The city delayed a State Street reconstruction propsoal after a decision from the Landmarks Commission Monday included the potential demolition of two Mifflin Street buildings.
Block 100 Foundation’s controversial proposal to reconstruct State Street includes the potential demolition of two historic landmark buildings. The proposal includes plans to create a private outdoor garden and a modern building at the corner of Mifflin and Fairchild Street.
Commission members delayed decision on demolition of the Schubert Building, 120 W. Mifflin St., because of historic preservation concerns.
Although Landmarks Commission Chair Stuart Levitan said the Schubert Building is designated as a landmark, Block 100 Foundation said there are other buildings of the same style in the area.
The commission did not decide on the fate of the Stark Building, also known as the Fairchild Building, at 122-124 W. Mifflin St., but “finds the [Stark] building with historic value and recommends that it not be demolished because of its architecture and social value,” Levitan said.
David Stark, whose grandfather the Stark building was named after, said the benefits the proposal will give to the city far outweigh any historical or emotional value of the building.
“I think that mostly, to us and the family, the rest of the city would much rather see it be a vibrant space than an old building,” Stark said.
Developers W. Jerome Frautschi and Pleasant Rowland consider the corner at Mifflin and Fairchild Street to be a key component of the plan and said in a letter to the Urban Design Commission they would sell the buildings if the commission does not approve their plans for this corner.
“The transformation of this corner is critical to the success of this project in our eyes...We envision the corner as an oasis, a space where people can stand back, reflect upon and enjoy these civic buildings,” the letter said.
The Overture Center, Madison Central Library and future historical museum will open into the garden space on this corner which developers say will draw people to the downtown area.
At a previous Landmarks Commission meeting, the city approved exterior alterations to the Castle & Doyle Building at 125 State St., but did not approve an addition to the Buell building at 121-123 State St.
The Vallender Building at 127-129 State St. was originally planned to be demolished, but the commission decided the historical value of the building took precedence over demolition.
The Landmarks Commission will meet on March 12 to review decisions from two other city planning committees.
