Save the Eschweilers

regarded architects. In addition to NRHP status, the buildings have both City of Wauwatosa and Milwaukee County landmark status. Although the school was short-lived (closing in 1928), the buildings were, for the past few decades, leased by Milwaukee County to several businesses. However, in 2006, when the road was covered with fill from the MMSD floodwater basins, all activity there ceased. Since that time, the buildings have been neglected and vandalized. Despite the neglect, the superior quality of design and construction render them structurally sound and suitable for adaptive reuse. PP
In response to a widespread community effort, numerous resolutions and plans were passed by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the City of Wauwatosa Common Council making it very clear that the intent of the community was to preserve these landmarks. What is happening? In 2010, Milwaukee County entered into an agreement with the UWM Real Estate Foundation (UWM-REF) to sell the land and buildings for the purpose of creating a new Innovation Park campus with the condition that the buildings be saved and surrounding natural habitat areas protected. At the same time, the City of Wauwatosa supported rezoning of the property and adoption of a master plan that would retain the historic buildings and natural areas. Representatives from the UWM-REF stated publicly to the Common Council and the Board of Supervisors that their intent was to save the buildings and used that assurance to gain approval of their proposed plan. Based on that promise, the City also created a Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District to provide $12.5 million of taxpayer dollars to support construction of water, roads and other infrastructure to support development on the site. Again the public was assured that these funds would be used to support the creation of the campus and preserve the existing historic buildings and natural areas. Now, UWM proposes to sell a portion of their parcel to The Mandel Group so that they can develop the land for apartments. Originally, Mandel responded to a Request for Proposal that stipulated that the buildings should be saved. Mandel now proposes to demolish three of the four significant buildings, build new apartments and has stated that they intend to request $2.5 million in TIF subsidies to support the project. His proposal to demolish the buildings will be reviewed at the Wauwatosa Historic Preservation Commission meeting on October 3, 2012. Conclusion

We urge the Wauwatosa Historic Preservation Commission and if needed, the Wauwatosa Common Council, to vote “no” regarding a Certificate of Appropriateness presented by the Mandel Group requesting the demolition of three out of four buildings in the Eschweiler Historic District. We also steadfastly implore Wauwatosa public officials to embrace again that the value in saving this national historic district is a statement of our past and for our future.