This Historic Third Ward tavern survived the 1892 fire. Developers want to demolish it

Tom Daykin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated 2 min read
12
Roger Bryant, a product design student at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, draws a sketch of a former tavern on East Erie Street that was also used as MIAD's student union. The building's owners want to demolish it for redevelopment while historic preservation folks have argued it has value and should be saved,
Roger Bryant, a product design student at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, draws a sketch of a former tavern on East Erie Street that was also used as MIAD's student union. The building's owners want to demolish it for redevelopment while historic preservation folks have argued it has value and should be saved,

Two development firms are proceeding with their plan to demolish a Historic Third Ward building that has been vacant since a 2013 fire.

The Miller Tavern/Catherine Foley Building, 266 E. Erie St., has major structural damage, according to owner GenCap Triangle LLC, an affiliate of General Capital Group LLP and Joseph Property Development LLC. Also, long-term settling has affected the building.

Preservationists say the building is an important part of the neighborhood's history. It survived an 1892 fire that destroyed most of the Third Ward.

The demolition request says the building's condition makes restoration infeasible.

"Any attempt at reconstruction will result in a building that is a facsimile of the current building," said the petition. "The replication contradicts the integrity of historic preservation, instead creating a 'Disney' like imitation, rather than a legitimate historic 'restoration.'”

The building has a significant place in Milwaukee's LGBTQ history because it housed the Wreck Room, a popular gay bar, from 1972 to about 1995, activist Don Schwamb said. But he agreed the structure is in bad shape.

"It's a loss, but some buildings cannot be saved," said Schwamb, Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project Inc. founder.

The owners of a former tavern on East Erie Street that was also used as MIAD's student union before it was damaged by a fire want to demolish it and redevelop the property
The owners of a former tavern on East Erie Street that was also used as MIAD's student union before it was damaged by a fire want to demolish it and redevelop the property

A public hearing on the building's future could come at the Historic Preservation Commission's Sept. 11 meeting. GenCap Triangle is seeking commission approval to demolish it − and could appeal a denial to the Common Council.

Built in 1884 and expanded in 1912, the Cream City Brick building was originally a saloon and boarding house run by widowed Irish immigrant Catherine Foley. Miller Brewing Co. later operated it as a tavern.

Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design bought the building and converted it into a student union in 1996. MIAD sold the fire-damaged building to the developers in 2014 − after which the commission designated it as historic.

The petition says demolition "presents the opportunity to build a new structure that is sympathetic in scale, integrity, and longevity."

General Capital and Joseph Property Development have considered a four-story office building with street-level commercial use for the site, the petition said.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

THANK YOU: Subscribers' support makes this work possible. Help us share the knowledge by buying a gift subscription.

DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more

Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Developers seek to raze long-vacant historic Milwaukee tavern

Advertisement

Recommended Stories