The center plans to preserve and restore the original sections of the 98-year-old building, but recent additions to the Brass Works building will be torn down to make way for a new two-story addition on the south and west sides of the building.

But the new project will not include a parking lot, forcing the project to seek a parking reduction from the 80 spaces required by the city.

The commission approved the reduction because GCC plans to rely on alternate modes of transportation and overflow parking agreements.

City staff documents noted that the project is adjacent to the Capital City Bike Trail and a Madison Metro bus stop is just 0.2 miles away at the intersection of Atwood Avenue and Elmside Boulevard.

But the GCC also hosts large events, like El Dia de Los Ninos celebration that took place at the center last Saturday. The event brought over 1,000 people to the center, Steinhoff said.

“There’s no doubt that this is a denser urban area and parking, at certain times of the year when we have bigger events, is challenging,” Steinhoff said.