Central City Plaza, a formerly Black-owned shopping center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has moved closer to receiving historic landmark designation. The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission recently voted to grant the center historic status, with five out of seven commission members supporting the designation. This milestone comes after months of dedicated campaigning by local preservationists who recognize the center’s cultural significance.
Historic Black-Designed Shopping Center Gains Preservation Recognition
Central City Plaza, designed by Alonzo Robinson, Wisconsin’s first licensed Black architect, stands as a testament to Black entrepreneurship during a time of widespread discrimination. The commission’s March 3 vote represents a crucial step toward ensuring this important piece of Milwaukee’s Black history remains intact for future generations.
The final decision on the site’s historic status now rests with the Milwaukee Common Council. If approved, the designation would protect the structure from demolition or significant alterations, preserving its architectural and cultural legacy. The center had previously faced the threat of partial demolition to make way for a homeless shelter.
Alonzo Robinson’s Legacy: Breaking Barriers in Wisconsin Architecture
Robinson, who passed away in 2000, chose to practice architecture in Milwaukee despite facing significant racism and discrimination. His daughter, Kim Robinson, recalled conversations with her siblings about their father’s decision to stay in Wisconsin rather than move to Chicago where he might have designed skyscrapers and earned more money.
“Because back then, in Wisconsin and Milwaukee, there was a lot of racism and discrimination,” Robinson would explain to his children. This reality didn’t deter him but instead inspired his vision to “develop something of our own” – a philosophy that guided the creation of Central City Plaza and many other significant buildings in Milwaukee’s Black community.
Thriving Black Business Hub Since 1973
The shopping center opened in 1973 through a collaboration between Robinson and lead developer Felmers Chaney, who was then the leader of Milwaukee’s NAACP chapter. Located in a predominantly Black neighborhood near downtown, the plaza quickly became a vibrant hub for Black-owned businesses and community gathering.
At its height, Central City Plaza housed a diverse array of Black-operated establishments including a bowling alley, pharmacy, supermarket, legal offices, and a restaurant serving everything from “veal cordon bleu as well as soul food.” The center provided crucial commercial space for Black entrepreneurs who were routinely denied leases by white shopping center owners based on discriminatory practices.
Community Preservation Efforts Highlight Cultural Significance
Before recent preservation campaigns brought attention to the plaza’s historical importance, part of Central City Plaza had been at risk of demolition. Emma Rudd, executive director of the Milwaukee Preservation Alliance, admitted she wasn’t initially aware of the plaza’s historic context.
“We are trying to preserve a story,” Rudd explained. “How do you preserve a story? You get the community involved. We need people to know about this.” The grassroots effort to save the plaza has since gained momentum, bringing together preservationists, community members, and those who remember the center’s significance in Milwaukee’s civil rights history.
Robinson’s Architectural Impact Extends Beyond Central City Plaza
Robinson’s architectural contributions extend well beyond Central City Plaza, with numerous churches and businesses he designed still standing and thriving today. Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, both Robinson designs, have received preservation grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Robinson was known throughout Milwaukee for assisting Black business owners and churches who were frequently rejected by white architects or accused of not having sufficient funds. His daughter still visits Fast n’ Friendly grocery store, another Robinson-designed establishment, where the owner continues to work and remembers her father fondly, saying, “Your dad Alonzo was a blessing to me because when no one else would do the work for me, your dad would do it.”
Historic Designation Represents Victory for Representation in Preservation
The move toward historic status for Central City Plaza represents a broader shift in preservation efforts nationwide to better recognize and protect sites significant to underrepresented communities. Traditional historic preservation has often overlooked places important to Black history and culture.
This recognition of Central City Plaza helps correct this imbalance by acknowledging the importance of spaces created by and for Black communities during the civil rights era. Furthermore, the designation would ensure that future generations can learn about Milwaukee’s history of segregation, discrimination, and the resilience of its Black entrepreneurs who created their own opportunities in the face of systemic racism.
