🏘️ Mayor wants to increase housing on BRT routes

🏘️ More Homes Could Be Allowed Near Public Transit

• Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway unveiled a new round of housing initiatives this week that include limiting car dealerships and some drive-thru businesses along Bus Rapid Transit routes and allowing more housing units along those routes.
• The proposals, part of the Housing Forward initiative, would allow the creation of “cottage courts” – up to eight small detached homes around a single courtyard. It would also limit what can be built along the Transit-Oriented Development overlay zoning district (AKA TOD), encouraging more housing units and discouraging “car-centric” uses.
• The Madison City Council will consider the proposals on Nov. 5. [City of Madison]

🏫 UW-Madison Laying Off Employees in Face of Trump Cuts

• At least 31 employees at UW-Madison will be laid off and another 156 positions will remain unfilled, as the university cuts costs in the face of federal funding uncertainty.
• UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin tasked department heads in June with cutting at least 5% out of their budgets. According to emails obtained by the Cap Times, schools and colleges are planning a variety of changes to meet that target, including layoffs, cutting back on expenses, shortening library hours, and seeking other sources of funding. [Cap Times, WPR]

🏊 New City Position May Address Violence at Goodman Pool

• After seeing an uptick in violent behavior at Goodman Pool last summer, the city may create a new position focused on violence prevention at the public pool and at city parks.
• The new program coordinator, whose salary was included as an amendment to the proposed 2026 budget, would work with Public Health Madison & Dane County to find solutions before the pool season starts. Last summer, pool officials raised the age for unattended children to go to the pool after repeated police calls to the pool. [ 🔒WSJ, WMTV]

Welcome to our list of the best new restaurants and bars opening in and around Madison! We’ll update this list each month. If we’ve missed a new spot you think we should feature, let us know!

Plus, on the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to Ryan Huber, co-owner of Oz by Oz, the innovative craft cocktail bar on King Street that’s celebrating “Oztober” with new creations and events.

Canter Inn (New Glarus)

Chefs Samantha Kincaid and Jon Nodler, who met on the Madison restaurant scene in the 2010s before earning critical acclaim for their Philadelphia restaurant Cadence, are back in Wisconsin to start this restaurant (and future B&B) that celebrates New Glarus’ Swiss heritage for both locals and visitors.

Blackjack Ramen (Downtown)

Getting past Hump Day has never been easier or tastier with RED Sushi’s new Wednesdays-only ramen popup, where you can pair your tonkotsu with a sake-spiked lychee slushie.

Mi Barrio (Johnson Street)

Bad news: El Rancho Breakfast & Tacos on Johnson Street closed. Good news: This new Mexican restaurant immediately took over the space, serving up tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more.

Stella’s Bakery & Cafe (Regent Street)

The official grand opening is Nov. 1 and the first 100 customers in the door get a free Hot & Spicy Cheesebread mini. But you don’t have to wait, Stella’s new spot on Regent Street has already had its soft opening, selling its baked goods along with coffee, wine and beer.