One More Chance for the Sydney HIH
Parliamentary procedure buys the Sydney HIH a few more days.
Sydney HIH No More
Despite developer John Raettig‘s last minute effort to put together a proposal to save a piece of Milwaukee’s history, the majority of the Milwaukee Common Council voted to grant the appeal of interim historic designation. This vote would have opened the door for what surely would be a quick demolition, if not for an infrequently used parliamentary procedure stopping the action on the Sydney HIH at least until the next council meeting.
Throughout the council meeting Ald. Nik Kovac and Ald. Robert Bauman were the most vocal supporters of holding the file. The arguments for holding the file, included among others, allowing the recently surface proposal to rehab the Sydney HIH more time to be fleshed out, and that there was no real value to move forward with demolition at this time.
Over and over again, Bauman made the case that “no harm is done by holding this file.” Referring to Rattig’s proposal, Bauman argued that it was possible that by holding the file “a great benefit may accrue to the taxpayers of this city,” therefore the council should “at least give this an opportunity to play itself out. His calls fell on def ears.
Pointing to Milwaukee’s most vibrant districts, Kovac explained, where we have preserved old buildings is where economic and population growth has occurred in Milwaukee. Kovac also made the consequences of the decision clear, saying “we can’t undue demolition.” Later in the meeting while explaining his commitment to growth, he also pointed out that this vote didn’t impact any potential development today, saying that if Kohl’s came calling tomorrow, “you can hand me the sledgehammer, I’ll be the first to take the blow…but that’s not what we’re discussing here.”
The most vocal critic of saving the Sydney HIH, and the representative of the district of which the Sydney HIH is located, Ald. Milele Coggs emphatically spoke against holding the file and the need for the building’s demolition. She argued “it is a public nuisance waiting to fall down…We don’t need this building to be up one more day let alone three more weeks.”
Failing to convince enough members of the council to hold the file, Bauman asked for separate action to be taken on the file. This passed with Bauman on the supporting side, which allowed him to ask Reconsideration to Enter it on the Journal, which has the net effect of holding the file until the July 24th, 2012 meeting of the Common Council and only requires three votes in the affirmative. This passed on a vote of 3-11-1.
What is the origin of the name “Sydney HIH?” Every time I see it, my first reaction is that it is a misspelled name of a high school (even though I know it’s not).
The word “Sydney” comes from the former owner, Sydney Eisenburg. He is the one responsible for turning it into a thriving art and music center. The word “Hih” is a Yiddish word meaning, “in honor of”. “Sydney Hih” means, “In honor of Sydney”. However, the Eisenburg family denies that “hih” was chosen for it’s “in honor of” meaning. Alan Eisenburg (the son of Sydney) says it was a play on the word “High”. Both because the building at that time was one of the taller buildings in the area, and also because of the relationship that the word “high” has with many connected to the counter culture. Most people who knew Sydney Eisenburg personally believe he named the building “in honor of” himself.
What’s funny about your high school comment is that the building with the “Sydney Hih” letters on it, is technically known as the Nicholas Senn Building. Dr. Nicholas Senn is a famous surgeon that built the building in 1876. In Chicago there currently exists a high School named in honor of Dr. Nicholas Senn. It’s called the Nicholas Senn High School.
Thanks to Ald. Bauman for his expert use of parlimentary procedures to extend the debate!
We’ll have to wait until July 24 to have final approval for demolision of Sidney Hih? Just get a demolshion crew ready to remove this iconic eyesore removed.
@Andrew What’s the rush? So we can have a gravel lot?
eyesore??? the real eyesores are all the new modern condos in milwaukee and other cities across america.
@Benjamin What is so wrong with new modern condos? It seems to me that the Beerline for example has added great value to Milwaukee..
With the way the Common Council voted, its very obvious that the memories of Sydney Hih have more inportance than tbe physical buildings. So I see the vote on July 24th being 12 to 3 without anyone really changing their positions. A park and memorial in that spot do deserve to be looked at as an option to redevelop the site in the future.