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The changing face of State Street: How will development transform Madison’s most iconic street?

Oliv Madison, a student housing development being constructed on the 300 block of State Street by Chicago-based Core Spaces … forced several local businesses to move or close … Another proposal floated for the 400 block has displaced other local businesses for a possible restaurant and apartments, and could demolish architecture dating to the 1890s … More changes are in the works. Next year begins construction of shelters for bus rapid transit, a longtime goal of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. Larger buses can shuttle more people to the city’s downtown but critics worry about the effect they will have on the pedestrian-friendly street. All of these changes have some wondering what the future of State Street will be, and how its lively culture and history will endure.