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What is the Cost?

The decision we make today about Academy School will define our town for years to come. The fate of Academy School is really a question of town planning. This building sits in the heart of our town—do we sell the center of our town to outside developers? Is it our strategic plan for the town to create housing that will be out of reach for Madison residents, but fills the pockets of outsiders? What will the people of Madison get from the deal? What is the cost to our town, to our way of life?

Consider the question from a town planning perspective. What do we want the heart of our town to be? A luxury residential complex may be appealing, but does it benefit the town as a whole? As an alternative, we could create a center of town for all the people of the town, a space where we gather socially, do business, and build our community. We could bring back the town offices to the center of town and use the gym for a community center where our young can gather. We could bring back the kindergarten center back to Island Avenue and sell the town campus to the developers where they can create a lovely neighborhood close to the highway and on the river. We could revitalize our center of town for the people—all the people of Madison, not outside developers.

The argument will always be financial costs and gains, but be cautious of things that sparkle, sometimes they are just empty tin pie plates.

Barb Baycroft

Madison