June 26, 2026 5:30p
(WGTD)---Frustration and friction at a Kenosha Historic Preservation Commission meeting Thursday night on progress in saving a Kenosha landmark from the wrecking ball.
A couple of committee members accused the current owners of the former Eagles Club in downtown Kenosha of being less than aggressive in marketing the historic structure as a jewel that needs to be preserved.
The owners say a burst frozen water pipe two years ago made the building inoperable as a banquet center. Co-owner Dan Madrigrano said they no longer can afford the taxes and upkeep, much less spend the millions to rehab the building. He said the only interested buyers are ones that want to tear it down and build high-rise housing. "I understand your goal is to try to preserve the building," Madrigrano told the four commissioners who were present. "I would love to see it preserved too. But I've tried. I've tried with every reasonable buyer out there that does projects like this to no avail."
The asking price is $2.2 million.
Commission Chair Jan Michalski said he believes the owners could do more. "A lot of people are very alarmed at the prospect of this building coming down," he said.
The nearly 90-minute-long conversation at times became heated.
Discussions are expected to continue at least until a six-month cooling off period expires in October.
In the meantime, the city is expected to explore the suggestion that the privately-owned building be coupled with some adjacent city properties to be marketed as a package.
Commission member Kathryn Jones urged both the city and the owners to try harder to come up with a creative solution.
The owners have hired Mike Pitts of Pitts Brothers to help market the building.
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