The Wisconsin State Capitol Building is Madison’s greatest landmark, and the only publicly accessible rooftop view of it is from Eno Vino Restaurant’s downtown location, on the top floors of the AC Hotel.

That public access view is currently threatened by the proposed development of the American Exchange Project for the block of the Capitol Square at E Washington Avenue and N. Pinckney St.  As currently proposed, the development proposed by Urban Land Interest will block the view of the Wisconsin State Capitol from the public space in the bar and restaurant of Eno Vino at the AC Hotel. In 2019 more than 166,000 members of the community and visitors to Madison were able to enjoy the public access to this incredible view of the city.

Eno Vino is a locally, minority owned business that has been serving the Madison community for 15 years and expanded to open a second location in the AC Hotel in 2017. 

The goal of this petition is to ensure that the project isn’t rushed through approvals and that the developers, City of Madison committee members, and elected officials have the time to work out a win-win project design solution. While there are many positive aspects of this proposal, the current massing of the proposed ULI project has significant impact to the public access and amenities that were inherent to the approvals that allowed the AC Hotel to be built. Without adjustments to the project, the ULI proposal will block public access to the city’s most vital urban landscape.

Supporting this petition will help open up the conversation to see better design proposals brought forward to city committees to work to get to a win-win for the development proposal and for preserving the public access and amenities that currently exist through the Eno Vino space.

The project is being considered by the Common Council on November 17th, and by the Urban Design Commission on December 2nd. If approvals are granted at these meetings, the project will proceed as currently proposed.

Sign this petition to help ask the City of Madison Common Council, Plan Commission, and Urban Design Commission, to delay rushing approvals for the project and require building the project in a way so that community members and visitors will be able to enjoy the public access to the Capitol Square landscape for years to come.

If this development proceeds as currently submitted, the stunning and unique view of the Capitol will be lost to the public, and private offices will instead be the only spaces with access to the city’s aerial capitol landscape.  We think the opportunity for the public to enjoy this birds-eye view of the Capitol shouldn’t be eliminated for private use only, and should remain an asset for all to use and enjoy for years to come.

We have also created a Facebook page where you can share pictures, stories, and memories lived at Eno Vino Downtown. Let's come together and share why this view is so special for the Madison community!