4 D112 Schools Make Group's Endangered Historic Places List

Four North Shore School District 112 buildings in Highland Park have landed on a group's endangered list for state historic places.

Lincoln Elementary, Elm Place Middle, Ravinia Elementary and the Green Bay Early Childhood Center (formerly Green Bay Road School) are the four school buildings that made Landmarks Illinois' 2016 Endangered Historic Places list, according to a press release from the state nonprofit that works to preserve historic structures.

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The district, however, is considering closing these school as soon as fall of 2017, but the group doesn't think that means the buildings should get the wrecking ball:

All four are highly visible neighborhood buildings that, if not able to remain educational facilities for District 112, should be retained and made available for other educational/community uses or for private redevelopment. The District should invest in needed repairs for these building, which will remain school facilities for at least one additional year and will make them more marketable for new uses if they ultimately close.

The organization encourages officials to look at ways to possibly redevelop the buildings for different uses in the futures, such as apartments or office spaces. There also are alternative ways to help pay for such renovations.

"In Highland Park, Ravinia School is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the 20 percent Federal Historic Tax Credit could be utilized by a developer for an income-producing reuse," the group suggested.

PHOTO: Ravinia Elementary School (Adam Nathenshon | Landmarks Illinois)