Submitted By
Tammie Grossman, Development Customer Services Director
Reviewed By
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Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion to Authorize the Historic Preservation Commission to Apply for a $5,000 Grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to Assist in the Update of the “Guide to Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School Historic District”
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Overview
Overview
The Guide to Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School Historic District is out of print and in need of updating. The Development Customer Services Division in consultation with the Historic Preservation Commission had on its workplan to update the content of the guide and print new guidebooks. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has a grant program that the Village can apply for to increase the budget of the project.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Village staff recommends applying for the National Trust for Historic Preservation grant.
Fiscal Impact
The FY 2017 Budget contains $40,000 (account #1001 46202 101 55061 & 530667) for the updating and distribution of the guidebook. If successful, the $5000 grant from the National Trust will increase the project budget to $45,000 allowing for the production of additional guidebooks.
Background
The Historic Preservation Commission published a guide book to the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District in 2000, which was distributed by the University of Chicago Press, but it has been out of print since 2015. It is also considered to be out of date. The boundaries of the National Register historic district were expanded by over 400 additional buildings in 2009; the local boundaries were expanded to match in 2012.
The Historic Preservation Commission is looking to produce a second edition of its “Guide to Oak Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie School Historic District” in 2017, the 150th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright's birth. The improved format of the new guide book will educate users about the significance of the historic district and architecturally important buildings within its boundaries, as well as Wright’s and the Prairie School’s achievements in Oak Park. The book will retain its overall format of a map and architectural photographs with descriptions. The Village of Oak Park will retain professional consultants for graphic design, content, layout and photographs who will work with staff and the Historic Preservation Commission. Village staff will oversee the project. An initial publication run of 5,000 books is anticipated, to be completed between June 1 and December 31, 2017.
The Historic Preservation Commission placed the revision of the guide book on its 2017 Work Plan, which was approved by the Board of Trustees. Development Customer Services - Planning Division budgeted $40,000 towards the project (1001 46202 101 55061 & 530667). The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides matching planning and education grants up to $5,000, with three 2017 deadlines of February 1, June 1 and August 1, which will, if approved, increase the project budget to $45,000.
The revised guide book will be a valuable educational resource for both local residents and the thousands of visitors Oak Park welcomes each year who are passionate about the preservation of architectural history and the legacies of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School. The National Trust Preservation Funds would provide valuable support in realizing this important resource.
Alternatives
The alternative would be to take no action or deny the recommendation for authorization to apply for the grant. This would prevent the Village the opportunity of adding to the funding for the project.
Previous Board Action
N/A.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
N/A.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
Historic Preservation matters are unique to Village government within the corporate limits of Oak Park and therefore, intergovernmental cooperation opportunities do not exist.
Performance Management (MAP) Alignment
A Governance Priority established for the Planning Division of the Community and Economic Development Department is Long Range Planning - Historic Preservation Plan.