| Community Planning & Development |
|
|
|
|
 |
Community Planning & Development
Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School of Architecture Historic District Village Board approves expansion Feb. 22, 2012 – The Village Board has approved the proposal to expand the boundaries of the local Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture historic district. The boundaries of the National Register historic district were expanded in 2009, and this approval now matches the local boundaries to the national ones. The Historic Preservation Commission hosted a series of public meetings to discuss the proposal with property owners within the proposed new boundaries in 2011 before forwarding a recommendation for approval to the Village Board. For more information call 708.358.5417 or e-mail planning@oak-park.us. *** Review of proposed FLW Historic District expansion postponed Dec. 2, 2011 – The Village Board has postponed its review of a proposal to expand the boundaries of the local Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture historic district. The review, originally planned for Dec. 5, likely will occur in January. The boundaries of the National Register historic district were expanded in 2009, and the proposal is to match the local boundaries to the national ones. The Historic Preservation Commission hosted a series of public meetings to discuss the proposal with property owners within the proposed new boundaries before forwarding a recommendation for approval to the Village Board. For more information on the proposal, call 708.358.5417 or e-mail planning@oak-park.us. *** Resident input needed by Aug. 31 Aug. 11, 2011 – Following a successful project to expand the National Register district boundaries of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District in 2009, the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) now is looking to expand the local district boundaries to match. Public meetings were held on March 21, June 23 and July 18 to gather comments from the residents in the district and the proposed expansion area. Turnout for these meetings was rather low, with the comments evenly divided between residents who support the expansion and those who oppose it. The HPC expects to bring this issue to a vote in the fall, but hopes to hear from more residents before final action is taken. Any resident within the proposed district boundaries is urged to send questions or comments by August 31, 2011 via e-mail to kaarre@oak-park.us. Click here to view an information packet, including a list of frequently asked questions and a map of the proposed expansion areas. Why do we need to take this extra step, if the buildings are already listed on the National Register? While a listing on the National Register of Historic Places sounds impressive and brings recognition, it offers no protection. Including these properties in a local historic district helps ensure that the buildings and homes will not be demolished and replaced with something that is much larger and out of scale with the rest of the block, or that the exteriors are not radically altered in ways that will destroy the neighborhood’s appearance and property values. Ultimately, the designation helps the Village maintain those things that make the Wright district such an interesting, attractive, and desirable place to live and work. The National Register is an honorary listing and does prevent property owners from making changes, including demolition, or force owners to make improvements to their property. Properties located within a locally designated historic district are required to work with Village Planning staff and submit proposed exterior projects visible from the street to the Historic Preservation Commission for review. Typically, less than 20 percent of all permits are reviewed by the Commission, with the majority gaining approval by staff. Projects will be asked to comply with the Preservation Commission’s Architectural Review Guidelines – click here to review. Adding additional areas to the local historic district will help maintain and protect the unique character of the Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School of Architecture Historic District over the long term. The area was nationally recognized in 2010 as one America’s 10 Great Neighborhoods by the American Planning Association. To help support rehabilitation projects in the district, contributing structures may be eligible for tax incentives, including:
*** National Register nomination updated, District boundaries expanded on May 22, 2009 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
|
Contact Number: Related Commission: Related Commission Minutes: Related Information • Boundary Expansion Evaluation • Expansion public meeting information • National Register nomination application Survey Property Reports Useful Links Village Code: Historic Districts Map: |
|
Copyright © 1997 - 2006 Village of Oak Park, All Rights Reserved |
|
|
|
