29th Annual Historic Housewalk is Coming!!!
September 11
For more information
View the Housewalk flier
Elgin Wins
"Best Place to Buy an Old House" contest
When This Old House Magazine encouraged people to nominate the "Best Place to Buy and Old House," both GPA and NENA(Northeast Neighborhood Association) recognized their neighborhoods and their city as aware worthy. In the July/August 2009 issue of This Old House, Elgin, Illinois was named the "Best Place for Fixer-Uppers" in the U.S.! We were also nominated in six other categories. The beautiful house photos were taken by Barb Broeske from NENA. View the article.
View the Sun Times article.
On October 23, 2008, GPA was honored with The 2008 National Trust For Historic Preservation's Trustees Award for Organizational Excellence
On October 27, 2007, GPA was honored with the 2007 Richard Driehaus Foundation Landmarks Illinois Preservation Award for Leadership. Click here to view the slide Show.
Elgin Historic District Neighborhood Plan
Five years of hard work culminated in a Neighborhood Plan for the Elgin Historic District. On February 27, 2008 the Elgin City Council gave its blessings to the Plan developed by the Gifford Park Association. GPA has wanted a Neighborhood Plan for decades and had lobbied for one on more that one occasion. The lead article in the Spring 2000 Gazette, entitled "GPA: We Need a Plan!" traces GPA's historical interest in neighborhood planning. With support from a Neighborhood Improvement Grant from the City of Elgin, GPA has made the first step towards this goal. Now the challenge is to instill the document with meaning; to flesh out, update and revise it as needed. Your ongoing involvement is essential.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Porch Party
Friday, August 6
7:00 pm 570 Park
Housewalk Kick Off Pot Luck
Friday, August 20 6:30
Lord's Park Pavilion
Contact your City councilmen
View Interesting articles for Old House Owners
View Pictures of Houses in the Historic District
View a Gallery of Restoration in the Historic District
View More of a Gallery of Restoration in the Historic District
View individual pages from past Housewalk booklets
View pictures from past Housewalks
View an interesting article on the History of GPA
View City Brochures Explaining Grant Programs and City Services
View Homes Downsized in the Historic District
Interested in applying for a house plaque. See the City's web site.
View Resources for researching a plaque
View a slide show of 132 N. Channing
View Pictures of our Great Unveilings
View 120 old pictures of houses in Elgin
If you are doing exterior work in the Historic District, you must have a COA. Click here for the form.
All about Historic Preservation on the City's web site
View a list of contractors
Contractor list from the City of Elgin
Elgin in 60 seconds - Daily Herald
Awards Given to GPA Members
View slides from our early years
people have visited our site since April 9, 2008
Make it a nice weekend in historic Elgin! For hotel accommodations, click
here: www.enjoyelgin.com
To learn more about the great town of Elgin, Illinois, visit Mike Alft's web site, elginhistory.com, where you can see complete text and illustrations from two of his books on Elgin history.