|
Oregon
Ogle County
On May 28, 2008, Save Scenic
Oregon hosted an informational meeting for building and business owners
in the National Register commercial district. Landmarks Illinois’
Director of Advocacy, Lisa DiChiera, and Darius Bryjka, a project
architect with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency in Springfield,
gave a presentation on tax incentives available to building owners.
Barbara Bees, an alderwoman from the near-by community of Morrison,
talked about revitalization efforts in her downtown, and Oregon city
councilman Ken Williams discussed street and sidewalk enhancements
budgeted by the city.
Attendees were encouraged to sign-up as
participants to discuss the formation of a new organization that could
represent Oregon’s National Register commercial district. Members of
Save Scenic Oregon hope that an organized effort of building owners
within the historic commercial district can bring new focus to the needs
of downtown, including opportunities for renovating its historic
buildings.
In 2004, Save Scenic Oregon, a grassroots organization formed by
residents of Oregon to defeat a proposed Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) project, approached Landmarks Illinois and the
Midwest office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for
assistance. The IDOT project would have demolished two large-scale
historic commercial buildings and cut down dozens of trees in the heart
of downtown, in order to widen turn lanes for semi-truck traffic. After
months of advocacy work, demonstrating the “hole” that would result in
Oregon’s downtown, the Oregon City Council voted to reject the IDOT
plan.
|
|
To learn more about this preservation success, go to
landmarks.org/recent_oregon.
As part of the preservation
effort, Landmarks Illinois provided a $1,250 grant to Save Scenic Oregon
to help fund a study of downtown Oregon’s eligibility for listing as a
district in the National Register of Historic Places. Local funds were
raised to complete a nomination for the district, which includes over 50
buildings. On August 16, 2006, the Oregon Commercial Historic District,
the first in Ogle County, was listed in the National Register of
Historic Places.
Currently, the National Clothing Building, a "cornerstone" downtown
building IDOT sought to demolish, is for sale. Due to its inclusion in
the National Register commercial district, it is eligible for the
20%
Rehabilitation Tax Credit and a federal income tax deduction through the
donation of a preservation easement. Contact Tracy Eastman with
Dickerson and Neiman at (815) 381-1120 for more information about the
property.
|
