Upon arriving to the University of Wisconsin for the first time four years ago, the thing I appreciated most was the charming nature of the city. In the years since my arrival, our campus and the surrounding area has decayed into a monstrosity with the likeness of a strip mall. Most recently, the Acacia fraternity on Langdon Street plans to rebuild itself into yet another ugly apartment building. The charm that is Madison is being lost to commercialization.

Madison is losing that “college town” feel every time another Lucky, Aberdeen or Embassy is allowed to be built. Acacia’s plan for the next overgrown apartment complex is just our campus’ newest plastic surgery failure. Madison is edging dangerously closer to looking like the King of Pop, and just like Mr. Jackson’s career, the only important thing seems to be the amount of money that can be made off it all. At some point it needs to end. Does anyone really want Langdon to look like University?

Imagine walking to the lake on a warm night in August and instead of appreciating the old-time appeal of the fraternities and sororities that date back to the early 1900s, you find yourself gazing at the brand-new Vesta Apartments — how swanky. The ugly irony of the situation is the best part.

The Acacia fraternity, in partnership with the Alexander Co., would be allowed to use state and federal tax credits to lessen the tax burden of the $6.5 million project. The Acacia house was built in 1927 and therefore qualifies for tax credits for the preservation and renovation of historic buildings. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but once you add two additional stories and install stainless steel appliances, there’s not much being preserved. The only real preservation occurring is in the pocketbooks of the owners so as not lose an investment.

If the city council allows for developers to infiltrate Langdon, the face of campus is going to continue to change in favor of commercialization. The plan is being presented to the public as if it is beneficial to everyone. According to the developers, the building is simply in need of repairs and the best way to accomplish that is to give the neighborhood a black eye, cheat taxes and make some profits all at the same time.

Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. is voicing direct opposition to the proposal for good reason. According to Ledell Zellers, the president of CNI, the new building would be too large for the size of the lot and would disturb the charm of the street as a whole. Langdon Street is one of the last remaining areas around campus that maintains a classic appeal.

Ignorant greed will prove to be the downfall of the area. Our campus already has numerous housing options in the flooded and beaten housing market, an additional option will do nothing to benefit the community in the long run. Developers seem to be under the notion that every student is looking to live in a high rise or luxury apartment complex. Personally, I choose to avoid these housing options — I don’t like living like a small animal in an overpriced cage.

Take the apartments at Lucky for example. The exorbitant price tag for a closet marketed as an apartment is a trend that is only going to grow if the city council allows for more commercialized apartment complexes to be built. The focus has, in recent time, been on the needs of developers and not on the needs of the residents living in the area. These changes to our campus need to be stopped before we’re all paying $1000 for a bedroom.

Ben Patterson ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in political science.