This downtown Milwaukee office tower is considered historic. It opened in 1989

A downtown Milwaukee office towe r is being deemed historic by city officials − despite being just 35 years old.

The owners of 100 East, 100 E. Wisconsin Ave., plan to seek federal and state historic preservation tax credits to help finance its conversion to around 380 apartments.

The Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission voted to support the building's nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. That listing would qualify the building for tax credits if approved by the National Park Service.

The commission voted 3-1 Monday to endorse the listing − even though most buildings on the National Register are at least 50 years old. 100 East was completed in 1989.

The building is the most important Milwaukee example of post-modern design, said Andrew Stern, a city historic preservation planner.

"I think it's hard to argue against that," said Stern.

He listed for commission members other examples of post-modern design that include 330 Kilbourn, an office building at 330 E. Kilbourn Ave.; the Associated Bank River Center office tower, 111 E. Kilbourn Ave., and the Baird Center's first phase, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.

The National Register has other post-modern buildings that are around 35 years old, said Tim Askin, a historic preservation planner. 100 East would be the first such Wisconsin building to be listed, he said.

Ald. Robert Bauman, a commission member whose district includes downtown, said the nomination was motivated by the developers' plans to obtain tax credits.

"If they can get this through the National Park Service," Bauman said, "more power to them."

Those credits pay for portions of building renovations done according to the service's preservation standards.

100 East sold in August to developers

The 35-story, 435,629-square-foot building was sold in August for $28.75 million to 100 East Propco LLC, a group led by Klein Development Inc. and developer and investor John Vassallo .

They plan to convert the largely empty building after the last few office tenants relocate . Those renovations are to begin in spring 2025.

100 East, developed by Faison Associates with financing from Northwestern Mutual, replaced a building that was considered historic: the 14-story Pabst Building.

The Pabst Building, which opened in 1892, was Milwaukee’s first skyscraper.

It was demolished in 1981 by Madison-based development firm Carley Capital Group − which led the Milwaukee Common Council and Mayor Henry Maier to create the Historic Preservation Commission. Any building designated as historic by the commission cannot be demolished without city approval.

An earlier version of this article included an incorrect vote count.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram , X and Facebook .

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: This downtown Milwaukee office tower is considered historic. It opened in 1989