Common Council members approved a report of the Lamp House and an ordinance to provide a buffer zone to protect patients from protesters at health facilities Tuesday.
Council members approved the report created by Lamp House Block Ad Hoc Committee members to redevelop components of the landmark area located at East Mifflin Street and North Butler Street. The Robert M. Lamp house is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 32 personally designed buildings in the Madison area and is on the National Register for Historic Places.
According to Nan Fey, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, Wright designed the building for Lamp to enjoy views of the Capitol and Lakes Monona and Mendota. Committee members found it most important to preserve this aspect of the building as it is a defining characteristic of the block.
“These views become essential to telling the story of the house,” Fey said.
Council members approved recommendations including establishing a National Register Historic District and Local Historic District around the Lamp house as well as dedicating the East Washington Avenue side of the block to commercial and mixed-use buildings.
Council members also unanimously approved an ordinance that establishes a safe space between protesters and patients at health-care facilities.
Ald. Lisa Subeck, District 1, discussed the importance of implementing a buffer zone at the entrance of health-care facilities to prevent verbal and potentially physical acts of violence against patients. Subeck said she supported the ordinance despite some public opposition because she said she has witnessed the verbal abuse patients receive firsthand.
The protests are focused mainly on opposition against abortion patients, which Subeck said is a violation of privacy.
The ordinance prohibits protesters from coming within 160 feet of a clinic and eight feet from patients entering the facility. Protesters who violate this ordinance could face fines up to $50.
