Despite recent indications reflecting, not just a disregard for historic preservation, but even worse, a blatant pattern of casting aspersions on the value of historic preservation, the fact is that, yes, it matters. Trustee Corey Wesley’s opinion on this topic is clear: “We are not that historic … we are not that special,” he said at the Sept. 16 Oak Park Village Board meeting overturning the Historic Preservation Commission’s unanimous decision to deny the construction of a massive tower attached to a historic landmark (at 1 hour, 57 minutes and 40 to 44 seconds you’ll find the quote: https://share.google/A9YQhT4PD3raa6faI. And, according to Josh VanderBerg’s column [Preservation is not progress, Viewpoints, Oct. 8] preservation is the opposite of progress.
Preservation does not have to be discarded for the sake of the relentless development mantra promoted by our elected officials. Nor should it be frowned upon as an obstacle to development. The balance between preservation and progress is exactly what has made Oak Park such a special place. Trustee Wesley, I respectfully disagree with you. Oak Park is indeed a special place.
Does historic preservation matter? Yes, perhaps now more than ever.
Lisa Marquardt
Oak Park