Historic Preservation

SECTION 4 --- HISTORIC PRESERVATION “Why preserve - It is reasonable to ask, "Why preserve?" when faced with the decision of what to do Completed surveys: with an older property. The thought of starting fresh when faced with the problems of an older home or building is attractive in our modern society. The downside of this tendency, however, is that we Illinois Historic Structures Survey – 1972 (Interim Report 1972) lose part of our history every time we raze an old building. Without older structures that reflect the Illinois Historic Landmarks Survey – 1974 (Interim Report 1974) design and cultural aspirations of the past, communities take on a different character; neighborhoods Gifford Park Neighborhood photographic survey (Elgin Historic District) - 1981 lose their identity; we more easily forget those who went before us. When we preserve and restore Center City Survey - 1991 our historic resources-buildings, sites, structures, objects, and landscapes-we gain a lot: We Near West Side - 1995 maintain our community's appearance and character, which gives it an identity and a personality all Laurel-Stella Area - 1995 its own. We give future generations a glimpse of the architecture of their past. We save the artistic Michigan Triangle - 1995 workmanship so evident in older structures. We "recycle" structures into other uses.” Spring-Douglas Corridor – 1995 (Spring-Douglas Historic District) Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) Northeast Neighborhood - 1997 Southeast Neighborhood – 1998 (Elgin National Watch Historic District) The creation of the preservation movement in the country was a reaction to the pace and scale of change that Lord's Park Neighborhood - 2000 has occurred over the past half century. During this period of growth, the single most influential factor that drove Ryerson Park/Southwest Neighborhood Part 1 – 2002 development was the creation of the continental freeway system that superimposed itself on cities, towns and open spaces. The system of freeways was followed by new suburban development which, in turn, altered Proposed future surveys: patterns of housing and commercial development. Downtowns were torn down in the name of urban renewal, and replaced by oceans of asphalt to accommodate the automobile, and then occupied by remote and Northwest Neighborhood Part 1 unfamiliar buildings that ignored the context that surrounded them. Northwest Neighborhood Part 2 Shoe Factory Area It was easily recognized that something more than simply blocking development had to be done in order to Sunset Park preserve the architectural heritage of cities, towns and villages. The intervention of government was necessary. Midwest Neighborhood Part 1 However, due to the fact that the need for preserving the buildings of the past stemmed from personal passion Southwest Neighborhood Part 2 to protect the built environment, public support for historic preservation has flowed from the bottom up, making it Midwest Neighborhood Part 2 a grassroots movement, not just another Government program. Wing Park Neighborhood Highland/Larkin Neighborhood This chapter addresses the current state of historic preservation in Elgin and at the National level, and then talks Midwest Neighborhood Part 3 about implementation of preservation in Elgin through the Design Review process and alternate means such as Huff Neighborhood Part 1 conservation areas and easements. Also addressed are financial incentives, building codes, accessibility and Huff Neighborhood Part 2 teardowns. Original Eastside Neighborhood Part 1 Original Eastside Neighborhood Part 2 Preservation at the Local Level Elgin’s Historic Districts and Landmark Structures Historic preservation in Elgin has been making advances for over twenty years. Efforts were begun in the early 1980s as a grassroots movement by residents of an eastside neighborhood known as the Gifford Park The City of Elgin is committed to protecting and preserving its historic neighborhoods and structures. The Association (GPA). It was generally recognized that the effects of urban renewal of the 1960s had caused the previously described survey work has helped to identify a number of neighborhood areas and structures that are erosion of downtown Elgin which was slowly making its way into the neighborhoods that surrounded it. One of now protected as local and/or national historic districts and landmarks. These neighborhood areas and the methods that was determined to be effective in controlling this wearing away of downtown and its structures are identified on Figure 4.2 Historic Districts and Landmarks . surrounding neighborhoods was to enable the City to identify and protect architecturally significant properties and neighborhoods through the creation of a local landmark ordinance which enabled individual structures to be The Elgin Historic District (designated 1981) designated as landmarks, and groups of structures to be designated as historic districts. The Elgin Historic District contains part of the original plat of Elgin which was laid out in 1842 by James Gifford. To implement the process of identification of structures that had the potential to be designated as individual Land within the district was completely platted by 1859 with streets laid out in a modified grid pattern. The Elgin landmarks or historic districts, older established neighborhoods were surveyed and an inventory of structures Historic District contains an excellent collection of late-19th and early 20th century residential architecture. produced. The survey provided the City with information to facilitate the process of landmark designation. The Located to the east of the downtown area, lots were platted as early as the 1840s. Construction within this area following is a list of individual property and neighborhood surveys that have been carried out to date, with plans was limited until after the Civil War. Many of the dwellings were erected during the boom years of the 1880s and to continue surveying Elgin’s older established neighborhoods in the future. The locations of the completed and 1890s when Elgin prospered as a result of the growth of the Elgin National Watch Company. Between 1879 and future survey areas are shown on Figure 4.1 Survey & Inventory of Older Established Neighborhoods . 1891, this company grew from 840 to more than 3,000 employees. Many of the company's foremen and managers built large two-story frame dwellings along the streets in the neighborhood. By 1892, more than 400 buildings had been constructed within the present boundaries of the historic district. Section 4 -Historic Preservation Page 1 In addition to the homes for the city's middle and upper class residents, the district was also the home to many The district continued to develop in the early 20th century and many fine Colonial Revival and Prairie style of the factory workers and their families. A number of multi-family brick apartment buildings or "flats" were dwellings were built in the years just before and after World War I. Both streets were largely developed by 1930 constructed in the district in the 1880s and 1890s. Most of these were built along East Chicago Street and other and only a few buildings were constructed after this period. The Spring/Douglas Historic District streets in the western section of the district. These brick buildings are illustrative of the rapidly urbanizing continues to contain some of Elgin's finest historic architecture and it remains an attractive residential section of character of Elgin at the turn of the century. the city. The significance of this area was recognized in 2000 when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The west section of the historic district also became the home of several of the city's most prominent churches. At the northwest corner of Gifford and Fulton Street is St. Mary's Church constructed between 1896 and 1899 in The Elgin National Watch Historic District (designated 1997) the Gothic Revival style. When it was built, this was the most costly church constructed in Elgin. Another prominent church in the district is the Universalist Church at the southeast corner of Villa and DuPage Streets. Just south of Elgin's downtown is the section of town most closely associated with the Elgin National Watch This brick church was completed in 1892 and was designed to resemble, from above, a pocket watch enclosed Company. The company, established in 1864, built its factory on a 35 acre site on the east bank of the Fox River in a case. This church was listed on the National Register in 1980. just south of downtown. Housing for watch factory workers was provided through land purchased by the company for the construction of cottages, and through the construction of National House, a boarding house for Gifford Park is the city's first public park and it was laid out by James Gifford in his 1844 addition. The park was single workers. At its peak in 1919, it contained 350 rooms. The structure was unfortunately demolished in 1932. later enlarged in the 1850s. The park has been an amenity in the district since the mid-19th century and it was re-landscaped and equipped in a traditional design in the late 1990s. With the doubling of the company by 1880, many new houses were constructed around the factory by employees of the company. Most of these were simple vernacular house types such as Gable Front cottages, In the early 1850s the dream of building a school became a reality as a board of trustees laid the foundations for Gable Ells, or Upright and Wings. Of the high style buildings found in the district, most were Italianate in style an academy in 1848. This building was completed in 1855-56 and came to be known as "Old Main." The three- with some Greek Revival and Second Empire style buildings present as well. Construction reached its peak story brick building was designed in the Greek Revival style with a large portico on the primary facade and a bell during the prosperous years of the company in 1920, during which time many newer structures were built.

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