D P Wigley

08/22/2026

Mark and I would like to express our deepest gratitude to those who have supported our effort to secure official designation of the DP Wigley building as a historic landmark. On Monday, August 17th, members of the Racine Planning, Heritage and Landmarks Commission voted to forward their recommendation to the Common Council, who will vote on September 15th.
We have plans to renovate and restore this 5 1/2-story historic building, and return it to full use.
Thank you to everyone who spoke so kindly of us and our building, and thanks to our team of experts who have given us so much wonderful support. Matt Sadowski, Cindy Fawcett, Jim Chambers, Brian O’Connell, Keith Kohlmann, this would have been much harder without all of your enormous expertise.
Thank you, Mayor Mason, for your very kind words, and to the members of the Commission who voted unanimously to bestow this historic designation. It won’t happen overnight, but your actions will enable us to turn this building into a great benefit to our community.
Thank you all so very much! Chris and Mark Flynn

08/22/2026

On Monday, August 17, the Racine Planning Heritage and Design Commission (PHDC) discussed and approved an application to grant local landmark status to the DP Wigley building at 234 Wisconsin Avenue. This cream-brick building, built in 1872, is a rare survivor from the heyday of Racine's riverfront and harbor industrial area. Preservation Racine President Scott Leonard appeared at the meeting and spoke in favor of the application. The application will be sent to the Common Council for their approval.

Local landmark designation is the strongest level of protection that a Wisconsin community can provide to its historic buildings. If approved, DP Wigley would be just the 8th landmark in Racine to enjoy this protection. Current and future owners who want to make significant exterior changes (or even demolish it) will have to seek PHDC consideration and approval at a public meeting.

We applaud the DP Wigley owners for taking this step to protect the historic integrity of their property, and we hope it will inspire more local owners to do the same.

04/25/2026