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Community Planning and Development
Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School of Architecture Historic District National Register nomination updated, District boundaries expanded The Historic Preservation Commission has submitted an application to update and expand the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture National Register Historic District. Click here to review the nomination application. The revised district includes the area bounded by Division Street on the north, Lake and Ontario streets on the south, Ridgeland Avenue on the east and Harlem Avenue on the west. When the District was created locally in 1972 – and listed on the National Register in 1973 – the very brief nomination focused on the work of Wright and his colleagues and did not include much detail about the range and quality of architecture in the District. The passage of years has since sharpened understanding and appreciation of other architects who worked in the District before and after Wright. About the District The creation of Oak Park's first historic district in 1972 was a seminal event in the community's history, as well as for architectural appreciation in Illinois and nation. The Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District contains a truly remarkable collection of late 19th and early 20th century residential architecture. Within the 97-block historic district is the single greatest concentration of residences in the world designed by Prairie School architects. While internationally famous as the birthplace of the Prairie style, Oak Park is less well known for its other types of well-preserved architecture, ranging from the simple farmhouses of its early settlers to the large estates of Chicago's industrial giants. The district contains about 1,900 buildings, including 23 buildings designed or remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as many other properties that were designed by his contemporaries, associates and students. The homes in the expansion areas provide a continuation of the age, type and styles found within the existing district boundaries. About the nomination The Historic Preservation Commission enlisted the support of many individuals who are knowledgeable about Oak Park's rich architectural heritage to help conduct an architectural survey and prepare the nomination. These volunteers compiled research information gathered over the years, and the Oak Park Photography Club created digital photos of every structure in the district. Thomason and Associates from Nashville, Tennessee, was hired to complete the survey of all properties and prepare the National Register nomination form to document the national significance of the historic district. The consultant also reviewed the boundaries of the district to make recommendations on potential changes. The project spanned four years, from its beginning in 2005 to the final approval in 2009. Copies of the final Architectural Survey are available for viewing in the Community Planning & Development Department at Village Hall, the Oak Park Public Library and the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest. The completed nomination was submitted to the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Commission (IHSAC) for review at their June 2008 meeting in Springfield. IHSAC reviews all National Register nominations from Illinois and makes recommendations to the National Park Service, who has final approval. IHSAC provided its recommendation for approval, following further revisions to the nomination, at its September 2008 meeting in Rockford. The document was sent to the National Park Service for final review and approval in October 2008. The National Park Service approved the nomination and the historic district expansion was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 2009. Click here for a summary sheet on the project and historic district map. For more information For more information about the nomination effort, call 708.358.5417 or e-mail the Historic Preservation Division
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Contact Number: Related Commission: Related Commission Minutes: Related Information Useful Links Village Code: Historic Districts Map: |
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