I live in an old house, which I may lose control of. Our home, and the surrounding eight blocks of Kenilworth and Clinton may become the “Hulbert Historic District.” Whoever came up with that idea, we do not know, but the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is pushing it hard.
If we become a historic district, we would lose control over any exterior changes to our homes; the HPC decides what can and cannot be done.
At the first meeting between HPC representatives and residents, many folks did not like the idea of becoming a historic district. During the meeting, HPC representatives said they would not go forward with recommending a Hulbert Historic District if the residents did not want it. A neighbor asked, “How will you know if the residents want it?” The HPC said they “talk to people” which didn’t seem very valid or precise.
So my neighbor said, “Why don’t you take a vote?” The HPC agreed that would be possible even though they had never done that before since there were a manageable number of homes in the proposed district.
I have attended every subsequent meeting of the HPC, waiting to learn how they planned to poll the residents. I learned that they would not put forth a simple questionnaire with the obvious two questions:
1. Do you support a local historic district?
2. Do you oppose a local historic district?
Although some HPC members felt this would be the clearest and most effective way to determine residents’ preference (it is, isn’t it?), the HPC decided they wanted to create a survey with questions that were subject to interpretation. Some HPC members pointed out that residents were already suspicious of the HPC and this type of survey would create more suspicion (it has).
At another meeting, one HPC member said the HPC should not do a survey; they did not need to consider what residents wanted. The HPC’s job is to recommend areas for historic district designation and that is what they will do. Residents’ opinions do not matter. Fortunately, one HPC member said that survey results should be presented to the Oak Park Village Board for their use in deciding whether to accept HPC’s recommendation for a Hulbert Historic District.
Friday, Sept. 4, we got the HPC mailing which included a FAQ sheet (which was clearly slanted in favor of a historic district) and a postcard survey to return by 9/11. The questions on the postcard survey seemed designed for ambiguity and multiple subjective interpretations.
Will the HPC recommend establishing a Hulbert Historic District if the survey shows residents oppose it? It already appears HPC has broken that promise since they have said they will recommend the village board establish the historic district before the results of any surveys are known.
I am questioning the way the HPC operates, the promises they made the residents, the questionable survey they created, and how they will interpret that survey and present the results.
Lynn Hemberger and her husband live in the proposed Hulbert Historic District and are opposed to the idea.