The District 3 Dispatch | Your Housing Thoughts, Still Time For Summer Events
The heart of summer is here, and that means it’s the peak season for community events. So much of what makes our community special is on full display this time of year – events like Concerts at McKee, the Agora Art Fair, and the Fitchburg Farmers Market bring people of all backgrounds together for uniquely Fitchburg experiences.
At the same time, neighborhood picnics, ice cream socials, and happy hours help neighbors get to know each other and build the bonds that strengthen our community. I’ve had the privilege of attending several neighborhood get-togethers in the past month, and it’s truly special to see what happens when a few community members with a vision create a new space to connect with one another. Our community is truly at its best when we’re connected, engaged, and committed to working together to make it a better place.
As we move into the second half of summer, I encourage you to look for a new way to experience our city. Whether that’s going to an event you’ve never attended before, taking the kids to a different city park, or trying a new restaurant in town, Fitchburg has so much to offer. Now is a great time to look around and take it all in.
Yours in service,
-Logan
What’s “Growing” On
Here’s what’s being built in Fitchburg.
Plans for the proposed UW Health/UnityPoint Health - Meriter/Lifepoint rehab hospital in Uptown continue moving through the city approval process, with the Plan Commission granting Architectural Design Review approval on July 15. The proposal calls for building a 58,000-square-foot, 40-bed rehab hospital at the corner of East Cheryl Parkway and Greenmarket Place.
I’m eager to see this project move forward. I truly believe it will be a catalyst for the Uptown neighborhood by bringing more people and jobs to the area. And I’m optimistic that once they break ground, other businesses and community amenities will follow.GiGi’s Playhouse Madison, an organization dedicated to serving those with Down syndrome and their families, has kicked off a capital campaign to build its forever home here in Fitchburg. The new building will be located at 2393 Botanical Drive, just east of the intersection of South Syene and Lacy roads. According to the group’s website, they have already raised more than half of their $4 million goal. Read more from Channel 3000.
A rendering of the proposed UW Health/UnityPoint Health - Meriter/Lifepoint rehab hospital in Uptown.
Working For You
Here’s how city staff and elected officials are working on your behalf to make Fitchburg a better place.
A few notes from our June 24 Common Council meeting:
By a 4-3 vote, the Council approved renewing the liquor license of Monkeyshines Bar and Grill with numerous conditions, including that the bar close by no later than 11 p.m. each night. Monkeyshines has had a significant number of police calls in recent years, including a homicide earlier this year and several other violent incidents. It is currently closed and undergoing a rebranding and renovation. While I am optimistic that the changes will improve public safety, I ultimately voted to pursue revoking the license for several reasons, including that the bar was already in violation of multiple conditions of its current license on the night of the homicide. Read more from the Fitchburg Star.
We approved the purchase of pedestrian lights for Phase II in the Plat of Fourth Addition to Terravessa. The developer is required to pay the city back, but buying the lights ourselves means the city gets the lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
We also approved a cost-sharing agreement between the city and Dane County to repair the turn lanes on Fish Hatchery Road at Cheryl Parkway and Lacy Road.
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On June 25, three alders (myself, Gabriella Gerhardt, and Bill Jetzer), Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, and Fitchburg’s housing coordinator Loreen Gage attended the first annual Dane County Regional Housing Strategy Meeting. This meeting brought people from all over the county together to assess where we are in meeting our region’s housing needs. Since the challenges we face don’t stop at city boundaries, it’s crucial that we all work together on solutions.
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On July 1, several city staff members and elected officials, including yours truly, toured several recently completed housing developments on the east side of Fitchburg. Combined, they bring hundreds more units of desperately needed housing to the area – and you can tell by how quickly they filled up!
(Left to right) Loreen Gage, Alder Logan Reigstad, Alder Bill Jetzer, Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, and Alder Gabriella Gerhardt at the Dane County Regional Housing Strategy Meeting.
Get Involved
Upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and ways you can help make our city a better place
We want to hear from you! The city is updating our housing plan, and we want your thoughts on what’s working and what we can do to make improvements. Fill out this short survey (English) (Español) to weigh in.
In addition, consider attending a senior-oriented housing focus group at the Fitchburg Senior Center on July 21 from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Redevelopment Resources is hosting the event to talk about housing issues facing our senior community members.
Also, take a few minutes to share your thoughts on the city’s Strategic Urban Forestry Management Plan. A survey (English) (Español) is open through August 15.
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Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Concerts at McKee will be July 21 and August 18 at McKee Farms Park
The Four Winds Farm Food Truck Festival is being held August 2 at Four Winds Farm
The 2025 Community Night Out will be August 13 at McKee Farms Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The End of Summer Resource Fair at Southdale Park, hosted by The River Food Pantry, will be August 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Agora Art Fair will be August 16 at the Agora Pavilion
In Case You Missed It
I sat down with Jeremy Crosby from FACTv to introduce myself and talk about my first few months as your alder. Catch the video on FACTV’s YouTube page. (And in case you didn’t know, our FACTv team posts DAILY video updates about what’s happening around the city. If you want to know more about Fitchburg, it’s a great place to start!)
Stay Updated
One Last Thing…
Have you ever wondered how the city reviews traffic and intersection safety complaints from residents? Senior Transportation Engineer Ross Kahler broke it down at our June Transportation and Transit Commission meeting.
