1983 Fall Newsletter

Lake Forest Foundation for Historic Preservation THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 1983 contains A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT in which the President says that as President of the Lake Forest Foundation for Historic Preservation he has often wondered whether his personal views concerning preservation coincide with the views of the community at large, but that when they started counting the responses to Community Alert II he realized the preservation viewpoint represented the consensus of a significant constituency in Lake Forest and that the results were very heartening, reporting they received 755 response cards containing over 1400 resident signatures agreeing with their position on the Conway Farms matter and 14 against, adding that while any poll contains an error factor the results reflect such strong support of their opposition to the development as proposed through the Annexation Agreement insisted upon by the developers that their conviction was reinforced, then stating preservation in a living community such as Lake Forest is a delicate issue and asking are we against progress and answering a definite NO, explaining what they are against is the destruction of the intangible character of the community that has attracted so many people, describing Lake Forest as internationally known as an ideal American suburban community and even in modern literature used as an example of a superior place to live, listing the beautiful placid atmosphere, the unhurried style and friendships, the architecture and the efficient government as the qualities for which people pay a considerable price not only in money but in added commuting time, noting the person who rides the North Western Railroad to Chicago for a forty hour work week spends an additional 25% of his time on the train and if Lake Forest were no different than any other community on the North Shore the commuter could live elsewhere and cut transportation time in half, then emphasizing they oppose the imposition of the will of developers upon citizens without their agreement and saying City Council meetings are not the most stimulating entertainment particularly after a hard day at work so most citizens never attend Council meetings and when they do it is because they have been alerted to an issue that personally concerns them, calling this understandable but also the factor that allows developers to propose plans which may not be compatible with the wishes of the majority because without registered dissent the City Council has no alternative but to grant the developer’s request and then we may wake up one morning to find an irreplaceable structure destroyed or an out-of-character building growing out of the ground and when that happens it is too late to turn back the clock, citing this sort of insensitivity and the subdivision of the Baker property east of the library and the outrage of many citizens as what led to adoption of an Historic Preservation Ordinance by the City and expressing hope similar occurrences can be prevented in the future and that to do so they need the largest support possible from residents who believe as they do, stating they have no official standing other than their ability to speak up for their members and have been successful in expressing their views in numerous situations, noting they opposed destruction of the Old Rec Center and the Old Firehouse and are grateful to the City Government for encouraging others to develop adaptive uses for these special buildings as a good example of what a preservation society can accomplish, saying they are proud of results achieved in preserving and restoring the North Western Station and thank the City, the First National Bank, the other tenants, and many citizens for their help, returning to Conway Farms to emphasize they would have had no objection to nor would they have opposed development had it been proposed within the parameters of the Lake Forest Comprehensive Plan and that contrary to some opinions their Community Alerts were sent out for the sole purpose of presenting facts that would have otherwise been overlooked, adding that had the response indicated that when presented with both sides of the issue the majority of respondents favored the development they would have followed the will of the majority, concluding they need as many members as possible and asking readers to take a few minutes to fill out the attached membership application if they feel the efforts are helpful in preserving the community, signed Herbert Geist, followed by the line THE FOUNDATION IS A PURELY VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION. LET US KNOW HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE. and a volunteer checklist repeating that preservation can only be realized with active volunteers and asking readers to check areas of interest including hosting membership teas or receptions in my home, assisting with historic house tours, observing at City government meetings, telephoning, clerical activities, posters activities, architectural history, and professional skills you are willing to donate such as graphic design, photography, and public speaking, followed again by the same “Preservation can only be realized…” list and the phrase Preservation Is Progress, then the LAKE FOREST FOUNDATION FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION P.O. Box 813 (M), Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 membership form stating I/We want to help preserve the historic character of Lake Forest and to enroll in the following membership category with contributions tax deductible and checks payable to The Preservation Foundation, with boxes for Member $25/year, Sponsor $100/year, Life Member $1000.00 and fields for Name, Street, City, Telephone, State, Zip, plus the line THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER is published as a community service by The Lake Forest Foundation for Historic Preservation, Box 813, Lake Forest, IL 60045 and distributed without charge to residents and businesses of the City of Lake Forest and that The Preservation Foundation is open to all who share its goal of progress through preservation, then a section titled HISTORIC RECOGNITION PLAQUES explaining the Foundation is making available bronze plaques to designate historic Lake Forest properties and that eligible structures (homes or commercial buildings) are those documenting some part of local history or representing significant architecture, instructing that if you consider a property you own within the City of Lake Forest historically significant you may apply by requesting an Application for Historic Status which parallels the application for the National Register and that a $40.00 processing fee is to accompany the application and if based on the information supplied the structure does not qualify the fee will be returned, stating determination of historic status will be based on criteria that a building must be of significant age, show integrity of architectural design and setting, be representative of a period of local history or of a type of construction, represent the work of a master, or be associated with events of importance in local history or with the lives of people who have made a significant contribution to Lake Forest, adding that from time to time the Foundation will cite buildings for special recognition and that when an individual or group demonstrates special sensitivity to the character of Lake Forest and tries to maintain the ambiance either through restoration or through new construction compatible with existing architecture they feel a special “pat-on-the-back” is in order, stating the City of Lake Forest and Lake Forest College were selected to receive the first Historic Recognition Plaques and that City Hall and Young Hall (formerly College Hall) are examples of sensitive restoration of buildings of historic importance erected during the later part of the last century and since being restored are visually pleasing and function in useful and important ways for the community, directing readers to write to “Historic Plaque”, Box 813, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 for further information or an application and listing CITY HALL City Council Chambers and YOUNG HALL Formerly College Hall, followed by HAVE YOU NOTICED THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE NORTHWESTERN STATION? describing that buildings have been tuckpointed and painted, outside benches are available for commuter seating, platform canopies are lit at night, the south waiting room has been painted and new lights and ventilating fans installed, waiting room benches refinished, two modern clean restrooms available for public use, maintenance and security improved, coffee and newspapers, a barber, and a florist available in convenient commuter locations, the dry cleaner renovating, the bank renovating and expanding the north waiting room and paving the north parking lot, and the parking lot being re-landscaped this fall with additional plantings next spring, then ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY HAS REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY stating that by the end of the next few weeks over $300,000 will have been spent on the project by the Preservation Foundation, station tenants, and the City, and naming community groups making substantial contributions including members of the Preservation Foundation and supporters of its efforts to spearhead the renovation project, the Deerpath Garden Club, the Deerpath Questers, the Garden Art Club, the George Hansen Memorial Tree Fund, the Lake Forest Garden Club, the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Newcomers, the Lake Forest Women’s Club, Lake Weavers, the North Shore Horticulture Society, and the Woodlands Garden Club, noting over one half of the funds invested have come from station tenants who renewed portions of the main building while developing their own quarters and that the City under its maintenance and management agreement made possible additions such as the mid-track crossing, new restrooms, improved security and maintenance, repair of the heating system, and repaving of the south parking lot, then NOW WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP explaining the First National Bank has given the project a tremendous boost through commitment to renovate the interior and exterior of the north end of the station and parking lot and that by coordinating remaining interior work with their project cost savings can result and that if they can raise an additional $41,500 they can meet immediate priorities, presenting an Item Est. Cost list including in coordination with the bank’s work refinish and repair the south waiting room floor, marble base, and plinth blocks, make entries doors and windows energy-efficient and secure, provide adequate and appropriate ash and trash receptacles, provide hardware and other items needed for finishing details in the south waiting room and the entries for $10,000, replace the barbed wire between the tracks with an attractive and appropriate fence for $17,500, plant 14 trees on the east platform to match trees already installed on the west platform for $5,000, and insulate the attics of both buildings and install additional storm-screens for energy conservation for $9,000, followed by an appeal that your tax-deductible contribution of any amount will help complete this phase and that help is urgently needed NOW and asking readers to join in making the station a more vital functional and attractive asset in downtown Lake Forest, adding a note that any funds raised in excess of current goals will be invested for future use in renovating the platform and installing new appropriate lights on the platform and that a fund for purchase of platform lights has recently been initiated by the Deerpath Questers, then a donation slip repeating the appeal with YES, I/We want to help complete the Station Renovation and fields for NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE and stating the contribution will be acknowledged by the Lake Forest Foundation for Historic Preservation with IRS Classification (509) (a) (2), followed by a fundraising section titled JAMES L. LOCKHART GOURMET GIFT TINS TO BENEFIT THE LAKEFOREST RAILROAD STATION RENOVATION explaining that to raise funds world-famous wildlife artist James L. Lockhart has again made his artwork available to the Foundation on beautifully designed tin containers filled with exceptionally fine gourmet nuts snacks and candies as business or personal Holiday gifts and entertaining, that net proceeds help with restoration, that order forms and samples are available at the Gorton Community Center 400 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest and orders of one or more cases will be delivered to your local address, providing a contact to call Marge Herzfelder at 295-5488 and expressing appreciation to Mr. Lockhart for making the tins available, then RECEPTION AT ‘HANDY GREEN’ describing a special autumn afternoon treat for members when Mr. Edward H. Bennett, Jr. opened Handy Green to membership, explaining he is a founder and first President who purchased the turn of the century house from the City, that though considered historic it was in danger of being razed because of deteriorated condition, and that working together Mr. Bennett and architect Frederick Phillips restored the exterior to approximate the simple dignity of the original design while the interior has been opened up and updated in surprising ways offering an exciting contrast to the traditional white clapboard exterior, concluding that the Foundation and community owe Mr. Bennett a debt of gratitude for saving the charming house and lovely property for enjoyment today and in the future, followed by WHY IS THE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEW AS WELL AS THE OLD? explaining the question has been asked when the Foundation has asked the City and residents to consider long-range impact of developmental proposals on character, stating looking beyond historic properties is important because the charter mandates consideration of all components that comprise the City’s historic visual character including buildings and grounds but also general ambiance and natural resources, emphasizing attention to zoning codes building codes and the comprehensive plan that set the framework and that this carefully prescribed framework and adherence to it has made Lake Forest a community with high standards and quality of life sought after by discriminating people, stating Lake Forest is increasingly unique in adherence to standards of development that help maintain its historic character as a city made up primarily of single family homes while other suburban communities originally composed predominantly of single family residences are becoming overwhelmed by a more dominant mood created by multi-family and office developments and as urbanization grows elsewhere Lake Forest’s primarily single-family residential character becomes increasingly unique and of greater value, and concluding that with more than a quarter of the land within present boundaries open for further building and with increasing pressure to develop this land Lake Forest is highly vulnerable to dramatic change of character but that with careful adherence to the standards that preserved the community’s ambiance in the past development can be achieved and still be consistent with the established character of the City.