Wednesday Journal recently reported that the village approved a study to determine “whether or not red tape tied to the historic districts has had a chilling effect on development.” The study was proposed by members of the village board who believe that development should be one of Oak Park’s top priorities. [Oak Park studies impact of historic districts on local development, News, April 8]
The question to consider is: Should development proposals within historic districts face a higher level of scrutiny to determine whether or not they align with the guidelines set forth by Department of Interior standards? In a March 10 presentation about Historic Preservation and its influence on the village of Oak Park, urban planner Brenton Boitse noted that the overall economic impact generated by Oak Park’s success as a destination for “heritage tourism” is an estimated $1.89 billion. This economic benefit is thanks to the successful efforts of our Historic Preservation commissioners as well as volunteers and advocates who appreciate not only how preservation has made Oak Park a destination but also how it enhances our everyday lives.
As stated by Kendra Parzen of Landmarks Illinois at that meeting: “Historic preservation has benefits that are above and beyond aesthetics.”
So the answer is yes. Development proposals within historic districts should face a higher level of scrutiny before they are approved. A decision to modify these standards simply to make it easier for development projects to move forward will cause irreversible erosion to our historic districts.
Sources:
From the March 10 Oak Park Village Board meeting minutes, Presentation on the History of Historic Preservation and its Influence on the Village of Oak Park. At the direction of the Village President and Board of Trustees, staff prepared a presentation on the history of Historic Preservation (https://oak-park.granicus.com/player/clip/2956?view_id=4&redirect=true) urban planner Brenton Boitse presented his analysis of the economic impact of historic preservation using direct, indirect, and induced effects, noting that heritage tourism alone generates an estimated $1.89 billion in total economic impact for Oak Park. He emphasized, however, that an even larger, often overlooked economic engine comes from local preservation related industries — architects, craftspeople, woodworkers, glass specialists, and skilled trades — demonstrating that Oak Park has an unusually high concentration of these jobs, giving it a clear competitive advantage.
Landmarks Illinois Advocacy Manager Kendra Parzen explained that preservation today is not about freezing places in time but about managing change in ways that respect history while supporting inclusivity, housing needs, and environmental goals. She emphasized that modern preservation focuses on everyday stories, marginalized histories, embodied carbon savings, and opportunities for adaptive reuse that can create new housing and economic development. She stressed that preservation is not an impediment to other village goals and urged the board to treat it as an equal consideration alongside housing, zoning, and equity objectives.