Oconomowoc group hopes to prevent historic home from being turned into condo development

 

A local group in Oconomowoc is hoping to preserve a historic home on North Lake Road. In the last 10 years, the Isthmus Historic Preservation Society has worked to save six historic homes.

Group members are putting up signs and getting petition signatures to protect a home at 517 N. Lake Road. The home dates back to 1837 and a portion of the home is one of the oldest in the City of Oconomowoc. 

"Many of the homes have come under developmental pressure to try to  have them knocked down, raised and put up into condo towers," said Dr. David Cullinane, Executive Director of Isthmus Historic Preservation Society.

According to the group, the developer wants to build 13 condominiums in the space. 

“About 20 years ago, the city put in place some amendments to try to protect North Lake Road from over development but unfortunately some developers have attempted to go around some amendments to build large developments in the middle of a historic neighborhood," said Cullinane. 

There will be a peaceful protest at the next Architectural Commission meeting on October 11th at 4:00 p.m. CBS 58 has reached out to the developer but is waiting to hear back. 

“We are not anti-condo, we are not anti-development but we feel there is an important balance. You have to preserve some areas as a historic neighborhood," said Cullinane.