| 9/14/2026 | 0 |
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
| ADOPTED
Minutes note: Staff planner Andrew Stern presented the National Register nomination for the Milwaukee County Department of Welfare building.
The building was originally constructed for Schuster’s department store in 1910, with a major addition in 1923 designed by architects Brust and Philipp.
Schuster’s closed the store in 1961, and the Milwaukee County Department of Welfare moved into the building in 1963 due to overcrowding at the county courthouse.
The nomination is being submitted under Criterion A for its significance in social history, politics, and government, rather than for its architectural merits.
The designated period of significance for the building spans from 1963 to 1986, reflecting the era it served as a hub for welfare services.
The site is historically important for its association with the growth of welfare programs and the civil rights movement in Milwaukee, particularly its proximity to residents displaced from Bronzeville by urban renewal and highway projects.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the building was a focal point for social tension, hosting numerous protests and sit-ins staged by citizens seeking cash assistance and challenging discriminatory eligibility requirements.
Investigative journalism in the 1970s revealed internal mismanagement and illegal practices within the department, including staff ineptitude and the illegal sale of food stamp benefits.
These controversies led to the 1974 calls for welfare reform and state mandated audits for counties with populations over 100,000.
The period of significance ends in 1986, coinciding with major federal and state policy shifts and a $9.3 million cut in federal funding that occurred in 1983.
The building is currently undergoing a renovation led by Gorman and Company to convert the space into workforce and affordable housing.
Most of the building's current interior finishes date back to a 1986 renovation, the only surviving elements from the Schuster’s era are the escalators and specific sections of the basement flooring.
Staff recommended supporting the National Register nomination based on the building's political and governmental history.
Criterion A: Politics/Gorvernment.
| Pass | 5:0 |
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