HomeMy Public PortalAboutHistoric Preservation Brochure14907 S. Bartlett Avenue, now a local landmark is shown in 1999, prior to rehabilitation, and in 2008 following rehabilitation. The owners completed much of the rehabilitation on their own and were awarded a rehabilitation grant to restore deteriorated elements, repair deteri orated features, and to assist with continuing maintenance. There are numerous economic and other incentives for preservation including: Recognition and Prestige —To showcase the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past embodied in the Village’s architecture and historic sites. A plaque will distinguish all individual landmarks. Technical Assistance —The Community Development Department and the Historic Preservation Commission are available to provide technical assistance for any matter pertaining to preservation. Concept reviews are also encouraged for the restoration and rehabilitation of buildings and sites. Record of the Village’s History —The landmark nomination research will contribute to a documented history of the Village’s architectural and historical resources. Resale Value —Some studies reveal that historic designation is associated with higher property values for individual landmarks. Financial Incentives —Locally, there is the Rehabilitation Grant Program. Property owners who complete a substantial rehabilitation of a contributing residential property may be eligible for the Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Other tax credits are also available for income producing properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Economic Revitalization —Restoring or rehabilitating a property has more community benefits and makes fewer demands on city services and transportation infrastructure than new construction. Community benefits include returning vacant or underutilized building spaces to use, stimulating investment in existing properties, attracting new business, adding jobs, attracting new residents and increasing local tax revenue. Plainfield, Illinois Benefits of Preservation Financial Incentives Historic Preservation The Illinois Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program is for owners of registered historic residential structures of up to six units that has a substantial rehabilitation that significantly improves the condition of the building. At least 25 percent of the property’s market value must be spent on an approved rehabilitation project. With the program, the assessed valuation of the property is frozen for eight years at its level the year the rehabilitation began. The valuation is then brought to market level over a period of four years. Two types of Historic Preservation Tax Credits are available. There is also a 20 percent tax credit for a substantial rehabilitation of income producing properties that are certified as historic. This is available for commercial, agricultural, industrial, and rental properties. A 10 percent tax credit available for non-contributing, non-historic structures built before 1936. The Village of Plainfield’s Rehabilitation Grant Program provides a matching grant up to $10,000 for preserving, restoring, or rehabilitating the historic character of a structure’s exterior. This program is available for historic landmarks and contributing properties located within historic districts. 12/08
In 2004, the Village Board passed the Village of Plainfield Historic Preservation Ordinance. The purposes of the ordinance are to: • Provide a mechanism to identify and preserve the distinctive historic architectural area, buildings, structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites which represent elements of the Village’s cultural, social, economic, political, and/or architectural history. • Foster civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past as embodied in the Village’s architecture and historic sites. • Protect and increase the value of property within the historic districts of the Village and those sites designated as landmarks. • Encourage preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of the Village’s historic buildings and structures and of its historic residential and commercial neighborhoods. • Ensure that the economic benefits resulting from preservation, including tax incentives, new jobs, and renewed buildings, are available to the citizens of Plainfield. The designation of a house or other building as historic, or as a historic landmark, means that the building has special qualities that are worthy of preservation, perhaps because it is architecturally important, was the home of an important person, was the place of an important event, or for some other reason significant to Plainfield. Landmarks A landmark is a property recommended by the HPC and officially designated by the Village Board for its historic and/or architectural significance. By the end of 2008, six residences in the Village were local landmarks. Districts A district is a grouping of sites, properties and/or buildings recommended by the HPC and officially designated by the Village Board for its historic and/or architectural value. A district may consist of individual landmarks, contributing properties and non-contributing properties. The East Side Historic District, with 35 residences, was approved in 2008. Nomination Nominations for landmark or district status may be made by any Village of Plainfield property owner, businessperson, the HPC, or the Village Board. For a landmark nomination, the property owner must provide consent. The nomination will not be accepted if more than 50 percent of the voting property owners whose properties are located within the proposed district boundaries object to the designation. 14931 S. Bartlett Avenue 14914 S. Bartlett Avenue Plainfield began with the construction of a sawmill on the DuPage River. This led to the settlement of Walkers’ Grove in 1829, which was located just south of the present Village of Plainfield. In 1833, the Village was created from 160 acres of land purchased by Chester Ingersoll. An inn and tavern were among the first businesses established on Main Street in the northern part of town. In 1834, industries in Plainfield included a cheese factory, grist mill, tile factory, wagon manufacturing facility, and the Dillman foundry at the corner of Route 30 and Route 59. Many fine, though simple, wood-framed residences were erected. Several congregations were formed and built houses of worship. The current historic urban core continued to expand and evolve over the next several decades. Recent growth has significantly affected Plainfield. In 1990, there were 4,557 people in the community. By 2008 Plainfield had a population of 37,334. For more information contact: Village of Plainfield Planning Division 24401 W. Lockport Street Plainfield, IL 60544 (815)439-2824 www.plainfield-il.org/village /historicpreservation.php History Historic Landmarks and Districts Historic Preservation Ordinance Historic Preservation Commission The Historic Preservation Commission began with the passage of the Historic Preservation Ordinance in 2004. The HPC is comprised of nine citizen appointees who have special knowledge or training in fields closely related to historic preservation. The HPC meets the second and fourth Thursday of every month at 7pm at the Village Hall. Interested members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend meetings. 14912 S. Center Street