Alderman Robert Bauman statement regarding the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation to designate the Milwaukee Arena and Miller High Life Theater as Historic Sites

Today, Milwaukee’s Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the Common Council that the Milwaukee Arena and Miller High Life Theater (former Milwaukee Auditorium) be designated as historic sites. This recommendation will be considered by the Common Council’s Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee in the coming weeks. The committee will then make a recommendation to the full Common Council.

Questions have been raised regarding whether historic designation will prevent the owner of the Arena and Miller High Life Theater (the Wisconsin Center District) from demolishing and redeveloping these two sites. The answer is NO.

Under Milwaukee’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, historic designation does not preclude demolition but does require the property owner to seek a certificate of appropriateness (“COA”) permitting demolition. An application for a demolition COA would first be heard by the Historic Preservation Commission. If the application is denied by the commission, the property owner can appeal that denial to the Common Council. That appeal would first be heard by the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee, which would then make a recommendation to the full Common Council.

The demolition COA process would provide for at least two opportunities for public hearings before both the Historic Preservation Commission and the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee thereby ensuring transparency and public input. Finally, the elected Common Council would make such a decision involving two iconic Milwaukee public buildings after hearing from stakeholders and the public.

I support historic designation of the Arena and Miller High Life Theater because there is little doubt that both buildings qualify for historic designation under the criteria set forth in the Historic Preservation Ordinance. I also support a thorough and transparent review of any future plans to demolish or substantially modify these buildings which would be required under the Historic Preservation Ordinance as a result of designation. These two public buildings have been part of the city’s built environment and have played critical roles in the civic life of Milwaukee for generations. Stakeholders and regular citizens should be able to weigh in on any future demolition plans. Historic designation ensures this would happen.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.