The Normal Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday approved two requests to demolish abandoned buildings in Uptown, but rejected a third.
Three buildings, at 102 and 104 W. North St., and 104 E. Beaufort St., are marked for demolition to make way for the Trail East and West developments.
Four of the six historic preservation commissioners were present for the meeting.
The group unanimously approved a demolition request for 102. W. North St. and approved the demolition of 104 W. North Street on a 3-1 vote. The group also unanimously rejected the request to demolish 104 E. Beaufort.
The rejection sets off a 30-day waiting period during which the town can pursue historic landmark status for the building. If the town does not move forward with that process within that 30-day window, demolition can continue.
The buildings were purchased by the town in 2006 in anticipation of a development project on either side of Constitution Trail that runs through Uptown.
According to the commission's report, all three properties have been vacant for years.
Two of the properties are easily recognizable because of their colorful murals and facades. In 2019, artists behind a mural on the Beaufort Street building sued federally to block the mural's destruction.
That case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled.
"This isn't about the mural," commissioner Nancy Armstrong said during Wednesday afternoon's meeting. Rather, Armstrong said the building has "historical charm."
"I'd hate to see a modern building in this street when the next building also has historic charm to it," Armstrong said. "There's something about this particular building, it's location, it's facade, that makes me hesitate to just demo it."
Commission chair Kathy Burgess agreed, saying the visibility of the building also is a factor.
"It's just so much more visible, and you would really notice, I think, if it's gone," she said.
The Trail East and West designs have not yet been finalized, and the town council has not voted on any plans for the development.
Uptown's Design Review Commission tabled a vote certifying the designs fit the town's design guidelines, asking Joliet-based developer Carlson Bros. to submit new renderings and make some changes. The commission's next meeting is on July 13.
102 and 104 W. North St.
The east side of 102 W. North St. features colorful artwork, though commission pictures show wear and tear on the brick facade in and around the painting. The commission approved demolition of the building in 2025, but that approval expired before work began.
Little historical information could be found about 102 W. North St., but the commission believes it was built around 1900. It has occasionally been used as retail and office space in the last 15 years.
Historic commission members toured 102 and 104 W. North last year, prior to the 2025 demolition vote.
"It was in pretty poor condition on the inside," said commissioner Quentin Rabideau.
They acknowledged the building was worn down, but also suggested incoming developers should work with Bloomington's Old House Society to salvage pieces of the building for use in the new structure.
"You never know when somebody needs a doorknob, or a piece of trim," Burgess said. "That is the least we can do, as far as if these buildings come down, that we try and save any pieces and parts."
More is known about 104 W. North St. It was built sometime in the 1890s and housed a bakery and kitchen.
Rabideau wondered if 104 W. North could be spared, given the property is a good example of historic storefront on bottom, and apartment on top architecture.
However, 102 and 104 W. North St. share a brick wall. The commissioners and town staff said it was hard to know if 104 W. North could be spared if the conjoined building came down, since it depended on the current quality of the more-than century-old materials.
104 E. Beaufort St.
The Beaufort Street property was built in either 1894 or 1895, housing a flour and feed store as well as a small cigar factory.
More recently, it has been retail space on the first floor and an apartment on the second. The Beaufort Street building has been vacant since 2018.
Rabideau said the building already has been salvaged on the inside.
"This type of building and architecture is what brings the charm and character to downtown districts like this," he said. "Although it's not contributing, although it's not a landmark, it's got historic architecture and a style that I think would be desired for years to come in that area."
The building could still be demolished if it is not designated as a historic landmark within the next 30 days. Either the building's owner or the Town of Normal can nominate the structure for historic landmark status. The town owns the building.
