Proposed ordinance would add step to Milwaukee historic building demolition process

The ordinance would require historic building documentation before demolition as a condition of approving a certificate of appropriateness.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A proposed ordinance in Milwaukee aims to add a new requirement for any plans to demolish a historic building in the city. The ordinance, authored by Fourth District Alderman Bob Bauman, would prohibit the issuance of a demolition permit until documentation of the historic building is submitted. The ordinance does not change existing demolition procedures or timelines.

Why it matters

The ordinance is being considered as a newly-formed committee is reviewing a study that suggests a convention center hotel could replace the Miller High Life Theatre, a historic building in Milwaukee. The proposed ordinance would add an extra step to the demolition process for historic buildings like the theatre.

The details

The ordinance would 'require historic building documentation before demolition as a condition of approving a certificate of appropriateness for designated or registered historic buildings, structures, or site features'. The ordinance was added to the City's Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee's agenda on the same day a new committee met to discuss a study that suggested a convention center hotel could replace the Miller High Life Theatre.

  • The ordinance is being considered by the City's Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee on February 24, 2026.
  • The new Highest and Best Use Analysis Committee met for the first time on February 20, 2026 to discuss a study about a potential convention center hotel.

The players

Bob Bauman

Fourth District Alderman who authored the proposed ordinance.

Hunden Partners

A Chicago-based firm that released a 116-page study suggesting a convention center hotel could replace the Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee.

Steve Haemmerle

Executive Vice President of Hunden Partners.

Pabst Theater Group

The exclusive booker and operator for public, ticketed entertainment events at the Miller High Life Theatre.

Gary Witt

President and CEO of the Pabst Theater Group, which is on the board of directors of the National Independent Venue Association.

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What they’re saying

“It seems your thumb was on the scale.”

— Bob Bauman, Fourth District Alderman (wtmj.com)

“Nowhere in the study did it explicitly suggest tearing down the theatre and replacing it with a convention center hotel, but that is a conclusion that you all could reach.”

— Steve Haemmerle, Executive Vice President, Hunden Partners (wtmj.com)

What’s next

The City's Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee will meet again in March 2026 to further discuss the proposed ordinance and the study on the potential convention center hotel.

The takeaway

This proposed ordinance highlights the ongoing tension between preserving historic buildings and the potential economic benefits of new development in Milwaukee. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of landmarks like the Miller High Life Theatre.