Students troubled by the prospect of Langdon Street turning into another hyper-developed corridor reminiscent of University Avenue enlisted the help of a local architecture preservationist in recent weeks and started a movement to have Greek row deemed a local historic district.
The Madison city Council’s recent approval of a six-story apartment complex, which will demolish three antiquated houses in the Langdon neighborhood, motivated University of Wisconsin-Madison sophomores Emily Erickson and Connor Nett to draft an online petition and assemble a new student organization called Our Historic Campus.
“We want to educate and raise awareness of historic sites and architecture in Madison that often go overlooked, and the importance of having character of the school,” said Erickson, an Alpha Chi Omega sorority member.
The Langdon Street area is currently on the National Register of Historic Places, making certain tax credits more accessible, but Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said federal recognition does not necessitate any body of government approve designs before developers proceed with demolitions or alterations to buildings in the area. He added Langdon being deemed a local historic district is “long overdue.”
“The only rule that comes into play is if a structure is being demolished in a federal historic district is that the building has to be photographed for historic sake before it’s demolished,” Verveer said. “That is it.”
Under current terms, city officials were able to approve a proposal to tear down two buildings on North Henry Street and one on Iota Court to build a 71-unit residency called The Waterfront, despite the Madison Landmarks Commission’s recommendation that Common Council not approve the project.
The Langdon Street neighborhood’s designation as a local historic district would require a two-thirds vote in the city Council to overturn any Landmarks Commission decision regarding future developments in the area, which, according to Verveer, do not presently have any “teeth.”
Erickson and Nett reached out to Jason Tish, Executive Director of the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, who said he wants to make sure new developments do not betray Langdon’s history.
“It’s not about stopping new developments,” Tish said. “It’s about allowing new development that fits the character of the district.”
Most of Langdon Street falls into District 2, which either Bryan Post or Ledell Zellers will oversee after current alder Bridget Maniaci steps down in April.
Post said he wants to find a “balance” between development and historic preservation, which he called “incredibly precious.”
“We’re all on the same team in trying to preserve that feeling of how important it is,” Post said. “It’s huge to the student experience and that can’t be understated.”
Zellers also said she favors preserving Madison’s “historically, architecturally interesting buildings,” but believes there is room for development and wants to ensure Langdon remains a priority area for affordable student housing.
“It’s a balance that I’m looking for,” she said.
Common Council will have the final vote to approve the Langdon neighborhood as a local historic district.
