Officials learn positives of preserving history

Preserving history can really pay off.

It can create a bond between a community and its citizens, it increases the demand for labor, it creates community jobs and targets areas for public attention.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency gave a talk at Palatine's Hotel Indigo touting these points.

Officials from Palatine, Wheeling, Hoffman Estates, Kenilworth and other municipalities were in attendance to get ideas on how to bring the ideas to their towns.

"Palatine does have some unique, importantly defining elements that set it apart," said Catherine O'Connor, the agency's government services manager. "There are decades of different architecture here."

Because of that, she says, Palatine and other towns can establish historic districts, create historical preservation commissions and encourage homeowners to fix up their homes for tax incentives.

"People want to buy homes in historic districts," said O'Connor. "Historic structures are the text of the community."

Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins has been a strong advocate of the village buying the Patten House, an 1898 three-story mansion on Benton and Wood streets.

"I know there's an interest in historic preservation here," she said.

The officials from the state agency are also touting their Illinois Main Street program, which helps to revitalize downtown areas.

Palatine officials say this is something they could look into in the future. The program is funded by local government, donations and membership fees.

Towns like Libertyville, Batavia and Crystal Lake are already a part of this. The state will come in to help with building façade improvements, promotion and organization of certain areas.

"This is definitely something we should look at," said Mullins.

For information on all the state programs, go to www.illinois-history.gov.