City of Milwaukee - File #: 181570

• File #: 181570
• Version: 1
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Placed On File
• File created: 4/16/2019
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• Final action: 5/7/2019
• Title: Substitute resolution relating to the Permanent Historic Designation of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and grounds at 929 North Water Street in the 4th Ald. District
• Sponsors: THE CHAIR
• Indexes: HISTORIC BUILDINGS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
5/7/2019	1	COMMON COUNCIL	HELD IN COUNCIL	Fail	7:8
5/7/2019	1	COMMON COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Fail	4:11
5/7/2019	1	COMMON COUNCIL	PLACED ON FILE	Pass	15:0
4/30/2019	1	ZONING, NEIGHBORHOODS & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION; Minutes note: Meeting recessed at 10:24 a.m. Meeting reconvened at 10:29 a.m. Individuals appearing: Carlen Hatala, Historic Preservation Commission Tim Askin, Historic Preservation Commission Paul Mathews, Marcus Performing Arts Center Jim Shields, HGA Architects Pat Kressin, Graef Peter Meyer, Raycroft Meyer Landscape Architecture Heidi Lofy, Marcus Performing Arts Center Jennifer Current, nominator Mark Debrauske, nominator Scott Craver, The Cultural Landscape Foundation Individuals from the public testifying in opposition: Lynn Molitor Brian Peters, Independence First Julie Alexander, Independence First Jerry Becker, Marcus Center Monica Murphy, Disability Right Wisconsin Janan Najeeb, Islamic Society of Milwaukee David Marcus, Marcus Center Individuals from the public testifying in support: Patti Keating Kahn, Historic Preservation Commissioner Steven Shea, Milwaukee County Board of Supervisor Mike Hineberg George Wagner Bernadette Karanja Michael Trokan Chris Miracle, WI Charter of American Society of Landscape Architects L. Spike Bandy Arijit Sen Cheryl Ray Dawn McCarthy, Milwaukee Preservation Alliance	Fail	2:3
4/30/2019	1	ZONING, NEIGHBORHOODS & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE	Pass	5:0
4/23/2019	1	ZONING, NEIGHBORHOODS & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/23/2019	1	ZONING, NEIGHBORHOODS & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/23/2019	1	ZONING, NEIGHBORHOODS & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/23/2019	1	ZONING, NEIGHBORHOODS & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/1/2019	0	HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION	RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AND ASSIGNED; Minutes note: This matter was taken up first on the agenda. Ms. Hatala said the original proposal was to have three buildings (veterans building, art museum and a performing arts building) and the project dates back to 1944 and was organized by several women's organizations following World War II. The impetutus was to honor the fallen dead and create an arts venue. This was designed as a civic project with no profit motive. Insufficient funds were raised to cover three buildings, so Mayor Maier was a proponent of constructing the performing arts center where it is today as many buildings in the area were removed as part of urban renewal. Many political and private factions were involved in the decision, but the city was adamant about the current site. Harry Weese was selected as the architect by a board created by the War Memorial Board, who considered 24 individuals. The building has stylized colunnades, which create a sense of light and shadow, protusion and recession with symmetry on three sides of the building, and is in the brutalism style. In the 1960s, any city of any size wanted to have a performing arts center and construction began in June 1966. Final construction costs totaled $12 million. There was one protest as it was seen as serving the wealthy, rather than the poor and the minority,as it was promoted as a civic and community asset. The building changes include: LED lights to illuminate the building, the replacement of the original stone, and the addition of glass on the front lobby. The second part of the design is the grove of trees to mirror the building. The horse chestnut trees have now matured. The fountain is to anchor the corner and was designed by Harry Weese. The trees were designed by Dan Kiley, a major founder in the modernist movement in parks. The Green Tree Garden Club paid for the 75 trees. The landscaping was generally done with donated funds. The trees provide movement to the solid building. The designation includes the building and the grounds. There is also a boat landing and walkway along the river. The building cannot be separated from the grounds and the site. Staff recommends designation based upon e-1, e-5, e-6 and e-9. A number of other buildings in the city have been altered since being constructed, but they were still deemed worthy of historic designation in order to preserve them. Ald. Bauman moved, seconded by Ms. Pieper Eisenbrown, to open the public hearing. There were no objections. The Chair noted there were 12 individuals who signed in as in favor, but who did not wish to speak. Supporters: Jennifer Current - 1843 N. 2nd St. - nominator - the building and trees were designed to mirror each other. The Tuileries Garden in France was able to replace trees over several hundred years and preserve the design intent. The trees are a cultural treasure and can exist with a state-of-the-art performing arts center. Mark Debrauske - 2955 S. Wentworth Ave. - nominator - The building and trees are an innovative and collaborative design done by world-class designers. The tree design is very specific; the trees can be cut down, but must be replaced. Larry Spike Bandy - 3957 N. 62nd St. - Milwaukee doesn't really preserve its commercial architecture. Kiley's landscapes harken back to the time when people strolled through landscapes just for the purpose of strolling. The trees in France have been replaced several times, but they retain the same design. This site will be a great benefit to our children and our grandchildren. George Wagner - 3300 N. Newhall St. - agrees with the first 3 speakers, but wanted to add that chairs should be in the grove replacing the benches Mary Webster Levitt - lives in Mequon - Milwaukee has many new downtown residents and we cannot eliminate this wonderful grove of trees. It is charming and a pocket park. Whitney Gould - 2633 N. Stowell Ave. - former architecture critic at the Journal Sentinel, agrees with the previous speakers and she likes the contrast of the building and the grounds. She believes the trees can be retained and the Marcus Center can still be updated. We should value our sense of history and sense of place. Joyce Keene - 1909 N. 2nd St. - she lives in Brewers Hill and the city did eventually recognize that historic homes had to be preserved to give a neighborhood character and make it a special place. She wants the Marcus Center to be successful. The tree design is timeless. Dawn McCarthy - Milwaukee Preservation Alliance - the building continues to be important despite the updates as do the trees. The alterations can be reversed and none of them disqualify this building for designation. Opponents: The Chair noted that 11 individuals signed in as opposed, but did not wish to speak. Jim Shields - architect - argues that the building has to meet the 6 criteria listed under "e" solely and this building does not due to the modifications over the years. The open colunnades were moved and the Italian Travertine stone was removed. The stone was showing signs of failure within 20 years. The Peck pavilion he sees as being non-contributing to the building and site and the same for the cement benches added in 1989. In 1994, a beige limestone was used to clad the building. He is concerned that replacing the exterior cladding basically makes this building no longer able to be designated as well as the closed colunnades and the replacement of the front colunnade with a glass entryway. Vogel Hall and the kids' theatre changed the look of the building on the west side. John Vogel - doctorate in American history and historic consultant. The PAC trees are not listed in a book detailing the works of Dan Kiley and the same is for the PAC architecture of Harry Weese. The Marcus Center is also not cited in the "Atlas of Brutalist Architecture". The building is no longer a Harry Weese building and should not be designated by the HPC. Shania Ali - TruSkool - this is an arts center intended to embrace the future and not be a monument to the past. It brings people together from all walks of life. The grove is nice to walk through, but not an inviting place to stay for a number of reasons. Brian Peters - works at Indepence First - 540 S. 1st St. - here to talk about the accessibility of the building itself and the building does has accessibility problems. He is not opposed to preserving the history of the building, but we need better access. Shanon Najique - Islamic Resource Center - they have used the Marcus Center for many programs over the years and she has never thought of the building as being anything more than conducive to the arts. It does not appear to be historic. The grove is not accessible to children in wheelchairs; wheelchairs easily tip over in gravel and the trees are a hindrance. Ms. Hatala did mention that Harry Weese won an award in 1970, prior to any of the alternations. Ald. Bauman moved, seconded by Ms. Keating Kahn, to close the public hearing. There were no objections. Designation based on e-1, e-5, e-6 and e-9	Pass	4:1
1/24/2019	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

Number

181570

Version

SUBSTITUTE 1

Reference

Sponsor

THE CHAIR

Title

Substitute resolution relating to the Permanent Historic Designation of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and grounds at 929 North Water Street in the 4th Ald. District

Analysis

This resolution grants permanent historic designation of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and grounds at 929 North Water Street in the 4th Ald. District

...Body

Whereas, The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Ordinance, s. 320-21 of the Code of Ordinances, provides that historic sites, structures and districts may be designated by the Common Council upon the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission; and

Whereas, The Historic Preservation Commission, at its April 1, 2019 meeting, by a vote of four (4) ayes, one (1) no and one (1) excused, recommended historic designation of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and grounds at 929 North Water Street; and

Whereas, This building and site fulfills the following criterion set forth in s. 320-21-3:

e-1.  Its exemplification and development of the cultural, economic, social or historic heritage of the city, state of Wisconsin or the United States.

e-5.  Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or specimen.

e-6.  Its identification as the work of an artist, architect, craftsman or master builder whose individual works have influenced the development of the city.

e-9.                     Its unique location as a singular physical characteristic which represents an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the city.

; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and grounds at 929 North Water Street further described as:

PLAT OF MILWAUKEE IN SECS (28-29-33)-7-22 PART (BLOCKS 48-49-53-VAC STRS & ALLEY & LOTS 1 TO 5 INCL FISCHEL'S SUBD) LYING BETW E STATE ST-E KILBOURN-MILWAUKEE RIVER & N WATER ST BID #21

be designated as a Milwaukee historic site. The Preservation Guidelines pursuant to the Historic Designation Study Report, a copy of which is attached to this file, shall apply to this site and is adopted by the Common Council as part of this file.

Requestor

Drafter

LME

4/5/19