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Historic Preservation Commission

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is a seven-member commission established for the purpose of identifying, promoting and facilitating the preservation of historic structures and districts within the Village.

Staff Liaison: Wil Richardson, Planner

Members
Michael Kollman (Chair, HPC)
Kevin Neuendank (Chair, ARC)
Tom Flader
Les Galo
Maggie Krieger
Dale Villiard
Vacancy (click here for application)

The Historic Preservation Commission meets on the third Monday of each month at 4:00 pm at the Village Hall, 118 W. Cook Avenue, Libertyville, IL. 

PUBLIC COMMENT: If you would like to make a public comment on an item before the Historic Preservation Commission please follow the process outlined here.

Click here to download the Certificate of Appropriateness Guide which explains the application process including submittal requirements and fees.

2026 Schedule

Meeting Submittal Date
January 19, 2026 January 9, 2026
February 16, 2026 January 30, 2026
March 16, 2026 March 6, 2026
April 20, 2026 April 3, 2026
May 18, 2026 May 8, 2026
June 15, 2026 June 5, 2026
July 20, 2026 July 10, 2026
August 17, 2026 August 7, 2026
September 28, 2026 September 11, 2026
October 19, 2026 October 9, 2026
November 16, 2026 October 30, 2026
December 21, 2026 December 11, 2026

Historic Tax Credits

Owners of properties in the National Register Downtown Historic District may qualify for substantial tax savings when they invest in rehabilitation.

How the credits work:

  • Federal Historic Tax Credit: 20% credit for qualified rehabilitation expenses 
  • Illinois Historic Preservation Tax Credit: 25% credit for eligible rehabilitation expenses
That means a $200,000 rehab project could return $40,000 federally and $50,000 from the state, a potential $90,000 in combined credits.

Who Qualifies:
Properties are classified as contributing or non-contributing to the district:
  • Contributing properties add to the historic character, keep their original features, and date from the district’s period of significance.
  • Non-contributing properties do not meet those standards and are not eligible.
A map of the final Downtown Historic District Boundaries is available, which includes a view of all the identified non-contributing properties within the district.

Contacts for Questions and Application:
The Illinois State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is the direct contact for Historic Tax Credit applications. Full guides and resources are available online on their website. 
SHPO Contact: (217) 782-4836

Libertyville Historic Tax Credits Webinar w/ Anthony Rubano, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer with Illinois.

On December 3, 2025, the Village hosted a webinar with Anthony Rubano, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), to provide a detailed look into Historic Tax Credits for property owners in the Downtown Historic District. Below is a recording of this meeting as well as the presentation slides:

Libertyville Historic Tax Credits Webinar Recording

Libertyville Historic Tax Credits Presentation Slides





Helpful links and resources to get started:

Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit Information

20% Federal Tax Credit Application Guide

25% State Tax Credit Application Guide

One page program summary

Property Tax Assessment Freeze

Owner-occupied "historic" residences may qualify for the Illinois Property Tax Assessment Freeze program, which freezes the assessed value of a principal residence for eight years, followed by a four-year step-up period, if the owner undertakes substantial rehabilitation and restoration. See this one-page summary for more detail:

Summary of Property Tax Assessment Freeze Program.

Who Qualifies:
  • The building must be owner-occupied and serve as the owner's principal residence following completion of the rehabilitation. The program is primarily intended for single-family homes and residential buildings where the owner lives.
  • The building must be considered "Historic." In the Village of Libertyville, a building qualifies as historic if it meets one of the following criteria:
    1. A designated landmark in the Village of Libertyville. Contact Wil Richardson, Planner at 847-918-2028 for questions regarding landmarking your property. The application can be found here.
    2. Individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or a contributing property within a National Register Historic District.
    3. A contributing property within the Village’s Local Historic District
  • The building must be rehabilitated in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.
  • The rehabilitation's eligible expenses must equal or exceed 25% of the assessor's pre-rehab, fair-cash value of the property and must be incurred within a 24-month period, unless an extension is requested and granted.
Contacts for Questions and Application:
The Illinois State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is the direct contact for Tax Freeze applications. Full guides and resources are available online on their website.

SHPO Contact: SHPO.Freeze@illinois.gov

National Register of Historic Places Nomination
On April 21, 2025, the Libertyville Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior. A press release issued by the Village of Libertyville on April 30, 2025, is available for view. 

A map of the final Downtown Historic District Boundaries is available, which includes a view of all the identified non-contributing properties within the district. Non-contributing properties do not meet the criteria for historic designation, often due to newer construction or significant alterations and, therefore are not eligible for the same benefits that historic properties receive under the National Register of Historic Places

For financial benefits and incentives offered by the State Historic Preservation Office for contributing buildings within the Libertyville District, please visit the following links:

1. Financial Incentives

2. Tax Incentives Brochure

The following information is a record of our updates detailing the nomination timeline.

Preparation for the formal nomination of the Downtown Libertyville Historic District began in 2023, with the nomination presented to the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council in early 2025 for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2024, the Village of Libertyville completed an update to the 2016 Historic Resources Survey of downtown Libertyville. This update, conducted by Ramsey Historic Consultants, gathered new information and current photographs of the buildings within the proposed district, as required for the National Register nomination.

To learn more about the benefits of being listed in the National Register, visit the Illinois Historic Preservation page.

National Register Designation Timeline 2024-2026

  • An Open House took place on October 16, 2024, at Village Hall, 118 W Cook Ave. During the Open House, we presented the findings of the updated survey and provided information about the next steps in the nomination process. Residents and property owners had an opportunity to review the results of the updated survey, ask questions, and learn more about the upcoming National Register of Historic Places nomination before the final listing.
  • Following the Open House, the draft nomination for the inclusion of Libertyville's Downtown Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places was reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. On November 18, 2024, at 4:00 PM, the Commission held a meeting at Village Hall, 118 W Cook Ave, where they voted unanimously (6-0) to forward the draft nomination to the Village Board of Trustees for review.

  • On January 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM, the Village Board of Trustees held their regularly scheduled meeting at Village Hall, 118 W Cook Ave, where they approved a resolution supporting the Libertyville Downtown Historic District’s nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) had reviewed the draft nomination and recommended it for the Village’s consideration.  The approval allowed the SHPO to proceed with the remaining steps to nominate the District.

  • On February 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM, the Illinois National Register Advisory Council held its scheduled meeting to review the Village's presentation for the Libertyville Downtown Historic District nomination. The Council recommended approval for the district's inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination (FINAL NOMINATION) was received by the National Park Service on March 14, 2025 and subsequently approved April 25, 2025, officially designating the district on the National Register of Historic Places.

Historic District Designation

The Historic Preservation Commission and the Village Board of Trustees approved the Downtown Libertyville Historic District as the Village's first Historic District! To view the boundaries of the Downtown Libertyville Historic District, please CLICK HERE. The criteria utilized by the Historic Preservation Commission in determining the designation of Historic Districts includes:

  • Containing one or more landmarks along with such other buildings, places or areas within its definable geographic boundaries, that contribute to the overall visual characteristics of the landmark(s) located in the District;
  • A significant number of structures meeting any of the standards for Local Landmark Designation Criteria;
  • Establishing a sense of time and place unique to the Village of Libertyville; and/or
  • Exemplifying or reflecting the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the nation, the state or the Village.
Interested in establishing a Historic District? The Historic District Designation criteria and procedure can be found in the Historic Preservation Ordinance. Any questions about the Historic District Designation process, including what is required for a submission, can be directed to Staff.

Local Landmark Designation

Commercial and residential structures with architectural and historical significance are eligible for Local Landmark status with the Village. Notable features that qualifies a property for local landmarking includes architectural style or design; a significant builder or architect; identification with a person or persons who have made significant contributions at the local, regional or national level; and those properties associated with important cultural or social aspects or events.

The complete list of criteria for local landmark designation can be found in the Historic Preservation Ordinance.

Interested in landmarking your property? The application can be found here. Any questions about the landmarking process, including what is required for a submission and the benefits of receiving landmark status, can be directed to Staff

The following properties have received Local Landmark status:

  • The Cook House, 413 N. Milwaukee Avenue (reviewed by the HPC on March 1, 2016, and approved by the Village Board on May 10, 2016.)
  • The David Adler Estate, 1700 N. Milwaukee Avenue (reviewed by the HPC on April 5, 2016, and approved by the Village Board on May 24, 2016.)
  • The Proctor Building, 520-530 N. Milwaukee Avenue (reviewed by the HPC on June 14, 2016, and approved by the Village Board on November 8, 2016.)
  • Private Residence, 210 Lake Street (reviewed by the HPC on March 15, 2021, and approved by the Village Board on May 11, 2021.)

Historic Survey (2016)

The Village contracted architectural historians Lara Ramsey and Emily Ramsey of Ramsey Historic Consultants to conduct an architectural/historical survey of a portion of Libertyville's downtown. The purpose of the survey was to assess approximately 350 structures for architectural and historical significance. The survey area is roughly bounded by the Metra train tracks to the north, 1st Street to the east, Route 176 to the south, and Brainerd Avenue to the west. Click Here for the Final Survey Results. The Village will use this information to make informed decisions regarding preservation planning, community development projects, and rehabilitation plans for individual buildings. Please direct any questions about the survey to Staff.

Does your house have a history? Let us know! If your property falls within the survey area and your home has a relevant historical background (notable builder, architecture, owners, etc.) that you would like to share, please fill out this form and send back to us.
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Document Center

The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.

Categories always sorted by seq (sub-categories sorted within each category)
Documents sorted by SEQ in Ascending Order within category

Articles7 documents

  • "Historic district designation sought as protection for downtown Libertyville,
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    Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald, 11/15/2017
  • "Former hotel designated as Libertyville's third local landmark,
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    Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald, 11/15/2016
  • "Libertyville grants landmark status to Cook House, Adler Estate,
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    Rick Kambic, Chicago Tribune, 6/9/2016
  • "Houses of Milwaukee Avenue: a Historical Photographic Exhibit,"
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    Community Contributor barryjk25, Chicago Tribune, 5/21/16
  • "Familiar Cook House designated Libertyville's first landmark,"
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    Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald, 3/9/16
  • "Historic survey of Libertyville buildings planned,"
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    Mick Zawislak, Daily Herald, 12/11/15
  • "Historic commission gets started on survey of downtown Libertyville commercial buildings,"
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    Rick Kambic, Chicago Tribune, 12/7/15

Ordinances3 documents

  • Ordinance 12-O-15
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    Historic Preservation Ordinance (adopted Feb. 14, 2012 by the Village Board)
  • Ordinance 14-O-70
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    Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 of the Village of Libertyville Municipal Code to Add Division 18 Creating the Historic Preservation Commission (adopted Oct. 28, 2014 by the Village Board)
  • Ordinance 14-O-71
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    Ordinance Authorizing a Moratorium for Commercial Buildings in the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District (adopted Oct. 28, 2014 by the Village Board)

Additional Resources12 documents

  • Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
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  • Financial Incentives for Historic Preservation
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  • Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2015
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  • Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society
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  • National Register of Historic Places in Illinois
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  • 10 Benefits of Establishing a Local Historic District,
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    by Julia Rocchi
  • Historic Preservation,
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    by the WBDG Historic Preservation Subcommittee
  • Sustainable Historic Preservation,
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    by the WBDG Historic Preservation Subcommittee
  • Economic Benefits of Preservation,
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    by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Economics, Sustainability, and Historic Preservation,
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    by Donovan D. Rypkema
  • Economics of Historic Preservation,
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    by Donovan D. Rypkema
  • Economics and Historic Preservation,
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    by Randall Mason