Commission votes to deny certificate for Italian American Club mural after staff warns painting Cream City brick risks damage

The Kenosha Historic Preservation Commission on July 31 denied an after-the-fact certificate of appropriateness for a mural painted on the Italian American Club at 2217 52nd Street after staff and commissioners raised technical concerns about painting original Cream City brick.

Staff told the commission the recommendation to deny was based on preservation guidance and materials from outside agencies, saying, "the evidence ... does show that there are, quite severe dangers when you paint brick" and that painted brick ‘‘does not typically breathe’’ and can lead to mold, mildew and accelerated deterioration (staff, Historic Preservation staff). The staff report described the review as "after the fact" and said work had already begun on the mural.

David Bridal, who identified himself for the record and said he was responsible for the city's mural program, apologized for not checking with city staff and the commission before the work started and asked for flexibility, saying he and the sister-cities program had intended the project as a cultural exchange and "I take full responsibility for that on all 3 of these items." He said the mural and related projects were meant to beautify downtown and boost tourism.

Commissioners and speakers at the public hearing debated the trade-offs between preservation and public art. One commissioner warned the painting would cause irreversible harm to the historic brick, arguing "there's nothing ... that suggests they're gonna be safe from moisture deterioration," while project supporters and a public commenter, Francisco Loyola, said modern primers and mural-specific paints are designed to allow masonry to breathe and that murals can spur maintenance and economic activity.

A forensic architect who spoke at the hearing said painted Cream City brick has experienced deterioration in some cases but added that murals can increase attention to facades and prompt maintenance. Other residents recounted repair costs after earlier paint jobs and urged caution.

A motion to deny the certificate carried, recorded in the transcript as having "passed, 3 to 1." Staff emphasized that the commission's decisions are advisory and that the business owner and project team may continue the work despite the advisory denial.

Next steps: Because the commission is advisory, the Italian American Club and project partners can proceed with the mural but may face future maintenance costs; staff said the administration will work with project leaders to avoid repeating the procedural oversight that led to the after-the-fact review.