By Andrea Earnest | Bugle Staff
The Downers Grove Village Council held a first reading on a series of resolutions that would grant historic landmark designation to three village properties.
The first property, located at 701 Maple Ave., was built in 1895 by William James Herring. According to board documents, the house includes many of the features of a Queen Anne style home. The home’s original wood clapboard, wood shingles, rounded dining room bay and hipped roof with projecting cross gables remain on intact. The windows of the house are also original, as well as some of its stained glass.
Recent changes to the Downers Grove Historic Preservation Ordinance attempted to make the historic landmark designation process easier by simplifying the application requirements and reducing the regulatory requirements. A home must either be at least 50 years old or be historically significant. Because the home at 701 Maple more than 100 years old and a Queen Anne style, it meets these new requirements for historic landmark designation.
Downers Grove’s original train station, located at 1000 Burlington Ave., was the second property considered at the meeting. Construction of the station began during the Civil War and was completed in 1864. Its Classical Revival architectural style was inspired by the 1893 World’s
Columbian Exposition in Chicago, according to board documents.
Because it has significant historical value to the community and meets the age qualification, the train station would meet the requirements for landmark designation.
The last property discussed at the meeting, located at 1232 Gilbert Ave., is a two-story Folk Victorian style home most likely constructed in 1891.
The property meets the requirements by being more than 50 years old and being an “excellent” example of the Folk Victorian style, according to the village. The second and final reading of the resolutions are expected at the May 17 village council meeting.