April 2023 | Advocacy News
Madison Trust Alder Candidate Survey
Spring 2023
It is important that our members and the public understand the important role their local government plays in the protection of local heritage, and the authority their elected representatives use to make decisions concerning the preservation and demolition of historic buildings.
We invited alder candidates to respond to the following questions and then make them available to you. The Madison Trust feels the preservation of our diverse cultural heritage makes Madison a more interesting and more desirable place to live. We encourage local politicians to reflect on how this diversity establishes a civic identity and promotes a positive sense of place.
Along with the survey, we sent out the Underrepresented Communities Historic Resources Survey Report, which can be found here.
To find out what aldermanic district you live in click here.
THERE IS THE MISCONCEPTION THAT PRESERVATIONISTS ARE ANTI-DEVELOPMENT WHEN THEY ADVOCATE SAVING OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE “FROM THE WRECKING BALL.” WE HAVE AN HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE THAT PROMOTES THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, AND THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES IN THE CITY. SHOULD DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS THAT REQUEST DEMOLISHING HISTORIC BUILDINGS BE REQUIRED TO EVALUATE ADAPTIVE REUSE?
John W. Duncan, D1 | YES
Colin Barushok, D2 | (no answer)
Derek Field, D3 | Maybe: Maybe: I am sensitive to the cost of housing units that come onto the market, and I want to learn more about the cost impact of an adaptive reuse evaluation. I like the idea of adaptive reuse and am glad we have an ordinance promoting its use, but I don't think I know enough yet about the cost impacts of a requirement on the resulting space.
Matthew Van Eperen, D3 | YES
Mike Verveer, D4 | YES
Davy Mayer, D6 | YES
Yannette Figueroa Cole, D10 | MAYBE, IT DEPENDS
Bill Tishler, D11 | YES
Amani Latimer Burris, D12 | YES
Kim Richman, D16 | YES
Jael Currie, D16 | MAYBE, IT DEPENDS
Michelle Ellinger Linley, D18 | Yes, when and where possible, we should always make an effort to preserve buildings if there is practical adaptive use for what is currently on a development site, but practical is the key word here; our communities don't make needed gains around housing, green space, and additional neighborhood resources without collaborating with our neighbors around what is the best use at the neighborhood level. Sometimes that will be adaptive reuse. Sometimes that will be green space/monumental elements. Sometimes that will be a little of both.
John Guequierre, D19 | YES
Kristen Slack, D19 | I agree, but there are always exceptions, so my answer is "Yes, in most cases."
IN 2020, THE CITY OF MADISON COMPLETED THE “UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY REPORT,” WHICH DOCUMENTED 117 RESOURCES OF HISTORIC INTEREST IMPORTANT TO AFRICAN AMERICAN, FIRST NATIONS, HMONG, LATINO/A, LGBTQ, AND WOMEN COMMUNITIES. IS IT IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC RESOURCES IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS UNDER PRESSURE FROM DEVELOPMENT AND GENTRIFICATION?
John W. Duncan, D1 | YES
Colin Barushok, D2 | YES
Derek Field, D3 | I believe that the community needs to find a balance between the historic preservation of important heritage sites and allowing the city to change and grow to meet its needs, like our need for more housing to address Madison's housing crisis. These are both important goals and I won't overlook either. Adaptive reuse looks like a good strategy for compromise.
Matthew Van Eperen, D3 | YES
Mike Verveer, D4 | YES
Davy Mayer, D6 | YES
Yannette Figueroa Cole, D10 | YES
Bill Tishler, D11 | YES
Amani Latimer Burris, D12 | YES
Kim Richman, D16 | YES
Jael Currie, D16 | MAYBE, IT DEPENDS
Michelle Ellinger Linley, D18 | I'm not sure if I am the best evaluator of where underrepresented communities' interests are on historic preservation; I would likely seek out groups and organizations that work in these communities before expressing any particular position to make sure the discourse is inclusive of relevant experts and specialists on the topic.
John Guequierre, D19 | YES
Kristen Slack, D19 | Yes, in many and perhaps even most cases. But I would want direct input from the group or groups whose history would be preserved, on each project in question.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO MEET WITH MADISON TRUST MEMBERS WHEN PRESERVATION ISSUES COME UP IN YOUR DISTRICT OR IN YOUR COMMITTEE?
John W. Duncan, D1 | YES
Colin Barushok, D2 | YES
Derek Field, D3 | My general answer is yes, with the only caveat being that I will keep my day job so meeting during business hours may be challenging.
Matthew Van Eperen, D3 | YES
Mike Verveer, D4 | YES
Davy Mayer, D6 | YES
Yannette Figueroa Cole, D10 | YES
Bill Tishler, D11 | YES
Amani Latimer Burris, D12 | YES
Kim Richman, D16 | YES
Jael Currie, D16 | YES
Michelle Ellinger Linley, D18 | YES
John Guequierre, D19 | YES
Kristen Slack, D19 | YES
CANDIDATE COMMENTS
Colin Barushok, D2
District 2 is the most dense district in the city. It also has the highest concentration of historical landmarks. I understand that as district 2 alder, I must defend historical assets and support the development of much needed new housing across the city.
Derek Field, D3
For me, historical preservation is a new area and an education opportunity. Thank you for sharing the questionnaire as well as the Underrepresented Communities Historic Resource Survey Report with me.
Matthew Van Eperen, D3
"Requiring an evaluation of adaptive reuse should come at no cost to the city, rather borne by the developer, and so there is really no down-side to requiring this. It’s reimagining the property. Maybe the building will be demolished, but if the developer is required to evaluate adaptive reuse, they might discover a new purpose for the property that allows for preservation and economic development.
Regarding the preservation of historic resources in neighborhoods under pressure from development and gentrification, I don’t think we should view preservation and development as either-or. I think we’re able to preserve certain aspects while allowing for development, but in any case, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to preserve resources of historic interest important to African American, First Nations, Hmong, Latino/a, LGBTQ, and Women communities in some way.
I will always meet with anyone affected by any issue before the Common Council. Keeping an open mind and listening is how we best collaborate and solve issues facing our city. Now, that’s not to say that I’ll agree or disagree with the Trust on every issue, but I will always act in good faith and listen.
Sure, sign me up for the newsletter! If elected, I recognize people have busy lives, so if schedules don’t align and we aren’t able to meet, the newsletter will at least provide me some info. And if I lose, at least I’ll learn something each month!"
Mike Verveer, D4
Thanks to the Madison Trust for all that you do!
Yannette Figueroa Cole, D10
Preservation and Development need to find a balance. I will like to see preservation discussions outside of last-minute attempts after developments are approved by committees.
I would like to learn more about “Underrepresented Communities Historic Resource Survey Report”.
Lastly, the preservation ordinance could benefit from having some clarity. It would be great if this committee would work with the Landmark Commission to update it.
Bill Tishler, D11
We need to not let another decade go by before the common council designates a local historic landmark in the city of Madison.
Amani Latimer Burris, D12
As a daughter and granddaughter to survivors of a once buried major event but historically significant town (and major event) Greenwood/aka America’s Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre; As a cousin to the person who ushered in Juneteenth (as the 11th National Holiday) because history and the freedom to know your history, our shared history , matters; As the daughter to parents who have changed the landscape of Madison and as a mother to a daughter who takes it for granted that she can now date and marry whomever she likes, —history, roots, what has happened before we arrived not only matters but builds community and makes cities unique. Our share spaces can reflect and incorporate this. We can take the time to create more affordable housing and also be wise enough to recognize the need to balance things so the past can be heard. It’s how you progressively make progress. You build upon the past into the future.
Thank you for sharing this. It’s like a novel. It will take me a while to go all through it but as I was perusing through it and looking at some of the photos, I recognize some of the people and events that happened or I heard that happened.
Kim Richman, D16
"Preservation of Madison's cultural neighborhoods is VERY important. Once that history is gone, it will never return. As the son of a father who grew up in ""The ''Bush"", and of Jewish immigrants who also lived there, it's a damn shame what Madison did to ""The 'Bush"" in the 60's. The Blacks, Jews, Irish, and Italians were one big family and they were torn apart.
I applaud those who continue to preserved the photos and history of the Greenbush and other old neighborhoods in Madison. "
John Guequierre, D19
Thank you for raising the profile of these important sites.
Kristen Slack, D19
I'm a fan of architecture and history. These things also need to be balanced with both advances and new genres in architecture as well as the degree of historical significance a building or space holds, particularly for those whose history is in question. Preserving the history and architecture of the Madison area can help retain aspects of Madison that contribute to the city's unique character. We also can't be stuck in the past, and should continue to welcome the new along with the old. Developers may not always realize the importance of physical spaces and buildings to Madison residents, so having strong historic preservation advocacy groups is critical for ensuring we don't tear down a local treasure.