The Sconi

A small group of enthusiasts aims to position Milwaukee at the forefront of historical preservation of postmodern architecture, or at least assist a downtown developer in obtaining a tax break. Earlier this week, the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission endorsed the nomination of the 35-year-old 100 East building, also known as the Faison Building, for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

100 East Propco LLC, an investor development group that includes Klein Development Inc. and John Vassallo, seeks historic preservation status to secure up to 40% federal and state tax credits on the cost of converting the office building, purchased for $28.75 million, into apartments. The project requires approval from both the State Historic Preservation Officer and the National Park Service.

The criteria set by the Park Service include "the quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association." According to Andrew Stern, a preservation planner for Milwaukee who spoke to a local newspaper about 100 East's nomination: “The building is the most important Milwaukee example of postmodern design... I think it’s hard to argue against that.”

However compelling Stern's argument may be regarding its architectural significance as a postmodern structure built 35 years ago remains contentious. Tim Askin, senior preservation planner with Milwaukee’s Historic Preservation Commission told the Badger Institute that only one other postmodern building—the Portland Building—is listed on the National Register.

Postmodern architecture emerged in reaction to earlier austere styles like Bauhaus during the mid-1970s. Firms such as Clark Tribble Harris & Li designed 100 East by drawing inspiration from more ornate historical buildings like Milwaukee's Pabst Building which was demolished in early 1980s leading to public outcry and establishment of city’s Preservation Commission.

Public opinion about 100 East has been mixed since its construction. In a May 14th article from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel profiling local architects' views on poor city architecture choices; University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Professor Don Hanlon remarked: “The decoration is all out of proportion... It makes City Hall look bad.”

While there are divided opinions on postmodernism's value Architectural Record critiqued local preservationists' “bureaucratic indifference” while acknowledging some consider Postmodernism merely stylistic resulting often disliked buildings like Michael Graves’ Portland Building entered into National Register despite harsh criticisms.

In contrast Chicago faced prolonged advocacy efforts over James R Thompson Center inclusion which current owners eventually rescinded last year.

Unlike mechanisms such as tax increment financing districts or sales taxes aiding stadium constructions historic tax credits have generally avoided criticism since inception back in 1976 supporting over $132 billion private investments across more than forty-nine thousand projects per recent Park Service report published during 2023.

Although dated back till only around year twenty-fifteen data gathered jointly by National Trust for Historic Preservation alongside The Milwaukee Preservation Alliance noted Wisconsin alone witnessed creation over six thousand jobs through approximately hundred fifty-four projects backed up $621 million private investments leveraging these credits since two-thousand-one program launch.

Report states further illustrating benefits outweigh costs highlighting generated federal revenues surpassing allocated twenty-four billion dollars towards rehabilitation activities exceeding twenty-eight point six billion dollar mark thereby substantiating claim made therein emphasizing self-sustaining nature inherent within said incentive framework itself whereby conservative Governor Scott Walker even lent support signing bill raising credit percentage limits effectively facilitating broader access opportunities amongst eligible applicants seeking similar relief measures otherwise unavailable beforehand under previous stipulations imposed prior legislative amendment enacted accordingly thereafter year twenty-thirteen onwards respectively henceforth paving way increased participation rates witnessed subsequently ever since until present day contemporaneously observed therein alike too thereby affirmatively corroborating aforementioned assertions conclusively overall herein throughout 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