Judge rejects request to halt University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's demolition of the former Columbia Hospital
A judge has rejected a request that he order a halt to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's demolition of the former Columbia Hospital.
The Thursday ruling by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Glenn Yamahiro means that demolition can continue while the City of Milwaukee appeals the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by the city seeking to stop that work.
That case, pending before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, also is addressing a broader issue.
It is challenging the UW System's claim that Wisconsin law provides a separate set of rules that state agencies must follow regarding historic properties.
The system used that argument to ignore a historic designation for the former Columbia building that the Historic Preservation Commission, Common Council and Mayor Cavalier Johnson approved this spring.
That designation requires commission approval for any exterior property changes.
UWM wants to tear down the building, 3321 N. Maryland Ave., because it's costly to renovate and maintain.
The building, constructed in 1919, has remained largely vacant for years, with no developers showing any interest in it, according to UW System officials.
Preservationists say the building is a valuable piece of cultural and architectural history, and cited other historic Milwaukee buildings that were in dire straits before being redeveloped.
Demolition work resumed in July after the city's lawsuit was dismissed.
That work has been moving slowly, but full-scale demolition is to start in mid-October, said Jeremy Ebersole, Milwaukee Preservation Alliance executive director.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Judge refuses to halt former Columbia Hospital demolition by UWM
