🚆 Future Amtrak station clears big hurdle

🚆 Sale of Future Amtrak Station Gets Final Approval

• The state’s Republican-controlled legislative budget committee voted unanimously to approve the sale of the historic State Office Building at 1 West Wilson St. to a private developer, who aims to transform it into the city’s future Amtrak rail station.
• The state is selling the 11-story Art Deco building to Landmark Development for $10 million as part of its “Vision 2030” plan to sell off a quarter of state-owned property in downtown Madison.
• Amtrak recently announced that it plans to bring rail service back to Madison by 2030. The building would serve as both the train station and a mix of retail, entertainment, and office space. [ 🔒WSJ, WPR]

🧑‍🍳 Baking Supply Store Will Rise Again in Middleton

• Some sweet relief for Madison bakers: A longtime baking supply store on Madison’s far west side that is closing this month will reopen this fall in Middleton under new ownership.
• Earlier this year, the original owners of Vanilla Bean announced that high rent increases would force them to close in mid-June. But longtime customers Kate and Chuck Teasdale, who previously owned Riley Tavern, have decided to reopen the store under the same name on Hubbard Avenue in Middleton. [Cap Times]

🏳️‍🌈 Gov. Evers Raises Pride Flag Over Capitol for Last Time

• On Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers raised the LGBTQ+ pride flag over the Capitol dome in honor of Pride Month for the last time in his gubernatorial tenure.
• Evers was the first Wisconsin governor to fly the LGBTQ+ pride flag over the Capitol, which he has done every year since he took office in 2019. Evers is retiring at the end of the year.
• Republican lawmakers have objected over the years to the raising of the flag and others as divisive. But speakers at Tuesday’s ceremony said the symbol is more important than ever as the Trump administration and other governments around the world have pushed to curtail the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. [Wisconsin Examiner, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo

This bench and Art Deco lamps are outside the State Office Building on West Wilson Street, which is planned to be the site of the future Amtrak station!

🎉 Congratulations to Nancy S., Doug O., and JoAnn R. (who worked there in the ‘70s!) for being the first three people to guess right!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Where is this located? A few clues:

• It’s on the far east side
• It’s an oasis of creativity in a neighborhood that’s more industrial. (For example, this space just hosted an exhibit of movie posters from Ghana.)
• Catch the ‘Wave’ and tell me where this is!