NAPERVILLE FALLS SHORT IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION EFFORTS
Naperville is always a leader! We are used to seeing our city being top-ranked in schools, safety and quality of life. How can we make Naperville No. 1 in historic preservation?
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Unfortunately, analysis by our organization, Naperville Preservation Inc., shows Naperville lags behind many comparable cities in protecting its historic structures. So, as a response, we have written a report that explains measures could be taken to better protect the important historic buildings that make our hometown so great. In it, we note that Naperville has far fewer local landmarks than any of the 21 cities to which we compared it. Naperville also ranked near the bottom in historic preservation initiatives and incentives when compared with other communities.
Why do the initiatives and incentives we are recommending matter? Property owners are more likely to buy into the process of historic preservation when the city offers guidelines, tools, financial incentives and awards. Something as simple as an honorary presentation can make a big difference in elevating engagement in historic preservation.
We love our hometown, and we know you do too. Like the saying goes, “They just don’t make them like that anymore.”
It is time to choose a better plan for historic preservation in Naperville.
Bill Simon
President, Naperville Preservation Inc.
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