The Aurora City Council is set to vote on the Historic Preservation grants for 2024.
Because aldermen put the item on the consent agenda for Tuesday’s regular council meeting, they are expected to approve them.
City staff received 21 applications representing all four local historic districts, the National Register district and local landmarks. The work involved ranged from tuckpointing, window repair, chimney restoration, siding repair and painting to structural stabilization and porch restorations, according to staff.
The Historic Preservation Grant Committee reviewed the 21 applications in August, and ranked 14 of them as top priority. In a memo, staff members said the remaining applications are worthwhile projects, and recommended the applicants apply against for the next round.
The projects approved by the committee, and recommended for approval by the City Council, include: 18 S. Root St., Near Eastside Historic District, chimney restoration, $7,205; 219 W. Park St., Tanner Historic District, masonry porch restoration, $10,813; 238 Lawndale Ave., Riddle Highlands, window restoration, $18,733; 361 Lawndale Ave., Riddle Highlands, tuckpointing, $13,029; 404 S. Edgelawn, a landmark, skylight restoration, $10,000; 418 Palace St., Tanner Historic District, porch restoration, $16,423.
Also: 464 Palace St., Tanner Historic District, wood storm windows, $11,176; 506 Oak Ave., Tanner Historic District, window and door restoration, $16,973; 515 Oak Ave., Tanner Historic District, chimney restoration, $2,280; 535 W. Downer Place – local landmark – siding repair and painting – $15,350; 547 Fifth St., in the process of becoming a local landmark, foundation stabilization to a historic garage, $21,000; 625 Oak Ave., Tanner Historic District, door restoration and custom wood screen doors, $8,250; 742 Oak Ave., Riddle Highlands, porch restoration, $10,669; 2888 N. Eola Road, local landmark, tuckpointing and chimney restoration, $21,000.
In 2019, the City Council approved a new Historic Preservation Grant Program. The program is a reimbursable grant for exterior historic rehabilitation projects.
The maximum is $20,000. All grants at or under $10,000 require no cash match. All grants over $10,000 require a dollar-for-dollar cash match for every dollar over $10,000. The final $1,000 of the grant is additional funding for the use of local contractors.
Properties must be owner-occupied and designated as historic within the city of Aurora and must meet all other eligibility requirements.
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