After a public hearing on Nov. 3 the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously (7–0) to recommend permanent historic designation for the Milwaukee Auditorium and the Milwaukee Arena (presently Miller High Life Theatre and UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena).

Staff delivered an extended historical and contextual report tracing the site’s civic‑center role from Byron Kilbourn’s 1835 land bequest through the Exposition Building and the 1907–09 Ferry & Claes Milwaukee Auditorium (Beaux‑Arts/neoclassical) and the 1948–50 Eschweiler & Eschweiler Milwaukee Arena (International/modern). Staff argued the properties satisfy multiple designation criteria in the municipal code: F1 (cultural/historic contribution to city development), F2 (site of significant historic event — including Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 speech after he was shot), F5 (architectural embodiment of styles: Beaux‑Arts for the Auditorium and International for the Arena), F6 (work of significant local architectural firms Ferry & Claes and Eschweiler & Eschweiler), and F9 (landmark status and long‑standing prominence in the civic center).

A public speaker, Josh Levy, representing the Wisconsin Center District, urged denial or deferment on procedural and timing grounds. He argued the owner was surprised by the application, raised questions about whether the commission had carried out the survey/master‑planning steps described in the ordinance, and asked that designation not be adopted while the District’s consultant study (Hunden Partners) and any coordination with district planning were underway. Commissioners and public commenters debated timing and transparency: several commissioners said designation would ensure future proposed changes would pass through a public process rather than be decided solely by the property owner or a small board, while others urged more coordination with the Wisconsin Center District and consideration of updated analysis.

The commission convened a public hearing, heard testimony, closed the hearing, and then moved to recommend permanent historic designation of the auditorium and arena; the motion passed unanimously. The commission recorded that designation does not automatically prevent future changes—the common council and subsequent permit processes would still contemplate any modification or demolition proposals—but it does bring the properties under the local historic‑preservation regulatory process and require additional public review if demolition or significant alteration is proposed.

Provenance: staff report on historical/civic significance (transcript at 00:53:53–01:19:47 and later summary slides); public comment by Wisconsin Center District representative Josh Levy (transcript at 02:04:37–02:24:00); motion and unanimous vote to recommend designation (transcript at 02:04:37–02:28:00).