AGING IN PLACE + WASHINGTON PARK

 

 

Introduction

 

Designed by architect, George Birnbach, the 37th Street School was completed in 1903 and remained an active facet within the community until its closure in 2001.  The school was built in response to the immense growth the neighborhood experienced in the early 1900s.  Overall, the school is in good condition and is an excellent candidate for adaptive reuse projects.  In early 2000, the City of Milwaukee in collaboration with Washington Park Partners issued specific development requirements for this particular site, which include the following:

 

• “Adapt existing building for alternate use.  Demolition is discouraged.”[1]

• “Provide affordable housing with a preference for supportive housing that targets military veterans.  24‐hour, on‐site management highly desirable.  Prohibited uses include full social service, religious assembly or voucher, choice or for‐profit school as initial use and subsequent users’ subject deed restriction.”[2]

• “Install landscaping and parking for full project.”[3]

• “Provide a fully taxable use with deed restriction prohibiting future exempt status.”[4]

• “Complete rehabilitation/construction in timely manner.”[5]

 

However, due to recent policy changes, all development plans for this property have been prorogated until further notice.  According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in February 2015, the 37th Street School was added to a surplus list by the Milwaukee School Board[6].  Therefore, the City of Milwaukee now obtains the responsibility of marketing the unoccupied real-estate, but it is undecided whether the property will be available to either independent school operators (private schools, charter schools, voucher schools, etc.) or non-Milwaukee Public School District institutions[7].  As of now, further development by non-Milwaukee Public School District institutions will not be eligible for consideration until the year 2018. 

 

Location

 

The school is located at 1715 N 37th Street and bordered by N 37th Street to the East, W Walnut Street to the South, N 38th Street to the West and W Roberts Street to the North.

 

Zoning

 

The 37th Street School is currently zoned RT-4 (Residential). 

 

“The purpose of the RT4 district is to promote, preserve and protect neighborhoods intended primarily for 2-family dwellings while also permitting a mixture of single-family dwellings and small multi-family dwellings of 3 or 4 units.[8]  This district, much like the RT3 district, allows smaller lots, smaller setbacks and a higher lot coverage than the RT1 and RT2 districts.[9]  The neighborhoods found in this district were platted and developed, in large part, in the late 1800s and early 1900s.[10]  This district also allows traditional corner commercial establishments commonly found in urban neighborhoods.[11]”

 

Environmental

 

The 37th Street School property is not located  within the FEMA floodplane.

 

Site Observations

 

The 69,138 square foot property encompasses two quarters of the block it inhabits, sharing the remainder of the block with seven detached residential units[12].  The school is surrounded by several early 1900s two-story single family and multi-family homes. The building’s main entrance faces east on the site.  A surface parking lot encompasses three fourths of the property.  Twenty seven parking spaces are located on the north portion of the site and a playground inhabits the south-east corner of the site.  The property is void of vegetation or landscaping with the exception of three mature trees near the east entrance.  

 

The site is elevated approximately 3’-6” above street level and concrete retaining walls border the south and east perimeters.  The property matches surrounding elevations at the north-east and south-west corner and north and west perimeters.  A chain link fence surrounds the property, but is fragmented by four pedestrian stairs (two on the south border and two on the east border) and a vehicular entrance (on the north border). 

 

Building History and Composition

 

The original 1908 building was u-shaped with a rectangular foundation[13].  In 1911, two additions were made to the west end of the building, extending the depth of the inner courtyard[14].

 

The school is comprised of three levels, a basement and a partial attic.  In elevation, the basement is visible due to the raised foundation.  The structural and material integrity of the original design remains unimpaired.  The building material consists entirely of common bond brick mortar and joist construction[15].  A rubble foundation supports the exposed basement, which is composed of building materials matching the floors above it[16].  Rows of large windows with cut stone sills are consistent throughout all elevations[17].  The cornice is composed of galvanized cast iron and the roof is shingled with fiberglass composition shingles[18]. 

 

The east (main) façade is divided into three section.  The central section is approximately 70’ in width, while the adjacent north and south wings are about 35’ in width.  The neo-classical design approach is apparent in the façade’s colonnades situated between each window bay[19].  The recessed windows on the third floor, central section are arched while the second story recessed windows are orthogonal.  A brick stringcourse divides the first and second floor and a secondary brick stringcourse divides the exposed basement and the first floor.  The first floor recessed windows exhibit a very minimal arch and resemble the design of the exposed basement windows.  The arched east entrance is located on the left side of the central section.  A similarly arched recessed window is mirrored on the right side of the central section.

 

Similar window placement is exhibited on the north, south and west facades.  The windows on the 1911 addition are narrow in stature and do not resemble the rhythmic placement of the original windows.  Exposed fire stairs, both a 1911 addition, are located on the north and south facades.

 

Since its inception, the original school has experienced moderate changes.  In 1933 the original restrooms were renovated and smoke screens were added to stair cores[20].  A new chimney was installed in 1937[21].  Dropped ceilings in the stairwells and the auditorium were added in 1962 for increased fire protection[22].  Sheet rock now covers the once wood window transoms and the current main entrance replaced the original east entrance shown in the diagram to the right[23]. 

 

Milwaukee Historic Preservation

 

The Milwaukee Historic Preservation staff deem the site as an “important visual landmark” in the neighborhood[24].  The building could receive historic designation or National Register listing[25].  The Milwaukee Historic Preservation staff are requiring review of any project associated with the 37th Street School site[26]. 

 

Footnotes

 

[1] City of Milwaukee, Adaptive Reuse – Affordable Housing Former 37th Street School 1715 North 37th Street, 1.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Leary, MPS transfers 5 empty buildings to city. Will anyone buy them?, 1.

[7] Ibid.

[8] City of Milwaukee, Subchapter 5 Residential Districts,171.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Demcak, Survey of Thirty-Seventh Street School Milwaukee Public School Building Inventory, 4.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid., 5.

[16] Ibid., 5.

[17] Ibid., 5.

[18] Ibid., 5.

[19] Ibid., 6.

[20] Ibid., 6.

[21] Ibid., 6.

[22] Ibid., 6.

[23] Ibid., 6.

[24] City of Milwaukee Health Department and Department of City Development, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment 1715 N. 37th St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ES-2.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Ibid.