HPC - Partner or Opponent?

Is Woodstock's Historic Preservation Commission a partner in City government with the Mayor and the six members of the City Council or is it just a little do-good group and a formality in city government that can be overlooked or stiffed?

If you care about Woodstock, make time in your busy schedule to show up in City Council chambers this Monday, September 14, 7:00PM. And bring neighbors, friends, students, family and others.

Read this letter that I received today from Woodstock residents Dan and Caryl Lemanski. Dan, Caryl and others have worked hard to save Grace Hall. They are still working hard to save Grace Hall.

"Recent actions by the Woodstock City Council pertaining to historic preservation will have a direct impact on our environment.

"In addition to preserving our history and culture, stabilizing local economies, providing affordable housing, promoting tourism and providing jobs, historic preservation is part of a sound environmental policy for a community. It promotes the adaptive reuse of buildings through repair and restoration rather than demolition and new construction. It encourages the use of similar, durable materials and green technologies while discouraging the use of synthetic materials. It discourages demolition through neglect in part to keep old construction/hazardous waste materials out of landfills. Historic preservation is a classic example of recycling.

"Recent decisions by the Woodstock City Council have resulted in or will result in the demolition of historic properties including:

"– Proposed demolition of the house and apartment building at Calhoun and Tryon to make way for a 4-story assisted living facility on the west side of Tryon. Additionally, the council approved excavation and removal of the sloping lots to bring them level with Tryon and Calhoun. The City Council approved this plan despite the negative recommendations from Woodstock's Plan Commission and Historic Preservation Commission (HPC.)

"– Proposed demolition of 20% of Main St. to make way for the Classic Cinemas theater expansion. The overall plan for the expansion was pre-approved by the City Council before the matter was sent to the HPC for review.

"– Demolition of the historic brick façade at DC Cobbs on Main St. despite of the unanimous recommendation of the HPC to preserve the brick and keep it out of a landfill. This item appeared on a City Council agenda as an appeal of the HPC decision prior to the commission ever reviewing the project or making a decision.

"– Tabling the unanimous HPC landmark recommendation for Grace Hall on the Woodstock Christian Life Services campus and approval of its demolition. The council chose to view this solely as a property rights issue while ignoring, among other considerations, the environmental impact of demolition and hazardous waste removal on the community. The 13+ month efforts of the HPC, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and Landmarks Illinois demonstrating an adaptive reuse plan for the building was possible for WCLS’ intended purpose, but were never fully explored by WCLS per the council's directive.

"These actions have called into question the 1996 Woodstock Historic Preservation Ordinance, the design guidelines for the historic district and the future of historic preservation efforts in Woodstock including the environmental benefits. For these reasons the HPC requested a joint meeting with the Woodstock City Council to address the commission’s concerns. The commission would like to hear directly from the council its understanding of historic preservation and its role in their vision for Woodstock.

"The meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 14 at 7pm in city council chambers at 121 W. Calhoun St. and is open to the public."