Wausau planning commission approves landmarking of Eastgate Hall's stone wing

The Planning Commission of the City of Wausau voted Sept. 16 to recommend landmarking only the stone wing of Eastgate Hall in Marathon Park, rather than the entire building, sending the recommendation to City Council for final consideration.

The decision matters because the stone wing is largely unchanged since its construction and is tied to early federal youth programs, while the adjoining white youth building has undergone multiple renovations, planning and parks staff told the commission.

Polly, Parks director, told the commission that the facility consists of “two parts”: “the main youth building, which is the white building, that has gone through renovations, two times now for sure in the last 25 years,” and “the stone wing, that has not changed.” She also noted that “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke there in 1967,” and that photos in the packet show him in both areas. Jamie, a member of the Historic Preservation Commission, explained that the Historic Preservation Commission found historic significance for the whole building at its public hearing but that other local landmarks sometimes designate only original sections of a structure.

Brad, city planning staff, said the Westside master plan’s recommended upgrades to Eastgate Hall were completed about a year ago, and that the planning commission’s criteria focus on how a designation affects plans and public health, safety and welfare. Commissioners discussed options: endorse the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation for the entire building, recommend only the stone wing (as Parks and a county committee suggested), or recommend no landmarking and leave the final determination to City Council.

Commissioner Watson moved to amend the original motion to designate only the stone wing; Commissioner Balkan seconded. The amendment carried with one no vote. The main motion as amended—to landmark the stone wing only—also passed with one no vote. Commissioners did not identify the dissenting member by name in the recorded remarks. The commission chair noted the item will proceed to City Council for final action.

Discussion versus decision: commissioners debated the scope and practical implications of partial designation—whether a landmark that covers part of an attached structure creates review obligations for adjacent work—but the commission’s action was a formal vote to recommend landmarking the stone wing only. The commission record shows both the Historic Preservation Commission and Parks/County committees weighed in with differing recommendations; City Council is the final decisionmaker under the city’s ordinance.

Background and next steps: staff told commissioners that if Council changes or returns the recommendation it could be amended again; the commission also noted ordinance language that connected renovations on the same property to review if they affect a landmark. The planning commission packet included photos and a historic report; Council will receive the planning commission’s amended recommendation for its consideration.

The meeting included other agenda items; the Eastgate Hall recommendation was item 2 on the Sept. 16 agenda and will be placed on the Council docket for a future meeting.