Madison up, Overture Center down January 8, 2009 3:00 PM × UP: Madison. Our fair city ranks No. 1 on DOWN: Overture Center. The nonprofit Overture Development Corp., which owns the downtown arts center, has proposed a complex deal in which it would give the building to the city of Madison for $1. The deal would retire about $28 million in debt and allow the Overture to stop paying $500,000 a year to the city in lieu of taxes. Not doing so could force the building into foreclosure. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz has said he's not interested. Back to Search Results