Common Council approves historic designation, rezoning for McKinley School property

The Common Council has approved a recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission to designate as historic the William McKinley School property near N. 20th and W. Vliet Streets.

Alderman Robert J. Bauman, whose 4th Aldermanic District includes the large parcel where the school is located, said the Council vote Tuesday (September 23) to grant the historic designation will ensure the “preservation of a unique example of an early Milwaukee Public School.”

Also on Tuesday, the Council approved a rezoning to change the school property’s zoning from multi-family residential to two-family residential. The property is surrounded by one-family and two-family residential properties, and the change brings the school property into the same category.

On September 8 the Historic Preservation Commission approved the McKinley historic designation following a presentation by HPC staff. Alderman Bauman serves as a member of the Commission.

The Fifteenth District / McKinley School was built in the heart of the growing west side and the school property extended along Cold Spring Avenue, later known as McKinley Avenue, between North 21st and North 22nd Street.

The first portion of the school was constructed at the northwest corner of North 20th Street and West McKinley Avenue and opened on January 19, 1885. The second portion was built to the rear or west and was completed in the summer of 1888, and the third portion, connected to the second, was built fronting North 21st Street and completed in December 1898.

Also on Tuesday, the Council approved a resolution approving the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee’s acquisition of the longtime gas station/convenience mart property located on the northeast corner at N. 27th St. and W. Wisconsin Ave. The resolution enters the city into an agreement with the Redevelopment Authority and the Avenues West Business Improvement District regarding the city’s contribution toward the Redevelopment Authority’s acquisition cost and the BID’s contribution toward the demolition cost and preparing 2630 W. Wisconsin Ave./714 N. 27th St. for development.

Alderman Bauman, whose district includes the property, has long sought the acquisition to provide a key parcel for future development at the busy intersection.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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