Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

Independent Student Newspaper Since 1969

The Badger Herald

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City votes to protect 2 downtown landmarks

[media-credit name=’JAKE NAUGHTON/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′]CityCouncil_JN[/media-credit]

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.

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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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