Illinois assists communities in historic preservation through federal grants

[MARCH 23, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Feb. 27 that Chicago, Decatur, Elgin, Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale, Kane County, Rock Island, O'Fallon, Oak Park and Orland Park have been selected to receive Certified Local Government grants from federal funds made available through the state for local historic preservation projects.

"Historic preservation begins at the grass-roots level, in local communities which have made their heritage a top priority," Blagojevich said. "These grant funds will help preserve that heritage as well as improve the quality of life for current and future generations."

Communities that have achieved Certified Local Government status under the National Historic Preservation Act were encouraged to apply for $83,746 in grant funds that are available this fiscal year through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. These federal funds are specifically earmarked for local grants in the areas of public preservation and development.

The federal grant funds administered by Illinois Historic Preservation Agency were awarded on a matching basis, with the federal funds paying for up to 70 percent of the project cost and local funds making up the remainder. The projects must relate to historic preservation and could include planning, public education, survey of historic properties, National Register of Historic Places properties and development.

Only certified entities may apply for the grants. The communities that have achieved this status are listed at www.illinois-history.gov/ps/clgs.pdf. [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDF file, click here.]

"The Certified Local Government program allows municipalities and counties to participate as partners in state and federal preservation activities," said Catherine O'Connor, Certified

Local Government program administrator for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. "Currently, we work with 57 such communities in all regions of the state."

2006 Certified Local Government grants

Chicago: $7,000 will be used to develop and make 30,000 copies of the 2006 Chicago Landmarks Map brochure, one of the city's most widely available public information resources. The publication will be updated to include 20 new local historic landmarks designated in 2005. Contact: Brian Goeken [phone].

Decatur: $12,635 has been awarded for the development of a West End Tour brochure that will highlight 85-100 historic properties that have recently been designated by Decatur's Historical and Architectural Sites Commission. More than 2,500 brochures will be made available through the convention and visitors bureau and other public venues. Contact: Kathy J. Miller [phone].

Elgin: $10,920 will be directed to an intensive downtown survey of historic resources dating from 1840 to 1880. A new surge of downtown redevelopment has raised concerns for these remaining historic resources, since a large portion of Elgin was demolished between 1950 and 1960 to make way for urban renewal and civic center parking. Contact: Sarosh Saher [phone].

Glen Ellyn: $13,860 will be spent to perform an architectural resource survey, detailing features of more than 300 properties. With more than 60 homes per year threatened by demolition in the community, this information is vital to preserve the broad diversity of architectural styles and neighborhood character that have defined this early residential railroad suburb. Contact: Curt Barrett [phone].

Hinsdale: $11,172 will be used to perform an architectural resource survey of the historic Robbins II neighborhood, portions of which include 1870s designs by Horace W.C. Cleveland with curving roads and parklike irregularly shaped residential lots. Of the 266 structures to be surveyed in the 23-block survey area, more than 200 are pre-1950 vintage and form the core of a potential local landmark historic district. Contact: Kristin Gunderson [phone].

Kane County: $3,360 has been awarded to develop and publish design guidelines that will help determine appropriate methods to preserve the architectural character of historic structures in the county. The design guidelines will offer solutions to help property owners and local government officials interact on historic preservation. Contact: Julia Thavong [phone].

Rock Island: $15,050 will be directed to the development of an architectural and historical walking tour brochure and companion CD focusing on the grand Victorian-era Broadway National Register Historic District. Nearly 50 of the 550 turn-of-the-century structures that make up the district will be highlighted with narratives and photos to illustrate the social, historical and architectural significance of these character-defining local historic resources. Contact: Jill Doak [phone].

O'Fallon: $2,065 will be used to produce a Historic Preservation Commission educational brochure describing the role of the commission and the process for historic landmark designation, highlighting the location and significance of present local historic landmarks. Contact: Ted Shekell [phone].

Oak Park: $1,050 has been awarded to produce educational brochures to help the Historic Preservation Commission provide residents instruction on window repair and replacement policies. The brochures will also provide maps and information about the local Ridegeland-Oak Park Historic District. The completion of these two brochures will complement a set of five brochures focusing on public education issues in Oak Park. Contact: Doug Kaare [phone].

Orland Park: $6,634.68 will be used to perform a comprehensive historic building survey of the Old Orland Historic District. The survey will lay the foundation for targeted preservation policies and financial programs and will be incorporated into neighborhood plans and design review guidelines. Contact: Bob Sullivan [phone].

[News release from the governor's office]

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