Wausau commission votes to designate Irving School as historic landmark despite owner opposition

The Wausau Historic Landmark Commission voted to recommend designating the former Irving School at 833 South Third Avenue as a Wausau historic landmark during a meeting presided over by Acting Chair Kevin Crooks.

Commissioners debated the item after the commission confirmed receipt of an email from the property owner stating the owners prefer not to have the building designated. The commission voted in favor of forwarding a recommendation for landmark designation to the plan commission; the matter would then move to the city council under the ordinance that governs local landmark nominations.

The owner’s message, read into the record by a staff member, said in part: “Good morning, Brad. After much discussion between John and myself, the owners of the old Irving School, we would prefer to not have our building designated as a historic landmark.” Kevin Crooks described a phone conversation he had with the owner and said the owners had raised questions about what designation would mean for current and future owners.

Commissioners discussed the commission’s past practice of avoiding designation over owner opposition but noted that the ordinance does not prohibit designation when an owner objects. “We typically do not landmark a property if there’s opposition from the owner,” Crooks said, “and I think that’s probably mostly true in recent years, but I don’t think that’s necessarily always been true and it certainly is not what the ordinance says.” Another commissioner said there have been occasions when the commission designated over objections without later problems.

On merits, commissioners cited the building’s role as a former school and its architectural characteristics for the period as reasons supporting designation. One commissioner identified the architect as Van Ryn and noted that the historical society’s catalog entry, included in the meeting packet, supported the nomination.

The commission’s action at this meeting is a recommendation only. Per the procedure discussed at the meeting, the designation must next be considered by the plan commission and, depending on that outcome, by the city council.

The commission did not record individual vote tallies by name during the roll call; the motion passed and was carried.

The commission scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 24; among other items, the commission plans to elect a permanent chair at that meeting.