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Consideration of establishing a historic district overlay zoning map amendment to locally designate the Warren Avenue District, consisting of 45 properties located along Warren Avenue, 83rd Street, and Church Street
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Submitted by:
Tammy Szudy
Department:
Development
A. Background
Earlier this year, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) initiated discussions with property owners regarding local historic designation of the proposed Warren Avenue Historic District. As identified in an intensive survey, the proposed district includes 45 properties along Warren Avenue, 83rd Street, and Church Street. Supporting documents are attached.
In July, the HPC voted to initiate the designation process. Pursuant to City code section 24.16, the designation is processed as a zoning map amendment and requires the following steps:
• Public hearing before the HPC
• HPC consideration
• Plan Commission consideration
• Public hearing before the Common Council
• Common Council decision.
The required public hearing before the HPC was held on October 28, 2026. Ten (10) spoke in support of the proposed designation, while four (4) appeared or spoke in opposition.
If the historic district designation is approved, the HPC becomes the design review board responsible for reviewing permits for new construction, demolition, and exterior alterations to structures within the district.
B. Recommendation
The Historic Preservation Commission recommended approval 4-0. The Plan Commission’s recommendation should be based upon one or more of the following designation criteria from City code section 24.16:
1. exemplify or reflect the broad cultural, political, economic or social history of the nation, state or community;
2. are identified with historic personages or with important events in national, state or local history;
3. embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or specimen inherently valuable for a study of a period, style, method of construction, or of indigenous materials or craftsmanship;
4. are representative of the notable work of a master building [builder], designer or architect who influenced the person's age; or
5. have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important to prehistory or history.