Frequently Asked Questions
We aim to answer any questions that interested folks have about the proposed historic district or about historic designation in general. If you don't find the answer to your question, please email it to philip.payne@gmail.com.​​​​​
What will it mean if the historic district is adopted?
If the City Council enacts an ordinance creating the Spanish Town Historic District, it will mean that the five homes in the proposed district will generally be protected from demolition.
It will also mean that if any homeowner within the district wishes to make an alteration to the street-viewable exterior of their home, that owner will have to go through an additional process to ensure that the alteration is consistent with those features that make the property historically significant in the first place. Note: Article 23 does not prohibit alterations to the exterior of a designated property, nor does it prevent a homeowner from making any desired alteration to the interior of the home. It also generally does not prevent exterior changes to portions of the property that cannot be seen from the street. (Alleys are not considered streets under Article 23.)​
​​For everyone else outside of the proposed district, nothing at all will materially change. No one's taxes will increase. Properties outside of the district will see no impact whatsoever. ​​​​​
I live adjacent to the proposed district. Will it have any effect on my property?
No. The only properties that will be effected by historic designation will be the five properties within the district's boundaries.
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While creation of an historic distric places no restrictions whatsoever on any property outside of the district, it's worth noting that numerous studies of historic district designation from across the country have shown that home values in and nearby historic districts tend to appreciate more rapidly than in other comparable areas. Here are some of those studies from Rockford, IL, Baton Rouge, LA, and Louisville, KY.
My home is in the proposed district. Does that mean that I can't make any future changes to my home?
No. Article 23 does not flatly prohibit any types of changes with the exception of demolition. If the owner of a designated property wants to make an exterior alteration to their home, that owner can apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness ("COA") to make sure the alteration is in keeping with the historically and/or architecturally significant features of the home. Art. 23-3-4; 23-4-4. The COA would be reviewed by Park Ridge's Historic Preservation Commission ("the HPC"), a volunteer body of the City Government. The HPC would work with the property owner to make sure that the proposed alteration is done in a manner that would not destroy or diminish the historic and/or architectural significance of the property, consistent with the standards set forth in Article 23. Art. 23-5-2. For an example of a COA that the HPC granted, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Note: The owner of a property in an historic district can make any interior change they wish to their home. Also exterior changes to parts of the home that are not visible from the street are allowed. And normal repair and maintenance are explicitly excluded from Article 23's definition of alteration. Art. 23-1-3. So if a property owner wants to replace a window or fix a broken door or repair the siding of her designated home, she does not need a COA at all.​​
If I live in a designated home, can the City force me to make changes or repairs?
No. Article 23 does not grant the City any type of "auditing" power over a designated property. This means that designation under Article 23 does not empower any part of municipal government to review or "check" your property, to require that you make any repairs or undertake any maintenance, or otherwise place any demands on you as a property owner.
What are the benefits of historic designation?
There are numerous benefits to historic district designation, including increased property values, eligibility for certain financial incentives, and pride and peace of mind. Click here for more information on these benefits.
What if one of the historically designated homes is destroyed by fire or an extreme weather event?
If a designated property is damaged or destroyed by fire or another catastrophic event, Article 23 allows for the demolition of that structure. Art. 23-5-1.
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I heard that historic designation means the property owner forfeits their ownership interest in the property and the City takes it over. Is that true?
No. Historic designation does absolutely nothing to impair a property owner's right to possess and enjoy, rent out, or sell the property. The City takes no property interest whatsoever in any property as a result of the historic designation process. Each home in the proposed district would still be fully owned and controlled by the same property owner as before.