Historic preservationists and park activists are butting heads over what to do with city-owned property surrounding James Madison Park.

The James Madison Park Property Planning Committee proposal will make a recommendation in the coming weeks as to what to do with three historic houses and the land under the Lincoln School apartments.

“Over the years, there have been very strong park proponents who would like to see James Madison Park expanded,” Assistant City Attorney Anne Zellhoefer said. “On the other hand, there are the historic preservationists that believe the buildings have historical value.”

Zellhoefer said there is a city ordinance stating any change in ownership of city-owned land located next to a body of water requires a city referendum, unless the City Council votes to override the ordinance.

“To me, a referendum for this project is nuts,” said David Wallner, chair of the James Madison Park Property Planning Committee, adding it would only cost the city time and money.

Wallner said the committee’s first priority would be selling the land under the Lincoln School, which could sell for up to $1 million.

The city could use the money on improvements to James Madison Park and give the rest to the Parks Foundation to improve other Madison parks, Wallner said.

Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, said in an e-mail to The Badger Herald that the neighborhood associations and the Madison Historic Trust want to sell the land under the Lincoln School “with conditions about what will happen if the building is destroyed.”

The Lincoln School building is currently owned by Urban Land Investments, which has shown interest in purchasing the land in the past, Wallner said.

However, Konkel said neighborhood associations and the Madison Historic Trust are not as supportive of moving any of the three houses.

She added they hope the Collins House, a former bed and breakfast, remains public.

The other two houses at 640 and 646 E. Gorham St. could be sold but not moved, and the land should remain property of the Parks Deparment, Konkel said.

According to Wallner, the ordinance was initially passed before the Monona Terrace was built because City Council did not want to approve large commercial projects on city land without public input.

“The ordinance was intended for big projects, not the selling of a few houses,” Wallner said.

A majority vote in City Council can waive the requirement to have a referendum, which he said has been done before for other projects like the Brittingham Boathouse.

The houses are all considered local historical landmarks, but Wallner said organizations, such as Madison Historic Trust, do not have the financial means to purchase the buildings or land.

The committee will meet again on Sept. 30 to develop its recommendation to the City Council, but no final decisions will be made until early spring, Wallner said.