$1M Hinsdale House May Get Village Aid

HINSDALE, IL – The owners of a Hinsdale house may get the village's financial help with a renovation.

It's part of a preservation program that allows owners to modernize their homes yet keep their historic look. This, officials hope, will help prevent the demolition and replacement of historic homes.

Owners Andy O'Connor and Katie Lambert are planning $112,000 in improvements to their house at 136 N. Washington St. They bought it for $975,000 in early 2022.

On Tuesday, the Village Board is set to vote on an incentive agreement with the owners. It was recommended by the local Historic Preservation Commission.

In August, the board approved such aid for a $1.8 million house at 420 S. Park Ave.

Under the incentives, the village may remove the village's part of the property tax bill for five years. To make that a reality, an owner must spend at least $50,000 on exterior improvements. For the Washington house, that could mean a reduction in property taxes of about $5,200 over five years.

The village may also decide to pay for half of the eligible project costs, up to $10,000 per project.

Among the changes the Washington owners plan is the staircase. They were unable to move furniture to the second floor because of the size and configuration of the staircase, according to a village memo.

They want an addition on the south side of their house for modern amenities such as a mudroom, a larger kitchen and a master suite. The project also would involve new windows, exterior doors and roofing.

The addition would face the side yard and be less visible from the street, the village said.

Built in 1883, the house was first occupied by Dr. Frederick H. Lan View, one of the village's earliest physicians, a founder of the Hinsdale Unitarian Church and president of the Illinois Medical Association, according to the memo.

The 2,700-square-foot house contains four bedrooms and three bathrooms.