Historic Preservation

Historic Preservation This program of the Planning & Zoning Division seeks to cultivate a built environment that reflects Evanston's unique character, history, and culture. Members of the Preservation Commission and Preservation Planning staff work to sustain the vitality of City neighborhoods and business districts by aiding in the restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation of Landmark buildings and Historic Districts.

We strive to preserve Evanston’s historic buildings and neighborhoods for many reasons. Preservation plays an indispensable role in shaping and maintaining the visual character, social fabric, and resiliency of our distinct neighborhoods and business districts. Evanston’s heritage is inexorably linked to its past.

These resources bind Evanston’s residents to their neighborhoods and physical environments, and provide opportunities for current and future generations to tell stories of Evanston’s historic, cultural, and architectural legacy. Preservation helps protect the environment. Reusing and adapting historic resources preserves their embodied energy, and reduces consumption of new materials, land, and other resources. Rehabilitating existing buildings and maintaining existing materials are sustainable solutions which are most often more cost effective over the life of the building and provide longer-lasting and higher quality solutions than replacement products or new construction.

How do I know if my property is a Landmark or located in a Historic District?

Use the City of Evanston About my Place web application. Enter your address, click on Property Quick Info, and scroll to the Local Historic District and/or Historic Landmark tabs.

Preserve 2040 - Preservation Plan (2022)

The Evanston Preservation Commission and City Council adopted a new 20 year Preservation Plan in 2022/2023 which supersedes the previous 1981 Evanston Preservation Plan which had seen its goals and objectives substantially realized. The Preserve 2040 Plan acts as the Commission and City's principle policy document regarding the identification, documentation, and stewardship of Evanston's significant heritage resources and as a guide for the oversight and administration of the Community's preservation program with support from the Planning and Zoning Division as well as other partner organizations.

Nominate a Landmark

Evanston’s cultural and architectural resources are tangible links to the City's current and past identities. It is important that future Landmark and District designations keep pace with evolving preservation trends. Individuals interested in nominating a property, site, or object as a Landmark or Landmark District should complete the Landmark Nomination Application form and submit to preservation@cityofevanston.org

Completion of the application initiates nomination proceedings and affords interim protection while the nomination is under consideration. Following submission of the application, the nominee shall be afforded 60 days to complete a detailed nomination report, addressing the properties history, significance, criteria for designation, and integrity. A public hearing at the Preservation Commission will be held no more than 90 days following receipt of a completed application.

Eligible Landmarks and Districts - Study List

The following resources on the Study List were identified by the Preservation Commission and are considered to have combinations of significant architectural, cultural, or historical significance, or more broadly are representative of irreplaceable built fabric which provides the desired physical context and traditional character of Evanston as well as curiosity in material compositions and forms not commonly found in new construction. These resources are not designated and do not require a Certificate of Appropriateness for any exterior alterations, construction, demolition, or relocation.

Heritage Sites Program

Resolution 54-R-20 passed on June 22, 2020, establishing the African American Heritage Sites program facilitated through the partner organization, Shorefront Legacy Center. The program honors local historic and contemporary sites important to the African American community, nominated and guided by the local community.

African American Heritage Sites - Online Interactive database

Legacy Business Program

Evanston’s heritage resources are vitally important, binding its residents to their physical environment, and defining the City’s unique character and identity. However, Evanston’s living heritage remains largely underrepresented and vulnerable from threats such as improper alterations, increasing rent structures, changes in the market economy, and corresponding development pressures. The purpose of the Legacy Business Program is to celebrate, advocate for, and retain Evanston’s living heritage as embodied through the legendary businesses which contribute significantly to the City’s historic, cultural, economic, or social identity.

Explore the Legacy Business Program Website Here!

Historic Districts

Evanston has Five National Register Historic Districts and Four Local Historic Districts - the majority of which overlay their National Register counterparts. Additionally, a potential historic district was explored in Northwest Evanston in 1988 but was never nominated or designated. These areas closely reflect the intensive survey areas first proposed in the Illinois Historic Structures Survey (1971-1975).

Evanston Landmarks

In addition to Evanston's Historic Districts, the City has over 850 registered individual Local Landmarks. Of these, approximately 430 are located outside of a designated Local Historic District.

Statements of Significance

Registered individual Local Landmarks are accompanied by a Statement of Significance. Statements of Significance assess and document what is important about a resource and how it contributes to Evanston's architectural, cultural, social, or historical record. Statements of Significance for architectural resources further assess a resources architectural, artistic, historic, archaeological or other interests, and identify character defining features where change should be minimized. Statements of Significance are organized by street name.

Historic Homeowners

Owning or considering purchasing a historic home can come with many myths regarding Historic Preservation. We welcome you to read our Historic Homeowner Welcome Letter and contact us with any questions or concerns you may have, or to provide consultation on a proposed project.

What approvals do I need to perform work on my home?

Approval by the Historic Preservation Commission, receiving a Certificate of Appropriateness, is necessary for the alteration, construction, relocation, and demolition of landmark buildings and properties in historic districts when a permit is required and when the proposed work is visible from the public way (street, alley, sidewalk). For more information on this process and how approval is obtained, please contact preservation@cityofevanston.org or visit the Commissions webpage below for applications and additional resources.

Certificate of Appropriateness - Applications and Resources

Visit the Commissions website for current applications and additional resources related to Certificate of Appropriateness standards, procedures, and a schedule of meeting dates and submission deadlines. Preservation Commission

Additional Resources

National Park Service Preservation Briefs
National Park Service Preservation Briefs describe in full detail how to evaluate and restore various historic building components, ranging from repairing wood windows to repointing brick walls to restoring plaster ornament. There are currently nearly four-dozen briefs available.

National Park Service Preservation Tech Notes
National Park Service Preservation Tech Notes provides practical information on traditional practices and innovative techniques for successfully maintaining and preserving cultural resources. There are currently twelve topics covered.

Evanston History Center
Visit the Evanston History Center Research Room & Archive for historic records and documents about your Evanston property. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday 1-4pm. Admission is $5. Evanston History Center Members are free.

Shorefront Legacy Center
Beginning in 1995, Shorefront has, and continues to amass an archival collection of artifacts, documents, photographs and family archives that represent and depict the lives of Blacks on the Chicago suburban North Shore.

Evanston: A Sampler of Architectural Styles