Hold on a minute.

Architect Kenton Peters, known for producing grand visions for Downtown, contends the proposed $37 million central library on the corner of Henry Street and West Washington Avenue is too costly, on the wrong site, and doesn't fully exploit the potential for a mixed-use project.

As an 11th-hour alternative, Peters is offering a $130 million project with a library, public market, housing, parking and more behind the Madison Municipal Building, across South Pinckney Street, and where the Government East parking garage now stands.

The concept includes:

• A 900-space underground parking garage.

• A first-floor public market with a glass winter garden replacing SouthPinckney Street.

• A three-story library above the market next to the Municipal Building, topped by 70 condominiums with room to build city office space.

• 200 apartments above the market on the east side of South Pinckney Street.

The proposal would create tremendous pedestrian traffic for the library and further energize the area around Monona Terrace, Peters said.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he remains fully committed to the $37 million plan from the Fiore Cos.

Peters' library proposal is similar but more ambitious than one he offered in 2005.

Then, he proposed a 120,000-square-foot central library behind the Municipal Building topped by 70 condos, with another 130 condos on the current library site on the 200 block of West Mifflin Street.

The Library Board, however, decided the new site was too distant and that the proposal had too many unanswered questions.

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