The city of Madison is weighing three redevelopment proposals for the former Brayton Lot, aiming to transform the underused downtown site into a dense, mixed-use hub that boosts housing supply and tax revenue.

Neutral, Brink Development and Tareen Development Partners submitted their concepts before the city’s July 9 deadline. Each proposal must meet Federal Transit Administration requirements and comply with Madison’s Tenant Selection Plan to ensure long-term affordable housing.

Neutral’s plan calls for a 531,000-square-foot mixed-use development with 414 dwelling units, offering affordable options for residents earning 30%–60% of the area median income. The project also includes 70,000 square feet of office space and a health and wellness center, the company confirmed.

Brink Development proposed two residential buildings featuring 281 owner-occupied condos, with 20% reserved for households making up to 80% of AMI.

Tareen Development Partners suggested a three-building plan. The largest, a 12-story tower fronting East Washington Avenue, would deliver 333 affordable rental units. A second structure would extend the project along Butler Street, while a third 10-story building would add 30 market-rate condos.

All developers must guarantee that affordable units for residents at 60% AMI or below will stay affordable for at least 40 years.

City staff will now evaluate whether the submissions meet the minimum requirements and score them using criteria outlined in the RFP. Officials said staff will prepare a report for the Madison Common Council and Finance Committee for review and recommendation.

The Common Council will make the final call on which project moves ahead. If approved, the city will negotiate terms with the selected developer. The chosen plan must also undergo a public approval process, including city board reviews and community input sessions, officials noted.

Brayton Lot, also known as Block 113, is a city-owned parking lot on South Butler Street. Previously, it served as a staging area during construction of Madison’s new bus rapid transit line. City leaders see its redevelopment as an opportunity to deliver much-needed housing, improve transit use, and bring new amenities downtown.

“This is a chance to add housing units, increase transit usage and bring additional amenities downtown,” city officials said.

Originally reported by Ethan Duran in The Daily Reporter.