Heritage Preservation Commission accepts Professional Arts Building nomination, schedules public hearing

The La Crosse Heritage Preservation Commission on Jan. 29 accepted a nomination to designate the Professional Arts Building at 615 10th Street South as a local historic landmark and scheduled a public hearing on the nomination for the following monthly meeting.

Mark Zeller, president of the Preservation Alliance of La Crosse, presented the nomination, citing the building’s long use as a regional nursing school and its preserved exterior fabric. "We chose to nominate this building after receiving…comments…from the community trying to stop the demolition of St. Anne's," Zeller said, summarizing the group’s decision to pursue this property. He provided original blueprints and documentary materials to support the nomination.

Staff outlined the commission’s two-step nomination process: tonight’s review checks for completeness and whether additional material is needed; if accepted, the commission will hold a public hearing next month after staff sends certified notice to the property owner. Staff clarified that local designation primarily covers exterior features and demolition review rather than interior alterations.

Representatives of Mayo Clinic attended and described current uses and investments in the building. "I don't want my presence here to indicate…that Mayo Clinic, of course, has any plans whatsoever to demolish this building," said Rich Hepland, a Mayo representative. Gordon Howie of Mayo Clinic Health System added that the organization has "been actually putting a lot of money into it" and expects to continue occupying and using the building.

Commission discussion touched on a Skyway connector to the adjacent Saint Francis building, which Mayo plans to demolish; Mayo confirmed the Skyway would be removed with demolition and commissioners noted any infill of the resulting opening would be subject to the commission’s exterior-review process. Staff noted that demolition would require a certificate of appropriateness from the commission if the property is designated.

A motion to accept the nomination as complete and hold a public hearing next month was recorded by the chair as "motion made by John Ryman, second by Jim Gallagher." The commission voted "aye" and the chair announced the motion was unanimously approved. Staff said they will send a certified notice to the property owner’s facilities manager (Jennifer Livingston) and the owner’s counsel.

The public hearing will provide an opportunity for members of the public to speak for or against the proposed designation; after that hearing the commission may nominate the property as a local landmark or deny the nomination. The commission also noted there may be one or two additional nominations coming forward for initial review at the next meeting.

No formal demolition or use restriction for interiors was announced; staff and members emphasized that local designation’s primary regulatory effect is review of exterior work and demolition requests.