Geneva preservation commission rejects demolition of Millrace Inn blacksmith shop

Geneva, Ill. — The Geneva Historic Preservation Commission voted on Dec. 16 to deny a demolition request for the landmarked blacksmith shop at 4 East State Street, rejecting the petition after a public hearing that drew residents, preservationists and the property owner’s representative.

The commission’s roll call on a motion to approve demolition recorded seven nays and no yeas, effectively denying the application. The petitioner, David Patzelt, said the owner had exhausted other options and that repair costs exceeded the building’s value. "I suggest that the time has come ... that we need to make some further decisions on it," Patzelt told commissioners as he summarized the application and cited prior outreach and failed attempts to find a buyer.

Why it mattered: The property — commonly referred to in staff materials as the Millrace Inn site and identified historically with the Alexander Brothers blacksmith shop — has been the subject of repeated review since designation in 2018. The commission framed its review under Geneva Municipal Code section 10-6-10(b), Standard 4, which asks whether retaining the building is "in the best interest of the majority of the community." Commissioners said testimony was split and that the record lacked the kind of new technical or redevelopment evidence that would change prior denials.

What commissioners said: Several commissioners and members of the public pressed the owner on unpaid code enforcement matters and prior city expenditures related to the site. When asked about enforcement and fines, City Attorney Ron Sendek said enforcement and any determination about fines are a matter for the city council, not the commission. "For purposes of the fine, that is something for the city council to determine," Sendek said.

Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters of demolition described the building as a long-standing "eyesore" that has deterred redevelopment and created safety or aesthetic problems at a gateway to downtown. "I love Geneva, but I prefer that you take it down and make Geneva beautiful," said one resident. Opponents and preservation advocates argued the stone structure dates to the mid-19th century, urged exhausting reuse and study options, and proposed community-led planning. "If demolition did not increase the likelihood of redevelopment in the future, then this demolition application would not likely be supported by a majority of the community," said Al Watts of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.

Technical assertions and gaps: The applicant told the commission that prior structural assessments — including a city consultant during the charrette and a third-party engineer — concluded portions of the stone walls and footings could not support additional load, and that adaptive reuse would be impractical without extensive reconstruction. Commissioners noted the record contained claims about city spending (figures cited by speakers ranged from roughly $273,000 to claims of more than $300,000 in fines or costs) but said those fiscal and enforcement questions are largely outside the demolition standard before the HPC.

What happens next: Because the commission denied the demolition permit, the applicant may pursue an appeal to city council under the process described in the hearing materials. The commission did not adopt other mandatory actions or conditions that would authorize demolition. The meeting record also shows the commission recommended continued emphasis on seeking mutually acceptable redevelopment options and flagged outstanding questions about floodplain, permitting and financing that would affect any future proposal.

The commission closed the public hearing and returned to regular business; no further action on this application was recorded at the Dec. 16 meeting.