Dear List,
As staff for the Aurora Preservation Commission, I think that I should
clarify a few things...
The 1923 Aurora Depot at 175 S. Broadway is being considered for designation
as an Aurora Historic Landmark, not for a national listing. This would make
it subject to the Aurora Preservation Ordinance and Landmark Guidelines. We
do not have any information that it is slated to be razed next month, and
would be interested in seeing if you know something we don't! The people
who submitted the application, however, are concerned for it in light of the
River City development plans. We will be doing thorough research on the
history of the depot and presenting a staff report at the public hearing on
October 12th. This is why I turned to the list for any unturned stones in
collecting background on the station. At this public hearing, the
Preservation Commission will vote on designation, although the decision is
appealable, and would then go before City Council.
Amy Hartt Soprych
Preservation Intern - City of Aurora
-----Original Message-----
From: supchief17@a... <supchief17@a...>
To: BRHSlist@egroups.com <BRHSlist@egroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 7:35 PM
Subject: Re: [BRHSlist] RE: Information on 1923 Aurora Depot
>
>In a message dated 9/13/00 7:11:11 PM Central Daylight Time,
Aeolus3@a...
>writes:
>
><< Monday night the Aurora City Council at their meeting voted to put the
>Aurora
> Depot on the Historical Register. Plans are to build a sports complex on
>the
> site with the depot being torn down. Thus placing the Aurora Depot on the
> register they can not tear it down.
>
> Loren Johnson
> >>
>I Must correct Loren on this issue.(sorry Loren). I when to the city hall
>meeting on Monday night. It was proposed to the City Commissioners by
>petition to have the Aurora Depot considered for The National Historical
>Register. The Aurora Depot is scheduled for razing next month. The petition
>read stated that the Aurora Depot was of historical value to the city of
>Aurora. Architectural facts and values were also read. After the petition
was
>read, the first person to speak was the Lawyer of the owner of the
>building.(a local businessman).
>He has owned the building for about 5 years. He bought the depot for
>$300,000.00. He now stands to sell it for 1.3 million. His lawyer stated
that
>in none of the Historical books of Aurora are any PICS of the depot, nor
are
>any comments made of its historical value.
> He had a good point, All the copies of Historical books of Aurora, and,
>etc., had no PICS of the depot. He stated that the building had no
>significant architechual features, nor was the architect anyone special. He
>rambled on about the commissioners would be doing a disservice to the
people
>of Aurora to put the building to a public hearing.
> After the lawyer was done speaking, 3 people got up on behalf of
saving
>the depot. Several good speeches were given about saving the depot. Then it
>was up to the vote of the Aurora Commissioners to either kill the petition,
>and let the depot be torn down next month, or for it to go to a public
>hearing for consideration for Historical Status.
> The commission vote unanimously for the issue to go to public hearing.
>
>As President of the Little Q Model RR Club, I plan to help in the fight to
>save the old Aurora Depot. I will keep everybody informed of the City of
>Aurora's doings in this matter.
>
> BUT.........We need your help. If you want to save the old Aurora Depot,
>please let me know, as the more names and support of the BRHS I have, the
>more power I have to present to the Public Hearings, and other legal
matters
>that confront us ahead.
>
> Feel free to contact me or Loren about saving our Depot. I plan to be
at
>all City meetings about the depot in the future. The commissioners have 45
>days to decide if the Depot is worthy of saving on the Historical Register.
>If the commission decides it is not, it will be torn down.
>
>Please help to save our Depot..................................
>Mike Griesmann
> <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/heartland/8114/littleq.html";>Little Q
>Model Railroad Club</A>
>President: Mike Griesmann
>(Supchief17@a...)
>843 Lebanon St.
>Aurora, Illinois 60505
>630-897-6513 evenings
>630-906-1114 daytime
>
>
>
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