Village invests again in its past By Eric Peterson Daily Herald Staff Writer Posted November 12, 2003 Schaumburg leaders Tuesday approved their second grant aimed at holding onto the village's early-20th-century architecture, largely unknown to visiting Woodfield Mall and Medieval Times patrons. This time a matching grant of $3,125 was awarded to the 102-year-old Turret House at 17 E. Schaumburg Road for restoration of its front porch. Used today by an advertising firm, the house remains a legitimate historic structure in the village eligible for the Historic Landmark Restoration Grant Program started this year, Schaumburg Senior Planner Phyllis Weller said. The Queen Anne-style house was designed by architect Louis Menke who built many other houses, churches, barns and public buildings in the area - the best known being Itasca's village hall. The first recipient of the new grant, St. Peter Lutheran Church at 208 E. Schaumburg Road, was awarded half of the $145,000 needed to restore the roof of its 140-year-old chapel. The chapel roof was damaged by a lightning strike in 1904 and repair jobs conducted over the decades restored only its function without its architectural style. Up to $100,000 per year is being budgeted for the grant program, with funding coming from the area's tax-increment finance district. Grants are awarded by merit and compliance with the program's guidelines on a first-come, first-served basis. "It's strictly for landmark buildings within the Olde Schaumburg Centre TIF district," Weller said. A TIF district works by channeling its tax revenues specifically toward public improvements within its area. Each project is strictly scrutinized by the village's planning department and only exterior work is eligible. Mayor Al Larson said it's because Schaumburg doesn't have many historic buildings that the grant program was created to help save the ones there are. Another applicant expected soon is the current owner of the Fenz House at 12 E. Schaumburg Road, also built by Menke in 1913 for original owner John Fenz. The house was damaged by a fire a few months ago, but probably would have been eligible for the grant program even before that, Weller said. While the grant can't be used for the parts of the fire repair covered by insurance, it can be used for some aspects of historic restoration that an insurance company wouldn't pay for, she added. (please note.... valentine has never seen any supportive data that Menke was the actual BUILDER of the Fenz house, likely, but not proven. Perhaps the owners have documentation.)