, I officially closed on my condo and became a homeowner. After moving 11 times in the 10 years leading up to that date – including four times across state lines – Move #12 kicked off what has become one of the most stable periods of my life (and gave me the opportunity to serve as your alder).
As I reflect on this milestone, I keep asking myself whether we’re doing enough to support a variety of housing opportunities for other people who also want to call Fitchburg home.
I’m often asked why new apartment buildings and neighborhoods keep popping up around the city and Dane County as a whole. “Are this many housing units – especially apartments – ACTUALLY needed?” is a common refrain. While touring one of Fitchburg’s newest apartment complexes in the Jamestown Quarry area this month, I heard loud and clear that the answer is yes. Despite only opening a few months ago, the 273-unit building is already more than 97% leased, and the developer has broken ground on an identical building next door because of demand. On that same tour, I visited a nearby senior living community that is regularly at capacity with a healthy waiting list.
There is some reason to be optimistic about the effects of this building boom. At the Dane County Regional Housing Strategy meeting earlier this summer, we were shown encouraging data that, after years of building, rental vacancy rates have left the “danger zone” and are now within a healthier range. At the same time, an increased supply and more competition have helped keep rent rates more stable across the area.
Still, there are plenty of areas that need improvement. The number of single-family homes being built continues to be below what the market needs, and those that are available continue to increase in price. New condos and owner-occupied townhomes are few and far between, with many developers unwilling or unable to build new product because of additional financial hurdles. At the same time, recent nationwide changes by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are making condo ownership even more challenging. It’s no wonder that the average age of a first-time homebuyer is now 40.
Fortunately, we have some new tools in our toolkit, and more coming soon. New state laws give us more options to replenish our affordable housing fund and to collaborate with the private sector to incentivize smaller single-family home construction. After approving our city’s updated housing plan earlier this year, we’re making progress on launching a down payment assistance program. And we just kicked off the multi-year update of our zoning code and comprehensive long-term community plan.
Over the next couple of years, we as a community will be asked to consider what our future looks like. This will inevitably involve trade-offs. Are we willing to accept more cars on the road if it means more employees and customers for our local businesses? Should we prioritize growing upward – which means higher density housing but more tax revenue per acre – or outward – which can mean larger yards while losing farmland?
Reasonable people can – and will – disagree on some of these questions. But for the sake of our would-be first-time homeowners, our empty-nesters seeking options to downsize, and those hoping to one day call our city home, I hope we choose a path that expands opportunities for more people.
Yours in service,
-Logan
What’s “Growing” On
Here’s what’s being built in Fitchburg.
Preliminary estimates from the Wisconsin Department of Administration found that Fitchburg added just over 1,000 more residents in 2025. The city’s estimated population as of January 1, 2026, is 37,220. Dane County as a whole added an estimated 10,216 more residents in 2025.
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Congratulations to the Ross family, who on July 30 broke ground on the building that will house their new UPS Store. Their new multi-retailer building at the corner of Fish Hatchery Road and Ochalla Drive represents an estimated $1.3 million in private investment in the growing Fish Hatchery corridor. Just across the street are the expanding City on a Hill Church and the future Bowman Plaza, which represent tens of millions of dollars of additional private investment. Exciting things are happening!
To help make this development possible, last month the Common Council approved a proposal to sell the Ross family a small leftover sliver of city land from building Ochalla Drive for $1, as well as a small development incentive to help bulldoze the aging building previously at this site.
The new UPS Store is scheduled to move into its new home from its current location near Rolling Pin Bake Shop in the spring.
As construction on the new building gets underway, one lane of northbound Fish Hatchery Road is scheduled to be closed through August 25.
Breaking ground on the new UPS Store location on July 30. Photo courtesy: Nick Boucher/FACTv.
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Avante Properties has begun moving dirt along Lacy Road at Central Park Place to support future development. Over the coming months, they will be extending Stanley Park Place from near The Rusty Bee to Central Park Place and building a new road connecting to Lacy Road. They will also be relocating a portion of the off-street path to make more room for stormwater management. At last update, Avante anticipated breaking ground on its next building in 2027.
Meanwhile, both the Lido Apartments and the UW Health/UnityPoint Health-Meriter/Lifepoint Health rehab hospital along East Cheryl Parkway continue taking shape.
A view of the site work being done at the corner of Lacy Road and Central Park Place on August 18.
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GiGi’s Playhouse is just about to open its doors in Fitchburg! They plan to hold a ribbon-cutting event at 11:30 a.m. on August 26.
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Working For You
Here’s how city staff and elected officials are working on your behalf to make Fitchburg a better place.
Research Park Drive has officially reopened between East Cheryl Parkway and Lacy Road (by the library)! Work was finished on Monday, August 17 (except for a little bit of remaining paint).
Looking north on Research Park Drive on Wednesday, August 19.
Speaking of Research Park Drive, a speed limit reduction pilot program is underway on the stretch south of Lacy Road by Oasis Cafe. The posted speed limit of 30 mph has been reduced to 20 mph to study the impact of changing signage but making no other traffic calming changes. Early data show average speeds in this area dropped from 21.6 mph to 20.7 mph, and the 85th percentile speeds (the speed that 85% of drivers are at or below) dropped from 26 mph to 24 mph. While the study is still ongoing, the data to me suggest that a permanently lower speed limit in this busy commercial area makes sense, since drivers were already going well under the original 30 mph limit. At this time, there aren’t any plans to expand the study to other areas or make any immediate long-term changes, but the conclusions will help the city make smarter decisions on whether and where to consider changes in the future.
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After we ended our automated license plate reader (ALPR) contract with Flock Safety earlier this year, the police department is now exploring alternative vendors and technologies. I had the opportunity to attend a demonstration of some of these tools, and I was particularly impressed by the body-worn cameras that offer real-time translation across dozens of languages. As we determine which, if any, of these tools we want to purchase, I’m committed to ensuring we have robust systems in place that provide local control over our data and balance public safety with transparency.
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Tree clearing and utility work are beginning along Fitchrona Road from Nesbitt Road to Tonto Trail. The reconstruction of Fitchrona Road is now scheduled to begin in the spring.
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Dane County has rescheduled its Rimrock Road construction project from this year to 2027. This project, which runs from McCoy Road to John Nolen Drive, will replace pavement and update other aging infrastructure.
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The new blacktop is down and the basketball hoop is up at Clayton Park. The new sidewalk from the street to the playground has also been installed.
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Council Recap
On July 28, we:
Approved the 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan, which outlines our expected infrastructure and capital projects for the next decade.
A scaled-back version of my amendment to lower the amount of money we plan to set aside each year for future equipment replacements at the new Police Services Facility was approved, which will free up $50,000 in our annual operating budget that I’d like to see used to address public safety funding needs.
My amendment to reduce the scope of the city campus remodel by $2 million failed.
On August 11, we:
Approved a budget amendment that allocates $350,000 toward future improvements at South Terravessa Park. The next step is creating specific design concepts, which would then come up for review/approval in the months ahead. If all of these steps are approved, the improvements could be installed in early 2027. This comes from fees that the developer of Terravessa paid when building the neighborhood, NOT property taxes (developers pay park fees based on the number of units they build and if they don't dedicate a certain amount of land to the city for parks). Some of this money was planned to be spent at the future Terravessa Ag park, while the rest wasn't assigned to a specific project.
Looking Ahead
The Ironman returns to Dane County on September 12 and 13, which will affect roads around the area. Parts of the Southdale, Terravessa, and Greenfield neighborhoods will be most impacted.
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Westbound McCoy Road will be closed under U.S. Highway 14 between Monday, August 24, and Wednesday, August 26, to allow for repairs to the highway bridge girders. The highway ramps will stay open. Use Lacy Road as a detour.
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Next month, the council and Plan Commission will be reviewing the latest steps for several development proposals in District 3. The most notable of these include:
A conditional use permit for The Hive along Lacy Road near Waterford Glen;
A certified survey map and rezone for the proposed townhomes and duplexes at the corner of Lacy Road and Fahey Glen near Waterford Glen;
A final plat and rezone for the proposed Syncopation neighborhood along County Highway MM; and
Get Involved
Want to help shape the city’s future growth? Apply to join the Comprehensive Plan 2050 Working Group.
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Rescheduled: The city’s recreation department is holding a free community movie night at Southdale Park on Monday, August 31, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The movie will be a surprise.
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VFW Post 1318 is holding its Walk for Warriors on the morning of Saturday, September 19, to raise awareness of the issue of veteran suicides. In 2023, roughly 18 veterans died by suicide every day. If you or someone you know are struggling, please reach out for help – you are worth it!
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The city’s fall electronics recycling and paper shredding event has been scheduled for Saturday, September 19, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the city campus.
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A public involvement meeting on the proposed bike and pedestrian underpass under County Highway MM is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on August 27 at Fire Station 3. This proposed underpass would connect the current dead-end path from Terravessa to the future Syncopation neighborhood and the Capital City State Trail. The city has received a sizeable grant to help build this connection, which is planned for construction next year. Coordinating construction with nearby development and other projects will hopefully minimize closures or delays.
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Night markets have arrived at The Rusty Bee Lounge! Mark your calendars for the following dates:
August 27
September 24
October 22
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Fitchburg Farmers’ Market at Agora has returned for the season! Check it out from 3-6 p.m. weekly!
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Mark your calendar for the upcoming District 3 Listening Session with me, Mayor Arata-Fratta, and Alder Dantzler, Jr.
October 29, 2026
6-8 p.m.
Fire Station 3, 2950 S. Syene Rd.
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Fitchburg Chamber Events Calendar
ICYMI
Have you seen the newest public art display in the city? A new Brewers-themed mural called “Seventh Inning Stretch” was unveiled on August 17 at McKee Farms Park. You can find it near the tennis courts.
