Madison’s Labor Temple at 1602 S. Park St., which for decades has been a hub for union organizing and free outdoor events, is looking to sell to a developer, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. The 3.3-acre property is set to hit the market with a list price of $7.9 million.
David Poklinkoski, vice president of the Madison Labor Temple Association, cited ongoing financial struggles in the decision to sell, saying, “What’s happened to the Labor Temple is what’s happened to the labor movement in Madison.”
According to Poklinkoski, union needs have changed since the building opened in 1958, with fewer union meetings held regularly, most weekends occupied by weddings, quinceañeras, and other celebrations, and a bar now used only for large gatherings. While office space has been consistently rented out, many tenants are reportedly spending less time on-site.
The association’s conditions for the property sale include:
-
It wants to buy or lease around 20,000 square feet of any future development for another Labor Temple;
-
It wants a phased construction approach so the old building can be used until a new one is complete; and
-
It wants the developer to use union labor.
