- Milwaukee mayor allows historic designation to take effect for Panther Arena and Miller High Life Theatre.
- Move follows concerns the venues could face demolition under redevelopment plans.
- Wisconsin Center District warns preservation rules may hinder future upgrades.
- Study on long-term venue uses will be presented to the district board in January.
Historic protection for the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Miller High Life Theater is in effect after Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson returned the file unsigned.
“The mayor respects the actions of the members of the Historic Preservation Commission,” said Jeff Fleming, spokesperson for the mayor’s office, in a statement. “He also consulted others about the proposed historic designation.”
The designation arrived more than a year after the Wisconsin Center District commissioned a study to explore uses for the downtown venues, located in the 400 and 500 blocks of West Kilbourn Avenue. The local alderman said he pushed for historic designation to save the venues from demolition…