The Madison City Council on Tuesday evening backed the Plan Commission’s decision to vote against the demolition of three historic buildings on State Street, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The development from JD McCormick Properties would have torn down three buildings next to the Lisa Link Peace Park, replacing them with a six-story, 25-unit structure with roughly 6,300 square feet of commercial space.
Among the buildings are 428–430 State St., 432–436 State St., and 440–444 State St. The city’s Landmark Commission previously determined that two of the three buildings had the highest level of historic value below a city landmark designation.
Commissioners in March asserted that JD McCormick did not meet city standards for preserving the three buildings; the developer has said that the buildings are in disrepair — although it is still renting apartments in the buildings, and no city agency or department has documented building issues.
The council denied the appeal with a 9–10 vote; it needed 14 in favor to overturn the Plan Commission’s decision.
