In 2021, Madison’s Common Council okayed the demolition of these two adjacent Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity houses in the 600 block of North Lake Street so they could be replaced by an eight-story apartment building that reserved two floors for the fraternity’s continued use. Both of the fraternity houses contributed to the Langdon Street National Register Historic District. Now that they have been torn down and the new building constructed, the fraternity is no longer a participant. Find out what little we know about this disappointing turn of events.

The twists and turns were many, but as of February 25, the City of Madison has a new demolition ordinance. Last month’s Advocacy News raised concerns whether the original draft of the proposed ordinance would make it more difficult for buildings with historic value to survive a demolition application. That dark outlook seems to be somewhat lighter due to the strong efforts from a wide range of historic preservation supporters.

This month we have two topics in our Advocacy News. We have provided information about the proposed ordinance revisions and the proposal to demolish two contributing buildings in the Wingra Park National Register Historic District denied a second time by the Plan Commission on January 13.

Gates of Heaven Synagogue is one of the smaller landmark buildings in Madison. It is also one of the most visible given its location at North Gorham and East Butler Streets, a site to which it was moved in July of 1971. For more than 100 years, the synagogue stood on West Washington Avenue. This is the story of the Old Synagogue in its original location.

With three-sided footprints, the Suhr Building and the Jackman Building are examples of a “flatiron,” a common building form in Madison thanks to the street plan devised by James Duane Doty when he was pitching the isthmus, then occupied by the Ho-Chunk, as the capital of the new Wisconsin Territory in 1836. This month we look at this popular building form and where we see it in our community.

At the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, celebrating the city’s historic places is at the core of our mission. With the season of celebrations upon us, there’s no better time to share the joy of Madison’s history and architecture than through a gift from the Madison Trust—whether it’s an annual membership, summer walking tour tickets, or our NEW swag! We also mention a range of locally inspired gifts, from books and ornaments to a Frank Lloyd Wright tea set, all celebrating the things that make Madison and Wisconsin truly special.