City of Milwaukee - File #: 171154

• File #: 171154
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 11/9/2017
• In control: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
• Final action: 3/5/2018
• Title: Resolution relating to a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition of the 1899 parish house addition and construction of a new tower addition consisting of event space and apartments at 833 W. Wisconsin Avenue, St. James Episcopal Church, an individually designated historic property, for J. Jeffers & Co.
• Sponsors: THE CHAIR

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
3/5/2018	0	HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION	ADOPTED; Minutes note: This was heard at the last meeting and was tied 2-2. Mr. Tim Askin went through the history of the building. The proposal is to demolish an entire wing of a national and locally registered building, which is surrounded by other historic buildings. Mr. Askin provided the demolition criteria (contained in the file) and how they relate to this building. Staff takes no position on the demolition, but if approved does have conditions it would like to have met requiring record requirements, archeological findings and proof of funding prior to the demolition. The applicant said if the demolition criteria are applied solely to the parish house it does meet criteria for demolition. The architectually distinctive wall will be preserved and retain the historic character of the courtyard. The interiors of the parish house are pretty standard 1960s design. The property was purchased in November and they are maintaining it, although it could not function as a working space without a huge capital outlay. The main church will be the primary ballroom. There will be some students in the apartments, but not necessarily all students. The stained glass windows will be retained and re-used if they are in the parish house; the church stained glass windows will remain. Ms. Keating Kahn likes the staff conditions as detailed in the report. Ms. Keating Kahn moved to approve the COA for demolition of the parish hall with the condition of re-use of the old wood trusses, stained glass windows will be accounted for and re-used and the north elevation will be retained, all 4 conditions set by HPC staff to be met and approval of the new design, seconded by Ms. Pieper Eisenbrown. Prevailed. 5-0 The architect said the new tower wall will be made of concrete to look like stone on the lower floors; the upper floors will have cement panels. The rear building will go up to 82 feet. The tower will have event space and residential space. The proposed building has no cornice. Mr. Askin would like to see more character in the service doors and he would recommend design more compatible with the gothic lines of the church. Staff does not support the finish of the masonry as proposed by the applicant. Staff has conditions if the new construction is approved, detailed in the report and PowerPoint. Staff would like to have no vents on the Wisconsin Ave. elevation. Mr. Jarosz would like to approve in theory but see more details in some things, such as good quality materials or details that are visible from the public areas. Mr. Jarosz would also like to see a study on how the top of the building can be changed in some manner. The architect can look at the stone used and ways of creating a top without doing a cornice. Ms. Clendenen-Acosta agreed with Mr. Jarosz that the building should exist more as a backdrop for the church. Mr. Jarosz moved for approval of the design with consideration for examination of the top floor in terms of the window patterning and the materials and re-think the base and entrances of the east elevation and careful coordination of the punched openings for the laundry vents and texture changes of materials as recommended by staff and work with staff on these matters, seconded by Ms. Keating Kahn. There were no objections.	Pass	5:0
12/11/2017	0	HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION	HELD IN COMMITTEE; Minutes note: Mr. Tim Askin said the church dates to 1868 and following an 1872 fire, the interior was rebuilt. The parish house was attached in 1899. The interior was re-done in 1914 and has remained unchanged since. The parish house is basically a 1962-theme office building. The proposal is to demolish an entire wing. It is surrounded by other national registered historic buildings. The parish house would be demolished and a new building constructed in its place. Staff researched other churches with attached parish halls and this building is unique in terms of its age and the fact that the parish house is attached. The applicant is proposing the building as a backdrop to the church and will not detract from it. Mr. Askin read both the demolition and addition guidelines for the building. The proposed building details are not specific enough in terms of materials being used and the building does not match the gothic lines of the church. Staff recommends holding all portions of the application and the owner work with staff for either the January or February meeting. The new building will include event space and apartments and the existing trusses will be repurposed and used in the new building. Josh Jeffers - 225 E. Michigan - owner - working on this since last May and they are using historic tax credits and see this as an adaptive re-use. Proportionally this building has a lot of asbestos so it is very cost-prohibitive. By building this new addition they will be able to subsidize the rest of the work and preserve the church, which is visible from Wisconsin Avenue, while the parish house is not. The intention is to have this building blend into the background. They are trying to get this approved prior to December 31 so it can be on the list of projects approved for tax credits. Mark Ernst - the church is no longer operating and the congregation was prepared to demolish the church. John Henessey - represents the St. James Court historic apartments, next to the church - he thinks Josh and his company are the right people to do this project and he supports demolition of the parish house to generate the investment to preserve the church. Ms. Pieper Eisenbronw moved hold pending more information, seconded by Ms. Clendenen-Acosta. There were no objections.	Pass	4:0
11/9/2017	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

Number

171154

Version

ORIGINAL

Reference

Sponsor

THE CHAIR

Title

Resolution relating to a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition of the 1899 parish house addition and construction of a new tower addition consisting of event space and apartments at 833 W. Wisconsin Avenue, St. James Episcopal Church, an individually designated historic property, for J. Jeffers & Co.

Drafter

CC-CC

Tim Askin

11/9/17