Waukesha Landmarks Commission defers response on Blair House boundary change; hears grant, fee and security updates

The Waukesha City Landmarks Commission on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 agreed to postpone finalizing its response to an application that would reduce the National Register boundary for the Senator William and Henrietta Blair House, and received staff updates on the commission's paint-and-repair grant fund, upcoming fee increases and city email security requirements.

The commission deferred action on a draft letter objecting to the boundary decrease — originally drafted by Jennifer Wall at the commission's direction — and said it would revisit the matter at its Feb. 5 meeting to allow absent members to participate before the State Historic Preservation Review Board reviews the application in Madison on Feb. 21.

The decision matters because the boundary change is part of a National Register nomination process and could affect compliance negotiations tied to a proposed development in the area, commission members and staff said. City staff told the commission they are also engaged in a separate compliance negotiation with the State Historic Preservation Office related to the 130 Dale Field (Mandel) apartment proposal, a process that would apply only if the boundary…