Plainfield Officials Issue 90-Day Delay On Historic Building Demo

PLAINFIELD, IL — Village officials have issued a 90-day delay in the demolition of a historic downtown building so that a developer and the village can complete an alternative analysis plan for the site. The alternative analysis will seek ways to renovate the historic-but-dilapidated structure, rather than raze and replace it.

Developer Edward Mattox of Shorewood has proposed building a 6,000-square-foot structure on Lockport Street that would house commercial space and apartments. The project would require the demolition of the building at 24120-24122 Lockport Street, one of the oldest buildings in Plainfield.

The building, circa 1850, resides in Downtown Plainfield's historic district but is not a landmark structure. Mattox said the building has fallen into disrepair over the years, and that a renovation to make the structure commercially viable would be prohibitively expensive.

Mattox has asked for a certificate of appropriateness to demolish the building. But a Historic Preservation Commission meeting on the demolition issue saw some members seek ways that the building could be preserved. The commission recommended that Mattox and the village meet to form an alternate analysis plan for the site. On Monday, the Village Board voted to formally authorize the drafting of such a plan.

The alternative analysis will seek to determine how much it could cost to renovate the existing building, how much it would cost to build an additional on the building and potentially how much it would cost to relocate the historic structure, village officials said Monday.

Trustee Cally Larson said the building has historical value, but that it ought to contribute commercially to the downtown area.

"I don't like to see buildings demolished, but I also under the economics of it," she said.

The Village Board will consider Mattox's demolition request after the alternative analysis has been completed. Village officials would also have to approve any development plans for the site.