Revised plans for former BMO Harris Bank building clear St. Charles Historic Preservation Commission

At their meeting Wednesday, commissioners voted 4-1 to recommend approval of a certificate of appropriateness for changing the facade of the former BMO Harris Bank building at 1 E. Main St. in downtown St. Charles in order to accommodate a waterfront restaurant and upscale residential units.

Voting “yes” were vice chair Steve Smunt along with commissioners Kim Malay, Phil Kessler and Thomas Pretz. The sole “no” vote came from commissioner Pam Mann.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to accept option four of the proposed plans. As part of option four, white railing is proposed instead of black to tie in the color of the current structure.

They voted to support option four on the condition that sprandel glass be used in place of stucco as a separating element between the first and second floor on the plan’s north elevation and on the tower.

Smunt said he thought option four “has the most minimum impact on the original structure.”

“I want to keep an open mind and allow some change and redevelopment to occur here, which will still allow this structure to be an example of modern architecture but have a whole new life to it,” Smunt said.

Mann derided the balconies proposed on the building’s second floor to accommodate two apartments.

“They are proposing to put balconies all around this building,” Mann said. “And the balconies are part of the design that really destroys the significance of this building. If that’s the case, then maybe that’s the wrong use for the top of this building.”

She praised the building’s mid-century modern design. In 1965 the State Bank of St. Charles moved to the modern structure it built at 1 E. Main St. The Harris Bank took over the State Bank’s operation in 1988.

“It’s not just any other building,” Mann said. “This plan is not acceptable for this building.”

Curt Hurst recently purchased the former BMO Harris Bank building at 1 E. Main St. near the Fox River.

“What we did was try to address some of the comments that were brought up in the last meeting,” he told commissioners. “We can keep the original intent of the design that we were working towards while addressing some of your comments.”

Hurst and his son, Conrad, own Frontier Development, which has been involved in several projects in downtown St. Charles.

“What we’re trying to do is strike the balance between faithful to the building, but also trying to make sure that the building can function properly for the occupants and the community as a whole,” Corey Dunne, owner and principal architect of D+K Architects, told commissioners.

In 2019, Frontier Development purchased the Arcada building, which houses the Arcada Theatre and Club Arcada. The historic building first opened its doors in 1926, attracting such performers as George Burns and Gracie Allen.

Frontier Development also owns the building that houses Flagship on the Fox sports bar and Pollyanna Brewing Company in downtown St. Charles.