The Badger Herald

NEWS

City votes to protect 2 downtown landmarks

JAKE NAUGHTON/Herald photo

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by Cara Harshman

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The city of Madison added two more buildings to its list of historic landmarks Tuesday, heeding the Landmarks Commission’s suggestions.

The Doris House of 605 W. Main St. and the Schubert building at 120 W. Mifflin St., both located in the 4th aldermanic district, are now considered historical Madison landmarks.

Criteria for a building to be deemed a historic landmark depend on architectural style, who originally occupied the house and who built it, according to Carolyn Freiwald, a Madison Trust for Historic Preservation member.

“We have to do research about what’s important about the building,” said Freiwald, who is also a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin studying archaeology.

The Schubert building, currently unoccupied, is a Queen Anne style building that was constructed in 1908 by Ferdinand Kronenberg. Until 1917, when Madison banned alcohol, the building housed Andrew Schubert’s Silver Dollar Saloon and Restaurant.

A Badger Office Supplies store opened in the Schubert building in 1941, just recently moving out in 2006, according to a report from the Landmarks Commission.

“The building sits on one of the great triangular blocks that were part of the original city plan,” Freiwald said.

Situated on the corner of West Main and Bedford streets, the Doris House was built in 1857-58 when the Greek Revival style was popular for civic and residential buildings, the report said.

In 2002, the house underwent a “sensitive renovation” to improve deteriorating conditions, Freiwald said.

When a building becomes a landmark, any proposed construction on it must come before the Landmarks Commission to ensure the construction keeps with the historical character of the building, Freiwald said.

“The new owner (of the Doris House) is happy the house is completely restored and excited to see it become a landmark,” Freiwald added.

City Council President Mike Verveer, District 4, said he lives adjacent to the Doris House on West Main Street, one of the few remaining farmhouses in downtown Madison.

“I support making each building a landmark,” Verveer said, adding the owner of the Schubert building is opposed to it because he thinks the building is in terrible shape and not worthy of landmark status.

Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, said it was important to him to preserve the history of Madison.

“If the city and interest holders think this is a necessary step in doing that, then I think this is a step worth taking,” Judge said.

The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery — two new public/private centers for interdisciplinary research on the UW campus, currently in construction on the entire 1300 block of University Avenue — have raised concerns from Madison Trust for Historic Preservation because the construction will demolish a historic building.

Verveer said despite the group’s concerns, the Landmarks Commission allowed the building to be demolished.

The City Council also passed an ordinance to implement a new alternative to parking meters in the downtown area. Over the next few months, the city will replace parking meters that take change with “pay on foot stations” that take credit and debit cards.

“These will be a nice convenience,” Verveer said.

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