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Commission approves multiple certificates of appropriateness for demolitions and rehabs, including Schuster’s conversion
Summary
The commission approved a series of certificates of appropriateness for demolitions and rehabilitation projects across several historic districts, including a downtown conversion of Schuster’s department store; motions were passed by voice vote on each item listed.
The Historic Preservation Commission approved multiple certificates of appropriateness at its meeting, granting demolition or rehabilitation permissions for a range of properties in Milwaukee historic districts.
What the commission approved
- 2465 West Congress Street (Garden Homes Historic District): staff recommended and the commission approved the demolition of a non‑original garage at the owner’s request.
- 1060 East Juneau Avenue (1st Ward Triangle Historic District): the commission approved demolition of an attached garage and associated repairs and a new wood door, with staff recommending conditions.
- 2315 East Ivanhoe Place (North Point South Historic District): commissioners approved a rear sunroom (painted wood) to replace an existing deck, conditioned on materials.
- 2015 North Lake Drive (Northpointe South Historic District): a revised third‑floor balcony was approved with a final wood‑door selection to be confirmed.
- 324 North 15th Street (Goiter Peschke Frey Building): staff recommended and commissioners approved a comprehensive rehabilitation with standard conditions; owner Kendall Brunig said the project has National Park Service Part 2 conditional approval and aims for 47 residential apartments.
- 1220 West Fleet Street (Schuster’s department store): Gorman and Company received approval to amend a previously approved comprehensive rehabilitation to convert the space to all‑residential use, add 11 windows and revise parking plans; the applicant said a previously planned county tenant withdrew after the county’s fit‑out came in roughly $3 million over budget.
Most approvals were carried by voice vote after staff presentations and brief commissioner questions. Staff noted that demolition applications are always brought to the commission rather than decided administratively and that approvals include standard conditions on materials and detailing.
Votes at a glance
All items above were approved by voice vote at the meeting; the mural application for a large wall on the Journal Sentinel complex was held for additional technical and legal review (see separate story).
What’s next
Applicants will proceed subject to the commission’s standard conditions; the Schuster’s amendment and the Goiter Peschke Frey rehabilitation both referenced National Park Service review steps already completed or in process.
