Will County's Historic Landmarks

Will County Rural Structure Surveys

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News:

Click here to view the upcoming agenda for the Historic Preservation Commission. 

2010

View updated Landmark Map Brochure!

DID YOU KNOW . . .  The HPC would like to take a  moment to share some quick facts about historic preservation:

·    Historic preservation is an effective planning tool for managing growth, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride, and maintaining community character. Here in Will County, historic preservation planning was initially launched in 1976 with the drafting of the County's Cultural and Historic Preservation Plan.  In 2002, this plan was formally adopted with the adoption of the County's Land Resource Management Plan .

·   Will County adopted its Historic Preservation Ordinance in 1992 which established its 9-member County Executive appointed Historic Preservation Commission and local landmark program.  The Commission meets on a monthly basis and serves as an advisory committee to the  County Board.  By Ordinance, the Commission consists of five County citizens with a general interest in historic preservation and history; the remaining four members must be an architect, attorney, historian, and realtor.  The Commission is responsible for activities such as administering the County's historic landmark program, creating historic preservation educational programming, developing preservation policies, and managing the County's rural structures survey, www.willcountylanduse.com/HPComm/RuralStructuralSurveys.html. 

·    In addition to Will County's preservation program, several municipalities located within the County have established historic preservation programs: Aurora, Bolingbrook, Crete, Frankfort, Joliet, Lemont, Lockport, Naperville, Orland Park, and Plainfield.

·     Since 1992, Will County has designated 34 landmarks that include houses, cemeteries, bridges, barns, depots, school buildings, and churches. For more information on Will County's historic landmarks, please visit: www.willcountylanduse.com/HPComm/HistoricRegister.html .

·      Will County landmark status is more  protective than National Register status.

·    Historic preservation is environmentally friendly.  Preservationists advocate that the "the greenest building is the one that is already built."  Below is a handful of "green" facts pertaining to historic preservation and reasons it makes sense (all information taken from the National Trust for Historic Preservation website, www.preservationnation.org).  

§    The average home size in the United States has increased 105% between 1950 and 1999.

§     In terms of waste, construction of an average 2,000-square-foot home generates 3,000 pounds of wood, 2,000 pounds of drywall and 600 pounds of cardboard. Moreover, the construction of an average single-family home generates four pounds of waste per square foot. On average, only about 20%-30% of that waste is recycled or reused. 

§    We are much too inclined to think of our buildings as disposable rather than a renewable resource. A 2004 report from the Brookings Institution projects that by 2030, we will have demolished and replaced 82 billion square feet of our current building stock. Since it is estimated that there are about 300 billion square feet of space in the United States today, it is anticipated that nearly 1/3 of our building stock will be demolished in the next 20-25 years. 

§    It will take as much energy to demolish and reconstruct 82 billion square feet of space (as predicted by the Brookings study) as it would to power the entire state of California - the 10th largest economy in the world with a population of about 36 million people - for 10 years.

§     If we were to rehab even 10% of this 82 billion square feet, we would save enough energy to power the state of New York for well over a year.

§     Construction debris accounts for 25% of the waste in the municipal waste stream each year. Demolishing 82 billion square feet of space will create enough debris to fill 2,500 NFL stadiums 

§    Recent calculations indicate that it takes 35-50 years for an energy efficient new building to save the amount of energy lost in demolishing an existing building. 

§    Data from the U.S. Energy Information Agency finds that buildings constructed before 1920 are actually more energy-efficient than those built at any time afterwards - except for those built after 2000. 

§    The United States is responsible for 22% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, though we have only 5% of the world's population. According to the Pew Center on Climate Change, the operation of buildings accounts for 43% of carbon emissions in the United States. The environmental impact of buildings is even more significant when we take into consideration the greenhouse gas emissions associated with manufacturing building materials and products.

§     More sustainability information can be found here: www.preservationnation.org/issues/sustainability/sustainability-numbers.html

·    Historic preservation has economic benefits.  From the simple and inexpensive repair of an old window to heritage tourism to historic rehabilitation tax incentives, historic preservation provides several financial advantages.

·    Historic preservation cannot succeed without your involvement whether it is through an activity such as rehabilitating an old house, nominating a property for landmark status, or visiting a historic site.

Preservation month celebrates the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the tangible aspects of the heritage that shapes all of us.  The historic places that are important to you, your family, your friends, and your community matter.  Hopefully, you are able to enjoy being around or preserving an old building or other historically significant site not just during this month, but also throughout the year! 

• Will County to begin rural structures survey efforts in Wilmington and Jackson Townships. (April 2009)

• Will County designates 34th Landmark - Brown Cemetery (Custer Township) - March 19, 2009 (Detailed information forthcoming)

• Will County awarded $4,200 Certified Local Government Grant from the IL Historic Preservation Agency.  View details. (February 2009)

• Will County Landmark Francis Field awarded $3,000 Heritage Fund Grant from Landmarks Illinois for restoration of sliding barn doors. (February 2009)

•  Will County designates 33rd Landmark - Ogren-Reed House (Plainfield Township) - January 15, 2009