New rules for old buildings in Geneva?

How important are old buildings to Geneva?

Visitors gush over the beauty of the old houses, business buildings and courthouse in the downtown. The town has two designated historic districts, and is contemplating adding a third. Tour groups troop around examining the varied architecture, whether they are shoppers taking a bus trip from Iowa or local elementary students learning about their town's history.

But can the charm survive economic pressures brought on by a lack of land on which to build new housing, the expense of repairing old buildings and a perception that newer building materials are better for energy conservation?

That's why the town's Historic Preservation Commission has proposed a preservation plan ordinance. The draft was unveiled earlier this month. The HPC review is required for any exterior projects in the historic district that requires a building permit, including window replacement, additions and siding work.

The commission has been working on the plan since last September, beginning with a public workshop where people were asked to detail and prioritize what they thought about historic preservation.

One thing the plan suggests is that the commission has to clear up a few perceptions:

"Redeveloping, revitalizing or prospering does not mean tearing down all that exists and building anew," the plan states. The commission also, however, needs to make it clear it is not automatically against certain improvements, such as adding air conditioning to an older home or telling a person what color they can paint their house.

Nor should historic preservation be confined to the downtown area, or homes more than 100 years old. The plan says the city should address the teardown of post-World War II housing such as ranch homes because those buildings are reminders of how people lived in Geneva.

The 84-page document reviews the history of preserving history in Geneva and offers recommendations. Among them:

• Developing a resource list of about 55 properties throughout town that the commission thinks should receive local landmark designation;

• Developing design guidelines and making them available to people considering doing exterior work to buildings in the two historic districts, so they know beforehand what the commission expects of them;

• Creating specialized zoning districts within the historic districts to regulate the mass, height and setbacks of any infill construction;

• Developing Neighborhood Conservation Districts in other areas, particularly the Northwest Additions neighborhood, so neighbors could decide how big and how high new buildings could be;

• Offering a break on building permit fees for exterior improvement projects for historic buildings, if the projects cost $20,000 or more;

• Creating a residential facade improvement program for historic properties, similar to one in place for business properties, where the city would pay for up to half of the work.

The plan can be viewed on the city's Web site, www.geneva.il.us, under the community development department link. A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 2 in the training room at the public works building, 1800 South St. Comments can also be submitted until Aug. 31 through an online form on the city Web site, by e-mail to kkaulfuss@geneva.il.us or by mail to Historic Preservation Planner, Geneva City Hall, 22 S. First St., Geneva, IL 60134.