Sustainability and Preservation: A Road Map for Future Development

Oak Park and River Forest are filled with remarkable buildings that too often we focus on the architectural merit of single family homes and miss the breadth of our shared architectural heritage.

On Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at Nineteenth Century Club, a lecture titled “Sustainability and Preservation: A Road Map for Development,” followed by a panel discussion, will focus on how we can preserve our commercial buildings, find new uses for them, and make changes that enhance their energy efficiency and sustainability. Tearing down our historic resources without first attempting to reuse them is not sustainable and disrespects our shared heritage. May is National Preservation Month and the program will include creative ways to repurpose and modify historic buildings to ensure that preservation, economic development, and environmental sustainability blend together to move our community forward.

The keynote address will be by former Illinois Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Mike Jackson, followed by a panel discussion including architects Gunny Harboe and Steve Kelley. The event is sponsored by multiple groups including the Nineteenth Century Charitable Organization, OPRF Museum, and Unity Temple Restoration Foundation.