The Plan
The San Damiano Project Steering Committee was established in August 2021 by the Monona City Council to guide the future of the historic San Damiano property. Over the course of the next several years, the committee engaged more than 6,000 community members who actively participated in shaping a shared vision for the space. This collaborative effort culminated in the approval of the San Damiano Master Plan in March of 2024, followed by a major milestone on April 20, 2026, when the Monona City Council unanimously approved the Phase I Conceptual Development Plan, advancing the project from vision to action.
The Master Plan serves as a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the property, with a focus on passive recreation, sustainable design, and preserving the natural beauty of the landscape. At its core is a commitment to maintaining an environment that remains largely undeveloped, yet thoughtfully enhanced for public use and enjoyment, balancing conservation with meaningful community access.
Phase I represents a pivotal step in activating the site for daily use while building momentum for future development. Key elements include improvements to parking and site access to remove long-standing barriers, the creation of a signature waterfront experience with pier access, patio space, and safe lake entry points, and the introduction of play and multi-generational gathering areas designed to encourage longer visits and repeat use. Together, these investments will begin to establish the site as a true destination on Lake Monona.
A significant decision within this phase is the adaptive reuse of the historic Frank Allis House. The building will be rehabilitated to support restrooms and food and beverage operations, creating a welcoming hub for visitors while generating sustainable revenue to support ongoing operations and stewardship of the site.
Sustainability remains a cornerstone of the project, with continued plans for advanced stormwater management, restoration of natural landscapes such as prairies and meadows, and thoughtful environmental design. As the project moves into implementation, partnerships, fundraising, and revenue-generating strategies will be critical to ensuring long-term viability. This next phase represents not only physical transformation, but the creation of a sustainable, community-centered place that will serve Monona for generations to come.
The Purchase by Monona
In early 2020, the St. Norbert Abbey announced its intention to sell San Damiano for private development. Shortly thereafter, Monona Mayor Mary O’Connor (since retired), with approval from the Monona City Council, negotiated an agreement with the Abbey to explore the community’s interest in conserving the property as a public asset.
Drawing upon decades of relevant professional experience, Alder Nancy Moore (now current Mayor of Monona) spearheaded the effort to strategically explore the conservation of the property and its use as a public asset. A small steering committee was formed to manage negotiations with the Norbertines, and the City Council commissioned a Capital Campaign Feasibility Study to determine the community’s interest in, and philanthropic capacity for, a project of this magnitude and importance.
Interest was strong. As Chris Homburg said in his response to the study:
“The opportunity for public access to the lake and the preservation of the property is as large of an opportunity as I can see us ever having. For generations! This public space would be cherished for generations to come.”
Another significant finding of the Feasibility Study was the revelation that San Damiano is widely viewed as more than just a City of Monona resource. With the City of Madison immediately to the north and east, and amidst the ongoing development of Madison’s East Side, the property most often was articulated by Study respondents as a Lake Monona (rather than City of Monona) destination.
Armed with the Feasibility Study findings in late 2020, the City successfully negotiated for, and unanimously approved, the purchase of the property for $8.6M, well below its appraised fair market value.
Later, in December of 2020, the Dane County Board of Supervisors – in support of an initiative led by Supervisor and Monona resident Sarah Smith – demonstrated a similar commitment to this extraordinary site, with a capital appropriation of $2M towards the purchase. The sale of the property was finalized in June of 2021.
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