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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Historic Preservation Commission
DATE: March 19, 2025
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Approving the Expansion of the Historic Preservation Grant Program and Adopting New Program Guidelines (25-0208 - KDWK-25.085-PZ/HP - JM)
PURPOSE:
Requesting to expand the Historic Preservation Grant Program to allow for non-owner-occupied homes to take advantage of the Program and to approve new Historic Preservation Grant Program Guidelines.
BACKGROUND:
In 2019, City Council allocated $100,000 for a new historic preservation funding program. The proposed grant program was similar to previous historic preservation grant funding. The current Historic Preservation Grant Program is a reimbursable grant for exterior historic rehabilitation projects. The maximum grant amount is $20,000. All grants at or under $10,000 require no cash match. All grants over $10,000 require a dollar-for-dollar cash match for every dollar over $10,000. For grants over $10,000, grantees are eligible for an additional $1,000 to offset the required match if a local contractor is used. Properties must be owner-occupied and either a one-unit or two-unit home. Eligible structures must be located within a local historic district, designated as a local historic landmark, listed on the National Register (if it becomes a local landmark), or a structure undergoing designation. Grants are for exterior work that is non-maintenance related and is of high quality that will last for a minimum of five years before any additional work is needed. Ineligible projects include driveway repaving, fencing, asphalt roofs and landscaping.
The 2025 Budget includes a one-million-dollar expansion from the Transformational Fund of the Historic Preservation Grant funding. With this financial expansion, there is a proposed expansion of the program in order to have a larger physical impact on the historic districts. The preservation grant programs in the 1990s and 2000s were not limited to owner-occupied and the new Historic Preservation Grant Program approved in 2019 was always envisioned to grow and expand as resources were available.
The proposed expansion would open the program to non-owner-occupied homes with a maximum of five living units. Due to the recent increase in construction costs, the expansion to this program would increase the amount granted requiring no match to $15,000 and increase the total amount awarded to $30,000. All grants over $15,000 require a dollar-for-dollar cash match for every dollar over $15,000. The Guidelines were amended to reflect the above along with other minor changes. The Guidelines outline that owner-occupied homes would still be given higher consideration. Any recipient that has had multiple current and/or past property standard violations may be ineligible for funding as determined by the City on a case-by-case basis. Painting aluminum siding, non-original decks, k-style gutters, aluminum storm windows and additions were also added to the non-eligible list. A few other minor changes were made to clarify the Guidelines.
DISCUSSION:
The historic districts contain many beautiful, large homes that were subdivided in the 1950s and 1960s to meet the housing need of suburbs following World War II. Today, these homes still meet a growing housing; however, the homes are not able to take advantage of the Historic Preservation Grant Program. This expansion will assist the large homes in maintaining the higher standards required in the Design Guidelines while creating more historically appropriate and more aesthetically appealing communities.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The expansion of the Historic Preservation Grant Program will allow more owners to qualify for the Program and thus have a larger impact on the historic districts.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Historic Preservation Commission recommended APPROVAL of A Resolution Approving the Expansion of the Historic Preservation Grant Program and Adopting New Program Guidelines..
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit “A” Historic Previous Grant Program Guidelines
Historic Previous Grant Program Guidelines - REDLINE
Historic Preservation Grant Application
cc:
Alderman Carl Franco, Chairperson
Alderman Edward J. Bugg, Vice Chairperson
Aldermwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns
Alderwoman Shweta Baid
Alderman Ron Woerman
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Approving the Expansion of the Historic Preservation Grant Program and Adopting New Program Guidelines
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora City Council allocated additional funds for a Historic Preservation Grant Program in the 2025 Budget; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora City Council desires to conserve and revitalize the City’s historic neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora City Council approved previous preservation funding, including the Window Restoration Grant Guidelines in 2003 as R03-118, the Preservation Deferred Loan Program Guidelines in 2005 as R05-114, the De-Siding Grant Program Guidelines in 2006 as R06-216, and the Preservation Grant Program Guidelines in 2012 as R12-304, for financial assistance to property owners in historic districts for the above named-purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Preservation Commission recommended that the additional funds be used for an expanded grant program so that funds can be utilized in the most effective and efficient fashion for the above named-purposes and has recommended the Historic Preservation Grant Program Guidelines for this purpose as attached hereto as Exhibit “A”;
WHEREAS, it has been determined that expanding the grant program to included non-owner-occupied homes and approving Exhibit “A” Historic Preservation Grant Program Guidelines would be the most effective approach to meet the goal of preserving and revitalizing the City’s historic neighborhoods and be the most beneficial to the residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, hereby authorizes an expanded Historic Preservation Grant Program that will be regulated by the updated Historic Preservation Grant Program Guidelines attached hereto as Exhibit “A”.