ROCK ISLAND PRESERVATION ORDINANCE

Rock Island City Council adopted the Rock Island Preservation Ordinance in 1984 and amended it in 1986. The ordinance established the Rock Island Preservation Commission and the procedure by which to designate buildings and areas as Rock Island Landmarks or Historic Districts. It also set in place a review process in which landmark owners need a Certificate of Appropriateness to alter the exterior of the landmark building or site. This process ensures that landmark properties maintain the integrity that enabled them to achieve designation.

Pages: 30 Year Adopted: 1984 Year Amended: 1986 .PDF Version: Click on image to left Availability: Rock Island City Hall Cost: $2.50

The Table of Contents for the Preservation Ordinance is as follows:

Preamble
Section 1. Statement of Purpose
Section 2. Definitions
Section 3. Rock Island Preservation Commission Created
Section 4. Officers and Commission Meetings
Section 5. Powers and Duties of the Commission
Section 6. Landmark Designation Procedures
Section 7. Historic District Designation Procedures
Section 8. Construction, Alteration, Demolition or Relocation – Certificate of Appropriateness
Section 9. Certificate of Economic Hardship
Section 10. Appeals
Section 11. Affirmation of Existing Zoning
Section 12. Penalties
Section 13. Separability
Section 14. Ordinance Repealed
Section 15. Effective Date
Appendix. National Register of Historic Places: Criteria for Evaluation

How the Preservation Movement Began in Rock Island

In June 1981, the newly formed Rock Island Preservation Society (RIPS) held their first Tour Yesterday on 20th Street in the Broadway Historic District. The event encouraged appreciation and understanding of the homes, creating a festival atmosphere complete with Victorian costumes, antique fire engine, horse drawn carriages and educational placards in front of each building. The Rock Island Preservation Society went on to host many more Tour Yesterday events, Old House Workshops and educational seminars. The beginning of the Broadway Historic District Association was even as a geographical spin-off from RIPS.

Notably, several members of the Rock Island Preservation Society, led by Diane Oestreich, approached city leaders in 1983 about creating a Preservation Ordinance for the city. This ordinance would have the ability to designate and preserve significant structures in the City. A task force was created to review ordinances across the nation and propose an ordinance suitable for Rock Island. The ordinance was drafted by planning administrator Alan Carmen, in conjunction with the committee. On February 13, 1984, the Preservation Ordinance was passed by Rock Island City Council and approved the next day by Mayor James R. Davis.