http://www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/QA.htm#12
Lots of interesting information about how National Landmarks are protected, how they lose their status, etc.
http://www.illinoishistory.gov/ps/index.htm
Here is another interesting link from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Kim - The second link you provided describes an Illinois program I hadn't heard of before, but which makes good sense for a place like Riverside: The Upstairs Downtown. I was intrigued by the case study on the Temple House where they created a boutique hotel in beautifully restored 2d and 3d floor space. Could this be a way to save the Arcade Building? They'd have to scrap the condo add-on plan and leave the back open for parking, but a hotel in a historic building (as opposed to new construction) may have real potential!
Kim, do you think these people actually care about our losing our national historic landmark status? I don't. Unless, that is, it were to prove a cash cow.
Hm, the Arcade would make a good hotel. Where was the original hotel anyway?
The original Hotel was in the exact same location of the potential Hotel project outlined in the TOD.
Well, who needs it when we have the Arcade just waiting there? People like to stay in historic buildings when they come to historic towns.
Catherine: Believe me, I don't want Riverside to lose it's landmark status, or it's charm or character. I don't want to lose the Arcade Building (a Riverside landmark) to a shoddy "renovation" either. In the case study referenced in the post above, the owner was eligible for tax relief based on sensitive restoration of the upper two floors of a landmark building. The footprint and height were unchanged. (I am not advocating any alterations to the exterior structure of the Arcade building - and frankly, I wouldn't think that the preservation commission would allow them lightly.)
I think it's a great idea for the owner of a historic buiilding such as the Arcade Building to go the extra step to to qualify for restoration tax credits - rather than do a cheapo renovation or hold out for TIF incentives under a flawed TIF program.
I'm not sure I understand where the implication that I don't care about Riverside's landmark status is coming from. Just because a building is historic does not mean it can't be used anymore. What do you see going in the Arcade Building?
I am all for it if it's a viable project. I think you'll find that no matter what, the building has to be redeveloped. Given the condition of the building you would never be able to clean it up a bit and slap a Hotel sign on it. So if that is the case, how do we get the building redeveloped into a Hotel? I think you'll find is that a TIF is necessary to accomplish that goal.
Aberdeen, I was not alluding to you. Sorry you thought so. Oh, I see my post comes after yours. Actually, I wrote it after I saw Kim's.
Corbi, A hotel is not rocket science. You already have restaurant downstairs. You restore and divide - if necessary - into rooms. Many such hotels have been done in downtown Chicago. Then you market the town to architectural tourists, etc. (same rationale for building new one.) How much do you think this is going to cost compared to building a new hotel?
Catherine - Now I see our comments about the Arcade's potential are consistent with one another. Historic tax credits may provide the necessary incentives for the Arcade Building's owner to move forward in a sensitive manner - especially if they are given a roadmap on how to qualify for those tax credits by the Preservation Commission and EDC.
I thought I shuld post this here as well. My opinion: Regarding the Arcade, it would seem impossible to "restore" that building in a first class manner and tear off the back part for less than $1.9 mil, plus what they paid - making it roughly $5 mil. for a restaurant space, an ice cream parlor and a small hotel with what - 12 rooms? Care to hazard what the rates would be? Somewhere along the way there will be a proposal to use just the historic facade and incorporate it into a larger structure with ground floor retail and three or four floors above it, condos wall-to-wall, over the entire lot. Wait and see.
You must log in to post.