ZND vote favors Hide House developer’s appeal

by Katherine Keller

General Capital Group successfully appealed the interim historic designation of the entire Hide House building at 2625 S. Greeley today by a 3:2 vote by members of the Common Council’s Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee (ZND). Voting in favor of the developer’s appeal were Ald. Michael Murphy, Ald. Willie Wade, and Ald. James Witkowiak. Voting no were Ald. Tony Zielinski and Ald. Robert Bauman. The resolution was sponsored by ZND chair, Ald. Witkowiak.

After listening to arguments by the owners, owners’ attorney, area residents and Hide House tenants, Ald. Murphy motioned to remove the buildings at the north end from the designation. The motion’s pasage opens the door for the developer to move forward with plans to demolish those buildings and construct a 60-unit affordable income apartment building—Hide House Lofts, in its place.

The Hide House, 2625 S. Greeley St. and 2612 S. Greeley St., is located in Ald. Zielinski’s district along the western border of Bay View, a block east of Chase Avenue and five blocks south of Lincoln Avenue.

On June 15 the city’s Historic Preservation Commission granted interim historic designation to  a group of connected buildings constructed at the 2625 S. Greeley address between 1898 and the mid 1940s blocking the developer’s plans to demolish the buildings on the north end of the complex and replace them with new construction.

At the hearing, Sig Strautmanis, one of the Hide House owners, described the north end buildings as structurally obsolescent. He said that owners’ appeal was based on the blighted state of those buildings that he argued are dramtically compromised by long-term neglect including concrete supports in the basement that were damaged by standing water, maple floors on the second floor ruined by rain, and wall bricks that are corroding. Hide House 2007, LLC, an entity that includes several partners of General Capital Group and Robert Joseph, purchased the Hide House complex in fall 2006.

The original buildings on the south end of the complex, built in the 1890s, are renovated and occupied by artists, musicians, small businesses, and a church.

About 20 of Zielinksi’s constituents who live in the neighborhood of the Hide House attended the ZND meeting. Of those, about a dozen argued in favor of preserving the designation of the entire complex and keeping it intact. Many attested to the working class heritage and sentiment that the complex represents and of the integral role played by the businesses, that once occupied the buildings, in the lives of those who have lived in the neighborhood through the decades.

Also testifying were a number of Zielinski’s constituents who opposed the designation of the entire complex, along with several Hide House tenants, who said they the thought neighborhood would be better served if the dilapidated buildings at the north end were demolished and replaced by housing that would attract new working class residents to the neighborhood and the small businesses that they hope will follow.

Many who spoke, in favor or opposed, said the developer should have held a public meeting to introduce themselves and their plans and given neighbors an opportunity to ask questions.

The Common Council will vote on the matter Tuesday after hearing the recommendation of ZND. The Common Council could vote in favor of HPC’s original recommendation to designate the entire group of buildings at 2526 S. Greeley St.

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In a separate action today, ZND voted to move the two Historic Preservation Commission employees from the Department of City Development into the City’s Clerk’s office. The substitute ordinance was sponsored by Ald. Nick Kovac, Ald. Bauman, and Ald. Zielinski.

Historic Preservation Commission chair Matt Jarosz argued that there would be a greater perception of the neutrality of HPC staff’s recommendations if it seemed clear that those decisions were not contingent on the approval or disapproval of the department that employs them.

Ald. Murphy and Ald. Witkowiak questioned whether that public perception of neutrality would be any more favorable if the HPC staff were beholden to the approval of the Common Council members who appoint the City Clerk.

HPC chair Jarosz’s recommendation, along with DCD Deputy Commissioner Martha Brown’s lack of opposition, informed the 4:1 decision. Also voting in favor were Ald. Wade and Ald. Zielinski. Ald. Witkowiak voted no.

The change will take effect Jan. 1, 2010.