General

Architectural Review Guidelines - Used by the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission to guide owners of historic properties with proposed exterior construction projects. Owners of historic properties must be issued a certificate of appropriateness before being issued building permits. 

Meeting Dates and Deadlines - A List of meeting schedules and submission deadlines for the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission.

Historic Preservation District Zoning Overlay

There are many financial and social benefits to owning a historic home. Historic preservation recognizes the importance of a continuing relationship between a building’s past and the active community it resides in. The City offers two grant programs to assist with maintenance and rehabilitation of locally recognized historic properties. To be eligible for these programs, a property must have the City's S-4 Zoning, which is the local historic designation.

Information on the Process and Criteria for S-4 Zoning

Certificate of Appropriateness

The certificate of appropriateness ensures that proposed work complies with the architectural review guidelines and that work is done to match the appropriate architectural period of the property.

Certificate of Appropriateness Instructions & Application

Funk Grant

Funk Grant Eligibility Criteria - This grant program is designed to provide the owners of the historic properties with financial assistance in the preservation, restoration or rehabilitation of exterior architectural features of buildings and structures on such properties. The program is administered by the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission. 

Funk Grant Application

Rust Grant

Rust Grant Guidelines - The program provides funding for up to 50% of the total cost of eligible exterior projects within Bloomington’s central downtown district. This grant offers a maximum award amount of $25,000 per project. $50,000.00 may be awarded to buildings determined by the Historic Preservation Commission to be in extreme and dangerous states of disrepair.

Rust Grant Application

Rust Grant Boundary Area Map

Completed Funk and Rust Grant Work

Rust and Funk grant recipients have one year to complete their projects. After receiving an award the recipient should register as a vendor with the City of Bloomington on our Vendor Self Service website to get set up for reimbursement. Click here to view our Registration Guide to assist you in the registering process.

Current Vendors should obtain their vendor number from the Procurement Services Office or the department they are dealing with directly to be able sign up and login into Vendor Self Service. For more information please contact the legal department or visit the city's procurement page.

Additional forms are linked below: 

EFT Authorization Form

Federal Blank W-9

Grant recipients should be sure to take pictures while the project is being completed. Once the project is finished, please submit a written statement explaining that the project is complete, copies of final invoices and cancelled checks showing payment, and pictures taken before, during and after the project. Full reimbursement typically takes 2-4 weeks.

Above: 611 N. Lee Street (Henry Behr Home)

City of Bloomington 
Planning Division
Community Development Department 
115 E. Washington St. 201 
Bloomington, IL 61702 
Phone: 309-434-2226