AGING IN PLACE + WASHINGTON PARK

WILLOWGLEN ACADEMY

 

Introduction

 

The Willowglen Academy, originally referred to as the Kinley Lodge (later renamed the Lady Pitts Center), was completed in 1921 by the architecture firm, Buemming & Guth[1].  The Milwaukee based firm was known for known for its adaptive, utilitarian designs[2].  Many of the buildings developed by the firm exhibited similar design elements such as, reinforced concrete structures, lack of ornamentation and brick and masonry material systems[3].  These characteristics are apparent in Willowglen Academy.

 

Location

 

Willowglen Academy is located at 3903 W Lisbon Avenue.  W Lisbon Avenue, N 39th Street and N 40th Street border the property on the north, the east and the west.  Single family homes are directly adjacent to the property on the south and west.  The property is in close proximity to the United Methodist Children’s Services, Washington Park, Progressive Health Care Clinics, Family Dental Center, and the Washington Park Library.

 

Zoning

 

The Willowglen Academy is zoned CS (Commercial Services).

 

“This district is intended to provide areas where businesses and personal service establishments can be accommodated, but where extensive retail activities are not warranted by city plans.[4]”

 

Environmental

 

The Willowglen Academy property is not located  within the FEMA floodplane.

 

Site Observations

 

The building is set back approximately 35’ from N 39th Street and approximately 100’ from W Lisbon Avenue.  A pathed pedestrian entrance on the corner of W Lisbon Avenue and N 39th Street intersects the north lawn.  The property is void of vegetation (besides grass) with the exception of a small prairie garden and three immature trees on the front lawn.  A chain link fence surrounds the 9,000 square foot surface parking lot.  A flag pole is positioned on the upper north east corner of the property.  The building is surrounded by single family homes on the east, west and south and commercial enterprise to the north.  An alley with outlets on N 39th Street and N 40th Street is directly west of the building.  A small vacant commercial building is located on the upper north-west corner of the block, which offers an opportunity for the Willowglen Academy property to extend to the corner of N 40th Street and W Lisbon Avenue. 

 

Building History and Composition

 

Information regarding the history and composition of Willowglen Academy is significantly less compared to that of the 37th Street School.  The building was most recently occupied by Pheonix Care Systems, which is a residential treatment center for adults with mental illness.  Previously, the facility was occupied by the Lady Pitts Center, which functioned as an alternative school for pregnant and parenting students within the Milwaukee Public School District.  The Kinley Lodge was the building’s first occupant, though there is little to no information describing the program or use at the time of occupancy.  Historical records show the building was originally utilized as a meeting hall.[5]

 

The neoclassical building is primarily composed of brick in a running bond formation.  Decorative brick frames border the recessed windows on the east façade.  A stone stringcourse divides the ground level and the first floor while a brick stringcourse divides the first and second floors.  A stone stringcourse along the base of the building gives definition to the foundation.  The main entrance is elevated approximately 6.5’ above street level and is accessible by an exterior stair on the north façade.  An exterior fire stair, which is accessible at street level, runs parallel to the south façade and exits on the east side of the property.  A third exit is located at street level on the west façade.  A chimney is apparent on the west side of the building. 

 

Footnotes

 

[1] Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, "Kinley Lodge", "Washington Park", "Milwaukee", "Wisconsin", " 116680"

[2] On, Milwaukee Architect – Herman W. Buemming.

[3] Ibid.

[4] City of Milwaukee, Subchapter 6 Commercial Districts,811.

[5] Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, "Kinley Lodge", "Washington Park", "Milwaukee", "Wisconsin", " 116680"