‘Major Obstacle’ To Hinsdale Historic Preservation

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale provides no incentives specifically oriented to preserving historic homes, even though many residents express outrage over the demolition of such homes.

The latest concern is that the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home on County Line Road may be sold and then torn down.

On Tuesday, the Village Board plans to meet with the Historic Preservation Commission at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall to discuss incentives for preservation. The board has been meeting with the commission before its regular sessions for months.

“Hinsdale’s existing Zoning Code has been viewed by homeowners and builders as a major obstacle for incentivizing homeowners to choose preservation over demolition and new construction,” the village’s planner, Bethany Salmon, said in a memo to the Village Board. “It has also been brought to staff’s attention how ‘unfriendly’ the current zoning sections are to use due to many tables, formatting and complicated formulas.”

Among other things, the village is looking at zoning relief, streamlined processes and financial assistance to encourage historic preservation.