about the project
The Community Development Authority (CDA) of the City of Madison manages Brittingham, Gay Braxton, Karabis Apartments and Parkside Towers and Townhouses, collectively known as the CDA Triangle Sites.
Located on the west side of Madison's isthmus and adjacent to Brittingham Bay, the Triangle is bound by Regent Street on the north, South Park Street on the west, and West Washington Avenue on the southeast. The 10-acre CDA property shares The Triangle with the Bayview Foundation and two medical buildings and is home to approximately 355 residents.
learning from the past, planning for the future
Urban renewal of the area known today as The Triangle began in the early 1960s, eventually relocating 233 residential and 33 commercial and industrial buildings and over 1,150 residents. The resulting displacement of the community was highly contentious between residents, businesses and governmental entities. Several land use plans were proposed for the area. Eventually, the majority of the area was reserved for affordable housing, and two parcels were sold for medical uses.
The existing CDA properties in the Triangle were constructed between 1965 and 1978. While well maintained over the decades, all of the Triangle buildings have begun to deteriorate and face significant costs to renovate to modern standards. The current buildings underutilize their urban location, which presents an opportunity to reimagine the site into a thriving urban, sustainable community that fosters health, wellness and connections among residents and the larger community.
the triangle today
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![Exterior of Gay Braxton Apartments. A single story brown brick building with a wooden sign in the foreground.]()
Gay Braxton Apartments | 1965
Currently comprised of 60 apartment homes.
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![Exterior of Brittingham Apartments, a multi-story red brick apartment building. Wooden sign in the foreground.]()
Brittingham Apartments | 1976
Currently comprised of 163 apartment homes.
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![Exterior of Karabis Apartments, a single story, red-brick apartment building with exterior resident patios.]()
Karabis Apartments | 1977
Currently comprised of 20 apartment homes.
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![Exterior entrance to Parkside Towers Apartments, a brown brick apartment building.]()
Parkside Towers | 1978
Currently comprised of 83 apartment homes.
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![Exterior of Parkside Townhomes, two-story townhome apartments.]()
Parkside Townhomes | 1978
Currently comprised of 12 apartment homes.
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![Exterior of Asian Midway Grocery Store, a red-brick building with yellow signange.]()
Asian Midway Grocery Store | 1978
Currently the site of a locally owned grocery store.
the CDA selects a development partner
In June of 2021, the CDA released a request for qualifications (RFQ) seeking a partner for the redevelopment of all the Triangle sites over the course of 5-10 years. After reviewing multiple submissions, the CDA partnered with a local team for the redevelopment.
The redevelopment project has been dubbed Taking Shape, Our Triangle. The Taking Shape team is comprised of an architecture firm, financial and engagement consultants, builders, landscape architects and mechanical systems engineers. New Year Investments is partnering with the CDA as the lead developer for the project.
harnessing community voice
Through open houses, a CDA resident survey, building by building focus groups, a community-wide survey, CDA resident workshops and stakeholder interviews, hundreds of individuals and more than a dozen organizations contributed their expertise and shared their lived experience to the Taking Shape Development Plan.
“I believe the best is yet to come.”
- Brittingham Apartments Resident
At the core of the Taking Shape Development Plan is the belief that a strong sense of place and community fosters not only personal well-being but also collective progress. The Taking Shape Team has invested significant effort in creating a plan for spaces and opportunities for residents to live healthier lives that meet their needs and allow them to connect, interact and forge lasting relationships. From vibrant community spaces, to calming green areas, our plan encourages a spirit of togetherness and a shared sense of belonging.
human-centric design
As we take the next steps on this exciting journey, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of our neighborhood. Together, let us build a place that transcends the boundaries of a mere residential area and becomes a vibrant, and cherished community. By embracing the Taking Shape plan, we are not only creating a remarkable place to live but also laying the foundation for a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future.