Historic Preservation Commission

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. Additional information is forthcoming, including a public recognition event.

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.

A map of the proposed Downtown Historic District Boundaries is available, which includes a view of all the survey-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. To learn more about the benefits of being listed in the National Register, visit the Illinois Historic Preservation page.

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 draft nomination is available to view (DRAFT NOMINATION). 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 Local Historic District as the Village's first Historic District. To view the boundaries of the Downtown Libertyville Local 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.

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.)

Articles

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

Ordinances

• Ordinance 12-O-15: Historic Preservation Ordinance (adopted Feb. 14, 2012 by the Village Board)
• Ordinance 14-O-70: 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: Ordinance Authorizing a Moratorium for Commercial Buildings in the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District (adopted Oct. 28, 2014 by the Village Board)

Additional Resources

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