3217 W. Wells St. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

Milwaukee has – at least for six months – a new landmark building.

Check out the newly named Schuster-Bloodgood Flats, a residential home at 3217 W. Wells St. in the city’s Concordia neighborhood.

The building was constructed in 1906 as a three-unit apartment building designed to look like a house. It was built by the tobacco entrepreneur George Schuster and built as an investment property next to his private residence, the Schuster Mansion at 3209 W. Wells St.

On Monday, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously granted the building a temporary historic preservation designation, valid for up to 180 days, which serves as an injunction against any changes to the building. A hearing on the permanent designation is scheduled for Aug. 26, followed by a review by the City Council.

Oak Creek resident and real estate investor Jaswant Singhthrough Shaan Real Estate Inc., purchased the property in November for $100,100.

The nomination was submitted by Laura Sue Mosierwho owns the neighboring Schuster Mansion. She said a new owner had turned it into an illegal boarding house.

“He has been renting it illegally since November,” she told the commission. “I have heard from his tenants that he plans to demolish it and build new apartments for students.”

“This is a large piece of land. It could be redeveloped,” said Commissioner and District Councillor Robert Bauman.

Colonel Edward Bloodgooda Civil War regimental commander who was twice court-martialed (and twice deposed) was the building’s first occupant. He led a volunteer unit during the war.

“This man had a tremendous and important career protecting and fighting for the Union in the Civil War, freeing enslaved peoples, helping to take Atlanta for the Union, helping to end the war and basically achieving two presidential pardons along the way,” said HPC planner Tim Askin.

Askin said city records show the apartment was divided from three apartments into 14 or 15 individual rooms for rent in 1950, then by 1970 it had 17 rooms. “Seventeen rooms, three bathrooms and a kitchen,” Mosier said.

“It is a pity that we always have to pay attention to places when a disaster threatens,” said Commissioner Sally Peltz.

“People need to come forward,” Askin said.

One person who has not yet come forward is the owner.

Singh did not appear at Monday’s hearing. “The certified mail was signed, nothing else,” Askin said.

The house was designed by architect Charles Crane, a prolific and highly respected Milwaukee architect.

“It’s a transitional style building, sort of Colonial Revival, mostly Colonial Revival, but you can still see Queen Anne-era details and even a little bit of Italianate in it,” Askin said.

Crane, then in partnership with Carl Barkhausendesigned the neighboring Schuster Mansion in 1891 and several other Germanic-style houses throughout the city.

“Her architectural background in the city’s history is first-class,” said Askin of her training under Edward Townsend Blend and many houses.

Askin said the only noticeable change since a 1980 photo, the first known photo of the building, was the replacement of a handful of windows.

Photos

Related legislation: File 240493