Granite City Tool

Another tool for keeping Granite City's past

Developers looking to rehab historic Granite City buildings may get tax breaks under a state-sponsored program the city is considering joining. The program is seen as an important tool to continue development of the Downtown area.

The city Historical Architecture Review Commission last week approved a plan to become part of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Certified Local Governments Program.

The designation makes the city eligible to get federal and state funds for historic preservation. It would also suspend certain taxes on buildings to spur development and give the city more power to stop the razing of historically significant structures.

The City Council and state have to approve the plan. Seventy Illinois cities have the designation, including Collinsville, Edwardsville and Alton.

Economic Development Director Jonathan Ferry said the program should give the city a leg up on developing historic buildings. For example, he said, the city has been in talks with buyers to purchase the Guardian Savings Bank Building, a 1919 structure at 1324 Niedringhaus Ave. "Trying to make the numbers work has been very difficult. An extra 20 percent tax incentive could make all the difference in a project happening or not happening," Ferry said.

Review Commission Chairman Terry Pierce said the program could help Downtown Granite City flourish. The commission was created in 2008 to establish an arts and cultural district in the central part of the city, which had numerous open storefronts. A new movie theater, shops and a pizza restaurant have recently opened.

"I was born and raised in Granite City, and I would love to see Downtown grow. This is one tool that would help do that," he said.

The Historic Preservation Agency program also requires cities to develop programs to identify historic structures and a process for the public to participate.

Contact reporter Scott Cousins at 618-344-0264, ext.