Des Plaines to pay for historic sign preservation

Des Plaines will pay to preserve a piece of its history starting with the iconic Sugar Bowl Restaurant sign that hangs outside the recently reopened downtown eatery.

The city council voted Monday night to amend the city's Facade Rehabilitation Program to allow for the preservation of historic signs.

The city has agreed to reimburse 100 percent of the costs to preserve, restore and acquire such historic signs in downtown as the Sugar Bowl, the Des Plaines Theater marquee and perhaps even The Choo Choo Restaurant.

Typically, the program would reimburse only up to half the costs of rehabilitation projects less than $5,000 and one-third of the cost of larger facade projects, with a cap on how much money the city would provide as incentive for business owners to improve their properties.

In the past, the city has used the program to improve commercial districts, spending $100,000 annually for facade projects within downtown, and roughly the same amount for projects in other areas. Yet, the portion of the program funded through general fund revenues was cut out of the 2009 budget due to financial constraints, while rehab projects in downtown could still be undertaken with special tax increment financing district funds.

The Sugar Bowl Restaurant's new owners originally wanted to change the name and get rid of the old sign. However, city officials persuaded them to keep the original signage and have offered to pay the roughly $20,000 it will cost to restore it.

"The city can now take the initiative to save a sign that may be lost," said Mike Conlan, director of community and economic development. "You only get one chance to save your history. In this case, because we're initiating it, we're paying for 100 percent of the costs."

The city also would then own rights to the signs, even if the businesses went bust.

Resident Ronald Moore criticized the council for wasteful spending and said the city council was opening a Pandora's box just to save one sign.

"If the city does get the sign, what are you going to do, build a museum to hold icons or signs?" Moore asked. "Next will be 100 percent of (the cost of) the theater marquee. Now you're talking real money. The TIF money is not free money. It's tax money that could be used to pay for other things."

Des Plaines 3rd Ward Alderman Matt Bogusz voiced concerns about the council considering paying $20,000 for a project benefiting a private business only minutes after hearing a presentation on the city's dire financial situation and depleting fund balances. Bogusz said it sets a precedent for other downtown businesses to expect the city to pay for improvements they should be responsible for.

"I think that saving history is good for business, good for downtown," Bogusz said. "(But) I think there needs to be a difference kept between protecting history and investing in history."

Ward 2 Alderman John Robinson agreed it's not the city's responsibility to pay for restoration of these signs. Yet, the rest of the council believed the cost was minimal to preserve the city's character.

"We're really only talking about three historic signs," 6th Ward Alderman Mark Walsten said. "These are three landmarks that make up the character of the downtown that have been there for decades. I think this is a small expenditure and it's something that shows the city we're supportive of the downtown area."