The land formerly known as the San Damiano Friary has a storied history. It was an encampment site for the Ho-Chunk nation, then was used by the Norbertine Catholic religious order of seminarians. Last summer, the city of Monona purchased the sprawling property – including leisurely lakefront access – for more than $8 million, with some help from the county and state. Now, a steering committee wants your input on how to best use the space, in order to influence a master plan for the future of the former San Damiano property.
An online public survey about the project opened on October 1, and closes this Saturday, October 15. The survey, available in English or Spanish, consists of 22 questions, ranging from your familiarity with the property, how you’re likely to travel there, and what you value about the property and its future.
One question, in particular, concerns the Frank Allis House. It asks “How important is the Frank Allis House, in the context of your overall appreciation of the property?”
That’s a Monona landmark built in the late 1800s, so named for Frank Allis, the son of the founder of the Allis-Chalmers farm machinery company in Milwaukee.
And the Frank Allis House, to concerned citizen Rick Bernstein, is the most important issue. He’s campaigning to keep the house and says it wouldn’t cost too much to restore.
“I think a lot of the house is still very much intact. If you just lovingly took off more modern materials that were applied to the house, like asbestos siding, you would find a beautiful 19th-century house underneath. I don’t think it would take much to take that house into something as it was beautiful as it was originally. It really was something special, and could be again.”
Bernstein is concerned that the house will be demolished because the steering committee thinks restoration costs will be too expensive. He says that the Friends of San Damiano have named their goals for the property which include preserving the environment and culture of the land.
Friends of San Damiano president Andrew Kitslaar said the survey results will impact the city’s decision about the house.
“This survey and public input are going to be integral to the development of the property,” says Kitslaar.
The community survey, located on the City of Monona’s website, is open until Saturday, October 15. You can take it here.
The San Damiano Steering Committee will present the results of the survey, and a timeline of the master plan process, at their meeting next Tuesday, October 18, at 7pm at Monona Grove High School.
