Park Ridge moved one step closer to establishing its first-ever historic district Monday, Aug. 17, when the Procedures & Regulations Committee of the Whole voted 6-1 to advance the Spanish Town Historic District application to the full City Council, according to the Journal-Topics.

The final vote is expected Sept. 8.

If approved, the district would cover five Spanish Colonial Revival homes designed by architect Benedict Bruns and built by the Durchslag Real Estate firm: 424, 428 and 430 Talcott Place and 1305 and 1309 S. Crescent Ave. The homes sit near the dead end of Talcott Place, a block south of Talcott Road and west of Vine Street.

Ald. John Moran (1st Ward) cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the application set a bad precedent. City Attorney Adam Simon pushed back on that framing, telling the committee that whatever the council decides "doesn't create any legal precedent for any other application."

The application was filed by property owner Emily MacArthur, as we reported Aug. 5, with supporting owners Mike and Jennie Shannon, Pamela Raymick, and Brendan and Katy Kelly. That group represents a supermajority of the five property owners, exceeding the city's "fifty percent plus one" consent threshold.

New owner, old concerns

The application was originally triggered by a prospective sale of 1309 S. Crescent Ave. that raised fears the buyer intended to demolish the home. That buyer backed out after learning of the historic district filing. A different sale closed Aug. 7.

Community Preservation and Development Director Drew Awsumb told the committee the new owner was not necessarily enthusiastic about the district but did not object to it. MacArthur offered more detail: "I have met the new owner, and they do wish to remain anonymous because of the nature of their job. They closed on the 7th and stated verbally to several of us that they intend to fix up the home and they loved it."

Ald. Lauren Rapisand (6th Ward) asked whether the applicant group would accept a district that excluded 1309 S. Crescent. MacArthur said she would not be "jumping up and down for joy" but felt good about where things stand.

Phil Payne, a former owner of 424 Talcott Place who lived there nearly a decade, told the committee he built a second-story addition on the already-landmarked home. While he had to ensure the addition fit the building's design and get city approval, he said he did not see it as too much of a burden.

Moratorium on future applications

Beyond the Spanish Town vote, several alderpersons raised broader concerns that the historic designation process could be used to landmark a property against an owner's will. The committee asked city staff to prepare a moratorium on any further historic district applications while alderpersons discuss revisions to the process.

The scope and duration of that moratorium were not detailed at the meeting.

Park Ridge has 18 individual landmarks but has never designated a full historic district. The city's Historic Preservation Plan, adopted Nov. 6, 2024, explicitly identified Spanish Town as a candidate for district status.

The City Council is expected to take its final vote on the Spanish Town application at its Sept. 8 meeting.