Historic Preservation Resurvey Project
Project Background
The City has hired the planning and architecture firm, MKSK, to survey all properties within the Historic Districts and Landmarks outside of the districts, to update the information on existing surveys and create surveys for properties that do not have a survey. The current surveys are 20-30 years old and a lot has changed during that time including demolition, additions, large alterations, etc. It is important for accurate architectural review and preservation work to have updated surveys to make informed decisions on future exterior projects.
The Consultant
The consultant chosen for this project is MKSK. The firm is based in Chicago. The two people from MKSK that will be working on this project are Nick Kalogeresis and Douglas E. Gilbert. Both have vast experience in surveying. They have done numerous surveys for villages and cities such as Springfield, Evanston, West Chicago, Downers Grove, Peoria, DeKalb, River Forest, and more. Both Doug and Nick have also served on the Village of Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission.
The Process
September 16: Official project start date. City staff met with MKSK to finalize the project scope, share records, and discuss what should be on the survey and how it looks.
September- October: MKSK collects research from existing surveys, building permits, old photos, Sanborn maps, and other resources to add into their surveying system.
November- March: Field work. MKSK will be in the field, noting materials on the building, taking photos, and adding information to their surveying system to create the new surveys. MKSK will also create a digital map that allows another way to access the survey information.
March: MKSK will send over the draft of all the surveys and will be reviewed by Staff and the Historic Preservation Commission.
**Property owners will be alerted of the draft surveys as well as get information on their building's architectural significance rating change. For instance, an architectural significance rating change would be going from non-contributing to contributing or contributing to non-contributing. Definitions of these ratings can be found under "The Surveys" section below.
Once property owners have been notified of the draft surveys, they will have an opportunity to comment on the project website and at a Historic Preservation Commission meeting that will be announced on the letter.
March-April:
- The Historic Preservation Commission will review the comments submitted by the property owners and provide recommendations to MKSK for any changes to the surveys. This commentary period will be held during one or more Historic Preservation Commission meetings and will be set on the agenda.
- After the review is completed, the Historic Commission will recommend scheduling a public hearing for the final draft of the survey. Public hearing notices will be sent to all property owners. A public hearing will be conducted and then the Historic Preservation Commission will recommend that the City Council adopt the new surveys.
- The ordinance(s) to officially adopt the new survey will be presented to Council Committee for discussion and recommendation, and then City Council will vote to pass the Ordinance(s).
The Surveys
Architectural surveys are an important part of preservation work. An architectural survey lists important information about a building such as the architectural style, architectural significance, date of construction, materials on the building, and important persons associated with the building. Architectural surveys help property owners and the Historic Preservation Commission make decisions for the exterior of the home. For instance, the Commission will look at architectural significance and integrity and apply more or less flexibility to alterations made to the property based on rating.
Below is a link to the existing surveys. The surveys for the Central Historic District were completed in 1994 by Dixon Associates / Architects. The surveys for the Moody-Millington Historic District, the Millington Historic District, and various properties outside of those districts were completed in 2003 by architect, Tom Mahaffey. While each survey has a list of information for each building, the surveys from 1994 and 2003 are not consistent with the type of information listed.
Architectural Surveys for Central, Moody- Millington, and Millington Historic District.
Current ratings under the Historic Preservation Code (17.32.020):
Contributing
A building, structure or site that may not necessarily have architectural or historic significance as a single property, but which adds to the overall character and significance of an historic district due to its architectural or historical merit and its compatibility with other buildings, structures and sites within an architectural or historic setting such as a neighborhood. Contributing buildings, structures and sites are considered to be an integral part of an historic district.
Non-Contributing
A building, structure or site that does not have architectural or historic significance, and does not add to the overall character and significance of an historic district, due to a lack of architectural or historical merit or its incompatibility with other buildings, structures and sites. Noncontributing buildings are usually characterized by either older buildings with additions or exterior alterations that are incompatible with the character of the original construction, or newer buildings whose design is incompatible with older buildings in the area or whose placement is incompatible with the historic pattern of development in the area.
Historic Significance
Having character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or culture of the community, county, state or nation, as the location of an important local, county, state or national event, or through identification with a person or persons who made important contributions to the development of the community, county, state or nation.
Significance ratings proposed by MKSK:
Highly Significant: Eligible or Listed National Register Landmark or District
A building, structure, district, neighborhood, place, or site that meets the National Register eligibility criteria. It may also be a property that is already listed in the National Register. Properties must be 50 years old and individually eligible under one or more of the Evaluation Criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. Typically, properties must possess a high level of integrity and/or may be valuable for understanding a historical period or context.
Significant: Eligible or Listed City of St Charles Historic Landmark or District
A building, structure, district, neighborhood, place, or site that meets the City of St. Charles eligibility criteria. It may also be a property that is already designated a Local Landmark. Properties may be 45 to 50 years old. Typically, properties must possess a high level of integrity and architectural distinction and/or may be valuable for understanding a historical period or context and/or have significant cultural meaning to the community. National Register eligible or listed property will automatically be noted as a locally eligible or listed building.
Contributing
A building, district, neighborhood, site, or structure that is at least 50 years old and possesses an excellent to reasonable degree of integrity, is valuable for understanding the historic context and significance of the historic district. The property itself may not be an example of outstanding architectural distinction as compared to significant properties. Some properties that were previously designated non-contributing may gain contributing status due to its coming of age or recent rehabilitation that removed unsympathetic alterations.
Non-Contributing
A building that is less than 50 Years old or was constructed outside the district or neighborhood’s period of significance. It may also constitute a property that has undergone significant irreversible alterations and changes, making it unrecognizable from its original appearance based on historic photographs or a historic model example found on the block, adjacent blocks, or within the historic district.
Non-Contributing but with reversible alterations
A building that may have undergone significant but reversible alterations and changes. Such properties may be classified as contributing or significant if it was subject to appropriate rehabilitation or restoration.
Noteworthy Buildings Less Than Fifty Years of Age
Buildings that may meet one or more eligibility criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places but are less than 50 years old (built after 1976) and may be of exceptional architectural and historical importance.