The St. Charles City Council unanimously approved façade improvement grants totally $36,588 to three local historic buildings at its most recent meeting on August 21. Grant recipients included Douglas Kimber for $16,360 for the 1896 Osgood Building at 11 E. Main Street, Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley for $15,228 for the 1850 William Beith House at 8 Indiana Street, and Susan Olson for $5,000 for her 1874 private residence at 411 Prairie Street. Grant funding cannot exceed more than half of the total project’s cost.
The City of St. Charles’s façade improvement grants are “intended to promote reinvestment and restoration of commercial and residential buildings in the downtown area, with a focus on supporting historic preservation practices,” according to the grant application on the city’s website. Commercial, multi-family residential buildings, and private residences that are local landmarks or in the historic districts in downtown St. Charles are eligible for grants to rehabilitate façades that face the public right-of-way. The city has budgeted $40,000 per year for grants since 2008.
“Façade improvement grants, such as those offered by St. Charles, are vital investments in a community’s heritage,” explained Al Watts, Community Engagement Director for Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. “These grants allow property owners to use historically appropriate materials, which can sometimes be more expensive than modern materials, and rehabilitate their properties sooner than they otherwise could. The entire community will benefit from the improvements to the three very visible buildings receiving these grants,” Watts said.
Built in 1896, the Osgood Building at 11 E. Main Street has needed updating for some time, building owner Doug Kimber pointed out. “We’re really looking forward to bringing life back into this significant building in the heart of downtown St. Charles,” Kimber said. According to the grant application, the building, which hosts Smitty’s on the Corner and Fox.Build Makerspace, will undergo masonry repairs, wood trim replacement, and receive a fresh coat of paint.
The 1850 William Beith House at 8 Indiana Street, one of ten St. Charles buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, will be replacing rotting trim along the roof and adding gutters to protect the new trim and historic limestone walls. “The building’s lack of gutters has accelerated natural weathering of materials” on the home, said Kelsey Shipton, Executive Director of Preservation Partners. “We’re excited that this grant will help us add gutters to redirect the water away from the house and protect this historic landmark,” she said. Owned by Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley, the Beith House serves as their office, out of which they operate four historic sites for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and educate about historic preservation.
Susan Olson’s unique wood spiral rope-patterned columns will be getting replaced on her 1874 home at 411 Prairie Street with assistance from the St. Charles façade improvement grant. The architectural feature of her columns was one of the reasons the home was approved as a local historic landmark in 2017. “This project is very special to me,” beamed Olson. “I feel like I’m making history by recreating these columns to look like they were originally,” she said.
“The city’s investment in these properties will not only beautify St. Charles but also activate over $100,000 in construction spending in the city,” Watts noted. Businesses and residences that are well-maintained demonstrate the vibrancy of a city and attract new visitors and residents, Watts explained adding, “When a city can also preserve its historic structures, it can continue to leverage its unique character as a competitive advantage.”