Home at 231 East Avenue designated as local landmark

The Quincy City Council designated a home at 231 East Avenue as a local landmark on March 29, and a plaque presentation was made Wednesday by members of the Quincy Preservation Commission.

The home, owned by Eric Loos and Heidi Holzgrafe, is a contributing structure in the Quincy East End National Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The home, a Prairie style structure constructed in 1917, is specifically mentioned in the application for the National Register.

The following features at 231 East Avenue are protected by ordinance:
• The massive, overhanging eaves are perhaps the largest in Quincy.
• Large masonry piers or columns flanking the front and the port cochere
• Limestone banding at each level
• Brick pilasters capped with limestone breaking up the façade
• Leaded glass sidelights with a rose patter repeated throughout the house.

Quincy has approximately 150 properties protected by city ordinance, either as an individual landmark or as part of a local historic district. If a property is protected by city ordinance, specific exterior features unique to the property can only be altered/removed with permission from the Quincy Preservation Commission. Landmark status is seen as a means to protect the exterior of a historic home for many years.

The city’s most recent landmark at 1470 Vermont was designated on Sept. 25, 2018.

The Quincy Preservation Commission, formed in 1982, reviews applications for landmark status. As part of the review process, the commission considers:
• Significant value as part of the historical, cultural, artistic social, economic or other heritage of the nation, state or community;
• Association with an important person or event in national, state or local history;
• Representation of the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style, period, craftsmanship or method of construction, or embodiment of particularly fine craftsmanship in construction;
• Notable or influential work of a master builder, designer, architect or artist;
• Identification in the community as a familiar visual feature owing to its unique location or physical characteristics.

The Quincy Preservation Commission recommends approval or denial of an application for landmark or local historic district status to the Quincy City Council.

Anyone interested in the landmark process or in securing a landmark designation for a property in Quincy should contact the Department of Planning at Development at 217-228-4515.

A similar ceremony is set for 10 a.m. July 27 at 2200 York.