St. Charles offers grants for historic preservation projects on residential homes

The City of St. Charles' long-standing downtown facade grant program has been expanded to residential properties this year.

Eligible homeowners in the historic district (or any landmark property) can now apply for up to $5,000 in grant assistance for exterior historic preservation projects.

The new Residential Facade Grant program can assist with funding for projects such as:

• Repainting historic wood siding;

• Reconstructing a missing front porch;

• Repairing historic building materials, such as doors or windows;

• Synthetic siding removal;

• Upgrades to new materials where appropriate, such as window replacement.

Items considered "routine maintenance" are not eligible for assistance. The minimum project cost to qualify is $1,000. The grant provides a 50-percent reimbursement, up to $5,000. The current grant year runs through April 30, 2018.

"The grant program rewards homeowners for undertaking projects that enhance the character of the neighborhoods around the downtown and advance the city's mission of preserving our heritage," said Planning Division Manager Russ Colby. "Many of these original buildings have both unique architecture and close links to the city's early history."

Program funding is limited. Contact the city's planning division at (630) 377-4443 to determine if your property and project is eligible for funding. If the project is eligible, a grant application can be filed for review by the Historic Preservation Commission.

The grant application must be reviewed and approved by the city before the work is initiated.

For more information on the city's historic preservation initiatives and the Facade Improvement Program, visit www.stcharlesil.gov/historic-preservation.