A Quick 1911 Bank Demolition Will Make Way For New Arts Center

BCA would demolish the two-story, 33,995-square-foot office building at 2312 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. that was constructed in 1983. A portion of the existing structure was built in 1911 as a Neoclassical-style bank branch. The DNR vacated the building in 2021 as part of a relocation to the Menomonee Valley.

The author waits until the last paragraph to briefly mention the demolition of the 112 year old building designed by well respected Milwaukee architectural firm Kirchhoff & Rose. Jeramey Jannene emphasizes that it's constructed in 1983 and only a portion of the existing structure was built in 1911. If the best part of a building was constructed in 1911 I'm inclined to say it was built in 1911 and substantially expanded in 1983.

The new building looks nice enough but it makes me wonder why this building appears to be getting a pass from the frantic historic preservation people. Had this been someplace on the East Side, Third Ward, or Downtown I imagine there would be a group of people complaining loudly to every politician and news organization they can find thus causing the city to delay everything for a year. The project hasn't received approval yet so maybe I'm jumping the gun (I hope not.)

If only the design, review, demolish, build process could be this easy everywhere...

Above images from the Wisconsin Historical Society. For more information about the building visit this link.