The immediate future of the Wisconsin History Center set to be built on Capitol Square may be impacted by a dispute over demolishing historic buildings next to it, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Hovde Properties wants to raze five vacant, 100-year-old buildings on the 100 block of West Mifflin Street — including the former Silver Dollar Tavern — for the $160.5 million project.
The demolition would not only make space for the History Center’s construction, but would enable continued access to another Hovde property on the same block and make room for a future Hovde redevelopment — potentially in the form of housing, commercial space, and a hotel.
The demolition plan calls for staging space for the Historical Society for construction, access to the Churchill Building, and less disturbance along Mifflin Plaza to create a safe construction environment for Hovde’s tenants, users, and public.
The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation is opposing demolition, however, contending the “historically significant buildings” are not needed for the History Center’s construction; that much larger projects are built on tighter sites; and that Hovde has not submitted redevelopment plans for the properties to be razed.
The demolition request will be considered by the city’s Plan Commission during an online meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
