Madison is buying part of an old farm with the goal of building more housing

The city of Madison is purchasing part of an old farm site with the goal of turning the land into housing. 

Madison’s Common Council recently OK’d an agreement authorizing the city to spend $4.3 million to acquire four parcels of land, totaling about three acres from what was once known as the Voit family farm. The deal included a 90-day due-diligence period, specifying that the final sale is contingent on inspections and any necessary environmental clean-up to be completed by the seller....

...During that meeting, Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford said the project would increase housing supply in an area where it’s sorely needed.

“(This is) in an area that has high rents and has very little affordable housing available,” said Martinez-Rutherford, whose district includes the former Voit farm property.

Madison has seen some of the steepest population growth in Wisconsin, and many residents say they struggle to find housing they can afford. To ease the shortage, Madison city officials have set a goal of adding 15,000 new homes to the city’s supply by 2030.