Three requests to opt out of the Historic District by Morrison, IL, owners of E. Main Street properties were analyzed and declined by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) on Thursday, December 20, 2012.
HPC members reconvened from a Wednesday, December 5, meeting to finalize the requests: Chairman Tim Slavin, Lonnie Rice, Bill Shirk, and Bob Vaughn. Sharon Moore was unavailable. Each property owner addressed the commission at the earlier December meeting; none was present December 20.
The properties and owners were
- 112 E. Main Street–Judy Zuidema
- 101 E. Main Street–Stephen Deckro
- 227 and 229 E. Main Street–Dunlap Lodge #321.
The Morrison City Council will receive the committee’s recommendation at its Monday, January 14, 2013, meeting. The next HPC meeting is Thursday, January 3.
The City Council established Ordinance #12-09, stated Slavin, specifying seven criteria that must be considered before the HPC can recommend allowing a property owner to opt out of the Historic District. “The nature and character of the property” must be considered based on these criteria.
In condensed form, the criteria included the following:
- description of the property.
- description of the area surrounding the property and how the property fits into the area.
- whether the property has historic significance.
- whether the property’s exclusion will have a detrimental impact on the overall purposes of the Historic District.
- whether the property’s productivity or usefulness will be affected if excluded from the Historic District.
- whether the property contributes to the overall…Historic District.
- comments from the applicant or other parties.
Considerable discussion dealt with items four and five. Shirk cited research in which every statistic supported increased property values and enhanced buildings and housing in Historic Districts across the United States. Properties also sold quicker. Vaughn found similar findings of no financial detriment for property owners within Historic Districts. Architectural stability affects values; there are lower foreclosure rates for such properties. Property owners in such districts want protection [of their properties and values.]
Vaughn stated he is determined to find all assets and resources for owners to use on their buildings in the commercial district. “Lots of areas are out of compliance. Some [Main Street] buildings have common walls and chimneys.” Therefore, razing one building might be perilous for its neighbor. “If an owner opts out and he/she doesn’t care who buys [the] property, [he’ll/she’ll] probably sell to someone who doesn’t care.”
Slavin stated the real concern for their committee is the unknown, next owner of any property allowed to be excluded from the Historic District. He also voiced concern that “we may not get National Historic Register status, if we allow a checkerboard,” allowing some owners to opt out. “There are tax credits [available] for rehabbing and marketing [to promote Morrison] available from National Histroric Register status.”
It was noted the Dunlap Lodge is a new structure, with no historic significance. However, the site has a history, and it lies contiguous to other historic buildings on the south side of E. Main Street. “The Ordinance applies to the real estate on which a structure sits, not [only] the building,” stated Slavin. The movement of the Masons is storied and significant. It was unclear why the Masons requested exclusion from the Historic District.