Benjamin Historic Certifications frequently prepares both National Register and local landmark nominations.
What are the benefits of Landmark Designation?
Makes property eligible for tax benefits. Benjamin Historic Certifications often helps owners of properties the firm has landmarked receive a property tax assessment freeze or Federal Income Tax Credit.
Confers prestige-and that can increase property values.
What kinds of landmarks are there?
Local Landmarks, created by an ordinance in a community that has a preservation ordinance
What is the difference between a national and a local landmark?
When a building is a locally designated Landmark, the Preservation Commission typically reviews a defined range of EXTERIOR alterations requiring a building permit or a proposed demolition. Most commissions are primarily concerned with changes that are visible from the street. Therefore, local designation offers greater protection.
Susan Benjamin and her staff have prepared over thirty nominations for homes to be designated as local landmarks. These nominations have included houses designed in Arts and Crafts, Historical Revival and modern styles. Chicago, Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Oak Park, River Forest, Hinsdale, Naperville and numerous other suburban communities all have ordinances to designate local landmarks. Benjamin Historic Certifications has prepared landmark nominations in all the North Shore suburbs and many in the western suburbs.
How do I know if my property is eligible?
Its association with a person who helped shape history
Its architectural significance as an excellent example of an architectural style or building type
Its significance as the work of a master architect
Its high artistic value
*** A call or e-mail to Susan Benjamin will help determine if a property is eligible for either local or national landmark listing. She can advise on which type of designation is more desirable.
Why should I hire Benjamin Historic Certifications?
The combined years of experience adds up to well over a half century of considerable expertise.
The nomination they provide is thoroughly researched, filled with interesting and important historical information and will be completed according to proper requirements.
Members of the firm have a long, excellent working relationship with local communities and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
Clients have included municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, architectural firms, real estate developers and homeowners; many received tax benefits due to the listing. All nominations are reviewed by National Register Coordinator Tracey Sculle, or her assistant, and approved by the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 1 Old State Capitol, Springfield, IL 62701 (217) 785-0315.
NATIONAL REGISTER LANDMARKS nominated by Susan Benjamin and her associates:
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
COLEMAN HARDWARE COMPANY, BUILDING, 100 Nettle Street, Morris, IL. Historically significant in the commercial and transportation history of Morris.
DEERPATH INN, 255 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, IL. A Tudor Revival Country Inn that is currently a National Trust Hotel.
FAIRBANKS MORSE & COMPANY BUILDING, 900 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL. Important architecturally and in the history of the diesel engine industry. Converted to apartments.
HOTEL WAUKEGAN, 102 Washington, and KARCHER HOTEL, 405 Washington, Waukegan, IL. Two hotels that were important in the commercial and social history of Waukegan.
JOHN GRIFFITH STORE BUILDING, 103-113 East Scranton Avenue, Lake Bluff, IL. Small Colonial Revival commercial block designed by noted Lake Forest Architect, Stanley Anderson.
MANDEL BROTHERS WAREHOUSE, 3254 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL. Commercial dry goods warehouse designed by Holabird and Roche. Converted to residential condominiums.
OLIVER TYPEWRITER BUILDING. 159 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL. Chicago School of Architecture Commercial Block designed by Holabird & Roche.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES
DAVID ADLER HOUSE, 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL. Significant as the estate of David Adler, Chicago's foremost country house architect of the period, the house now serves as a cultural center.
MRS. ISAAC D. ADLER HOUSE, 1480 North Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL. Dutch Colonial Revival House remodeled by architect David Adler for his mother. Nominated because of its high artistic value as a representative example of Adler's interpretation of Colonial Revival archtiecture.
A.G. BECKER ESTATE, 405 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL. Nominated for its historic 1921 landscape designed by Jens Jensen. It is significant for its stonework and for having the last remaining intact meadow, a characteristic Jensen design feature, in the Chicago area.
MRS. CAROLINE MORSE ELY HOUSE, 111 Moffett Road, Lake Bluff, IL. A Renaissance Revival country house modeled after the Louis XV manor house "La Lanterne" outside Paris. Designed by Chicago's premier eclecticist estate architect, David Adler, in 1923.
ABRAHAM GROSBECK HOUSE, 1304 W. Washington Boulevard, Chicago, IL. An 1869 Italianate townhouse designed for an early Chicago doctor.
NOBLE JUDAH ESTATE, 111 W. Westminster Street, Lake Forest, IL. A Norman French Revival estate with significant landscape, designed by Philip Goodwin, architect for the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
ROBERT PATTERSON LAMONT HOUSE, 810 South Ridge Road, Lake Forest, IL. One of the finest works of architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, it is significant in the history of country house architecture in Lake Forest.
MRS. KERSEY COATES REED HOUSE, 1315 North Lake Road, Lake Forest, IL. Designed by David Adler in 1931-32 as an estate house combining the disciplined classicism of Georgian Revival architecture with the sophisticated simplified styling of Art Deco. Virtually unaltered, it contains many original furnishings selected in collaboration with his sister, noted interior designer Francis Elkins.
PAUL SCHWEIKHER HOUSE AND STUDIO, 645 S. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, IL. Home and studio of significant residential architect, Paul Schweiker, former chairman of Yale School of Architecture. Owned by the Village of Schaumburg.
FRANCIS STUYVESANT PEABODY ESTATE, "Mayslake", 1717 W. 31st Street, Oak Brook, IL. The retirement estate of a prominent coal magnate. Designed by Benjamin Marshall of the prolific Chicago architectural firm of Marshall & Fox. Owned by the DuPage County Forest Preserve.
WARD W. WILLITS HOUSE, 1445 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL. Built in 1901, this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residence is considered Wright's first masterpiece from among his Prairie houses. It influence many subsequent designs by Wright and his followers.
MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES
BELMONTE FLATS, 4257 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL. An eight-story, Queen Anne Style, multi-family building designed by Patton & Fisher in 1893, it was rehabilitated using historic and low income tax credits by East Lake Management Company.
MARSHALL FIELD GARDEN APARTMENTS, 1336-1452 N. Sedgwick Street, 1337-1453 N. Hudson Ave., 400-424 W. Evergreen Street, and 401-425 W. Blackhawk Street, Chicago, Illinois. Originally built as affordable housing, it is composed of 10 buildings around a central courtyard. One of only two similar Garden apartment complexes in Chicago. The buildings have been rehabilitated by Dubin Dubin and Moutoussamy using both historic and low-income tax credits.
THEMATIC NOMINATION TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR 50 APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, City of Evanston, Illinois
A large concentration of high-quality courtyard-type apartments designed to provide the amenities of fine private homes to their residents.
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
COOK SCHOOL, 9526 S. Cook, Oak Lawn, IL. The oldest historic school building in the village of Oak Lawn, it was restored for Park District office use.
LYONS TOWNSHIP HALL, 53 S. LaGrange Road, LaGrange, IL. A Classical Revival Township Center.
INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS
QUIGLEY PREPARATORY SEMINARY, 103 East Chestnut, Chicago, IL 60611. A Catholic school on the Near North side of Chicago whose chapel, which was modeled after Sainte Chapelle in Paris, has richly detailed stained glass windows.
HISTORIC DISTRICTS AND MULTIPLE PROPERTY NOMINATIONS
LAKEVIEW HISTORIC DISTRICT BOUNDARY EXTENSION, Chicago, IL. A dense urban neighborhood which is located on the north side of the city of Chicago and reached residential maturity in the 1890s.
RAVINIA PARK, THREE RESIDENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS, AND 36 INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS IN HIGHLAND PARK, Highland Park, IL. One of the historic districts features many houses designed by George W. Maher. Individual listings include buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, John Van Bergen, Ernest Grunsfeld, Arthur Heun, Henry Dubin, Tallmadge and Watson, Robert Seyfarth, Howard Van Doren Shaw, and landscapes designed by Jens Jensen.
EDWARD L. RYERSON AREA HISTORIC DISTRICT. Ryerson Conservation Area, 2950 Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods, IL.(847) 948-7750. Historically and architecturally significant as the country retreat of one of Chicago's most important industrialists.
SHEFFIELD HISTORIC DISTRICT BOUNDARY EXTENSION, Chicago, IL. A dense urban neighborhood on the near north side of the city of Chicago developed immediately after the Chicago fire of 1871 through 1904.
VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD, Maywood, IL. Seventeen significant residential and municipal buildings in the village of Maywood.
Recognizes and showcases the significance of an historic property.
There are two ways of landmarking properties.
Landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register: Because the National Register is the country's official list of significant properties, listing carries considerable prestige, with few restrictions unless owners take advantage of tax benefits. Alterations and demolition of buildings listed on the National Register are NOT reviewed unless there is a Federal activity (like building a road) that is likely to have a negative effect on the listed building. Buildings placed on the Register are eligible for both the Property Tax Assessment Freeze and Federal Income Tax Credits. They are also eligible for the donation of an easement, which offers landmark property owners a substantial Federal income tax deduction. Landmark Preservation Council of Illinois accepts easements. A building must be listed on the National Register to be eligible for the easement donation.
Local Landmark: Many cities and villages have preservation commissions with ordinances that allow landmark homeowners to take advantage of Illinois' Property Tax Assessment Freeze. The process of local designation requires less work and can be accomplished more quickly than listing on the National Register. The Federal Income Tax Credit may not be taken unless the property is a contributing building in a locally designated landmark district that has been approved for purposes of the credit. Owners of local landmarks are not eligible for an easement donation.
Generally, a building is eligible for either local or national landmark listing if it has had relatively few alterations and meets one or more of the following criteria:
Its association with an important historical event
A potential landmark can have local, state or national significance.
No firm has had more experience listing landmarks. Susan Benjamin and her associates have prepared nominations for single family homes, apartment buildings, hotels, farms, schools, churches, commercial and industrial buildings, clubs and designed landscapes.
Susan Benjamin and her associates have written, not just local nominations, but more than 100 nominations to the National Register of Historic Places for a variety of buildings types with historic and architectural significance. These included nominations of over 70 individual buildings as well as many historic districts and boundary extensions to historic districts, one thematic nomination and two multiple property nominations.
BELMONT-SHEFFIELD TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK BUILDING, 1001 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL. A Classical Revival style bank building rehabilitated for use as a restaurant and apartment buildings.
ADLAI E. STEVENSON, II, FARM, 25200 North St. Mary's Road, Mettawa/Libertyville. Significant as the home of American statesman who served as Illinois Governor, ran for United States President and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. House highly unusual example of International Style/Moderne/Prairie Style residence designed by Perkins, Wheeler & Will, Chicago.
AQUITANIA, 5000 Marine Drive, Chicago, IL. Fifteen-story luxury courtyard apartment building designed in the Classical Revival style by Harris and Jillson, with an Art Moderne lobby. The property was developed by George K. Spoor, co-founder of Essanay Studios, producer of may early motion pictures.
MIDWEST ATHLETIC CLUB BUILDING, 6, N. Hamlin Street, Chicago, IL. A former social club converted to residential use.
INDIAN HILL MANOR AND FARM HISTORIC DISTRICT, Rockford, IL. Architecturally significant as the country retreat of a Chicago businessman.