April 26--A developer is proposing a 10-story, 150-room hotel a block from Capitol Square that would be the first major hotel on the east side of the Square and third-closest to the state Capitol.

Also, a second developer is proposing to demolish four houses for a five- and six-story apartment project on the same block of North Webster Street.

The Alexander Co. recently purchased the Pahl Tire Co. property, 202 E. Washington Ave., and intends to team with a major hotelier to develop a hotel that would mainly serve business travelers and weekend visitors, company president Joe Alexander said.

The hotel would have a pub and restaurant at the corner of East Washington and North Webster and could have parking in the city's existing Capitol Square North garage, 218 E. Mifflin St., with the city earning revenue from overnight use of the ramp, Alexander said.

The hotel, which would have a contemporary design and lots of glass, would enliven that part of the outer Square, he said.

"We think it's a perfect use for the corner," he said.

The redevelopment would continue a makeover of the city's major eastern gateway to the Capitol that includes mixed-use projects under construction or proposed for the 700 and 800 blocks of East Washington Avenue and the Union Corners site at Milwaukee Street.

"I'm really excited to have East Washington developing," said Ald. Ledell Zellers, 2nd District. "It's the gateway to our city. It's been neglected so long."

The hotel would comply with the city's new Downtown Plan and zoning code and the state's Capitol height limit, Alexander said.

Zellers said the site is a fabulous location for people visiting the city and is encouraged by the potential of using parking space in the Capitol Square North garage.

The Inn on the Park, 22 S. Carroll St., is the lone hotel on the Square. The Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton St. is within a block. The Hilton Madison Monona Terrace, 9 E. Wilson St., is two blocks away and Hyatt Place, part of the Capitol West housing and office project, is on the 300 block of West Washington Avenue.

Pahl Tire, a Downtown landmark for 76 years, intends to close next month.

Developer Fred Rouse, who is proposing to demolish four houses just north of the Pahl Tire site to build apartments, could not be reached for comment.

Zellers, who confirmed the Rouse proposal, said she wants to learn more about the project and that her major concern is that any redevelopment respect the landmark Lamp House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright at 22 N. Butler St.

"I want to make sure (the Lamp House) has some breathing space," she said.

Alexander said a hotel and apartment project would blend well on the block, similar to that combination at Capitol West on the other side of the Square.

"This is just the latest example of the breathtaking pace of Downtown development," said Ald. Mike Verveer, 4th District. "There are more coming."

Zellers and Verveer are scheduling neighborhood meetings on the proposals for mid-May. Alexander's will be discussed at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Downtown Madison Area Technical College building, 211 N. Carroll St., Room D-240. The Rouse development will be discussed at 7 p.m. May 15 at a yet-to-be determined site.

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