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Milwaukee commission designates Central City Plaza historic district after public debate
Summary
The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission voted to grant permanent historic designation to Central City Plaza, a three‑building commercial complex at Sixth and Walnut streets, after staff presented research on the site’s importance to Black entrepreneurship and New Formalism architecture.
The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission voted to grant permanent historic designation to Central City Plaza, a three‑building commercial complex on Sixth and Walnut streets, after hearing staff research and public testimony on the site's historical, cultural and architectural significance.
Staff recommended designation under multiple criteria, saying Central City Plaza was the state’s first known Black‑conceived, Black‑designed, Black‑owned and Black‑operated shopping center and that its New Formalism architecture and association with local leaders made the complex eligible for landmark status. The commission’s motion to designate carried after debate; commissioners recorded one opposing vote.
The staff report traced the development’s origins in the urban‑renewal era and cited its role in Black entrepreneurship. The report said the complex housed 14 Black‑owned businesses and…
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