Downtown Oswego Historic District Added To National Register

OSWEGO, IL — The Downtown Oswego Historic District has officially been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, officials announced.

The area includes properties along Main Street between Jackson and Washington streets. Oswego Fire Station 11 and the former Oswego Post Office are just two of the notable buildings in the district.

To mark the occasion, officials said signage will be installed along the downtown Oswego district to formally designate the area.

"Having the Downtown Historic District nationally listed has long been one of the Village of Oswego’s goals," Village President Parlier said in a statement. "We are excited to move forward with recognizing and maintaining the history and character of downtown Oswego."

By being included in the National Register of Historic Places, the United States' official list of historic buildings, sites and districts, Oswego is not only recognized for its historical significance, but property owners benefit too.

Those who own property within the Downtown Oswego Historic District are eligible for a Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit, a 20 percent federal income credit for owners of historic buildings that undergo substantial rehabilitation. Owners that undertake certain certified rehabilitations can also apply for the Illinois Historic Preservation Tax Credit, a state income-tax credit equal to 25 percent of a project's qualified rehabilitation expenditures up to $3 million.

Property owners within the historic district are not limited from doing interior and exterior modifications, village officials noted.