Talks continue over fate of historic farmhouse

Discussions are continuing about options for preserving a 145-year-old farmhouse that is proposed to be razed or moved as part of the redevelopment of a north side shopping center.

Mukwonago developer 4 S has proposed a multi-year redevelopment at the Stonewood Village shopping center on Capitol Drive west of Calhoun Road. The plans call for reconfigured parking, the expansion of several buildings and construction of five additional buildings on the 8-acre site.

The first phase, which has been approved by the city's Plan Commission, calls for the construction of a 4,800-square-foot specialty retail shop and the connection of the center's east and west parking lots, which would require the removal of the historic farmhouse building.

The Common Council is expected to consider approval of the first phase of the plan and options for moving the building on Tuesday.

Building to be relocated?

4 S has pledged $10,000 toward the cost of relocating the building, but Director of Administration Dean Marquardt said earlier this month that moving costs could top $100,000, if site work is included.

Curator Marion Bruhn and other members of the Elmbrook Historical Society toured the home this week and met with Stonewood Village owner Michael Schutte. Historical society president Sheila Christiansen and others were expected to address the council before its discussion Tuesday.

Bruhn, who was involved in the relocation of the Dousman Stagecoach Inn in the 1980s to its site on Pilgrim Parkway, said moving the brick farmhouse would be "very difficult."

Plus, there isn't room on the historical society grounds for the 3,800-square-foot building, she said.

"We have actually no room for that (farmhouse)," she said. "We're just a two-acre site in a wetland, and you can't put a big house like that in a wetland."

Official: House 'worth saving'

Sixth District Alderman Jerry Mellone said he would like to see the farmhouse stay on the Stonewood Village site because of the expense of relocating it elsewhere.

"I think that there could be other things done with that site to keep building," he said. "I just think it's going to be too expensive to move it anywhere and try and maintain its historical presence."

Mellone said he understands Schutte bought Stonewood Village to renovate the property and make money, but losing the historic farmhouse would be a detriment to the shopping center and the city's history as a whole.

"It's a property worth saving," he said. "It's a shame just to see it go the way of the wrecking ball."

Schutte had no comment on the proposal when reached by phone on Friday.