Alarmed by the growing propensity of property owners to buy up old homes and tear them down rather than renovate them, state and local historic preservation experts told Highland Park residents Wednesday something needed to be done to stem the problem.
One answer may be a proposed ordinance expected to be introduced before the Highland Park City Council next week. The measure would prohibit immediate demolition to give officials an opportunity to determine whether the building could be saved.
On Wednesday, residents packed a library auditorium to hear Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Theodore Hild describe the Chicago area as having the dubious distinction of being the hottest place in the country for teardowns.
Hild said his office tracks at least 20 teardowns of historically significant buildings per year in the metropolitan area. He said people often move to older suburbs, buying up older homes and then tearing them down to make room for what he called “McMansions or tract mansions.”
Highland Park Historic Preservation Commissioner Karen May said teardowns increased by 40 percent in Highland Park over the last year. “We need to attract more residents who appreciate the charm and quality of the older homes,” she said.
