BERWYN – Berwyn's residential areas are recognized for their Chicago-style bungalow houses – some more than a century old.

Now, Berwyn can say these homes are nationally recognized.

The National Park Service added the Central Berwyn Bungalow Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places, effective Aug. 18.

The City of Homes Organization, which applied for the historic designation, held a ribbon cutting for the district Oct. 1.

"This is exciting for us because this puts us on the map for what is our strong point: our housing stock," said Alicia Ruiz, the organization's director.

The district includes 1,506 residential structures – 1,360 of which are considered to be contributing to the historic character of the district – between Ridgeland and Oak Park avenues and Cermak Road and 26th Street.

Ruiz said the organization sought the historic district designation in order to raise awareness in the community of the importance of preserving the historic bungalow homes.

The housing crash heightened the need to protect the homes because redevelopers were purchasing foreclosed homes and removing some of their historic characteristics, she said.

"We were getting alarmed that the best part of Berwyn, our bungalow homes, were being sacrificed," Ruiz said.

Community members formed the City of Homes Organization in 2010, and the group tried holding educational workshops, but it was not getting quick enough results, she said.

The organization decided a historic district was the best way to draw attention from people inside the community and those looking to move there.

Ruiz said the organization applied for a national district because there would be fewer regulations on homeowners than with a local or state historic district.

Some municipalities that form historic districts require special permits on any changes made to structures within the district to determine if they fit with the historic character of the district.

Ruiz said such restrictions would only apply to those seeking financial compensation from the state for their renovations.

One of the potential benefits of a home being located within the district is a state property tax freeze for those renovating their homes.

Homeowners who spend at least 25 percent of their property value on upgrades, with a minimum of $45,000, can apply to have the assessed value of their property locked in for eight years. After the eight years, the assessed value will incrementally increase for four years until it reaches its actual value.

The City of Homes Organization now will focus on educating residents about such benefits and what else it means to be in a historic district, Ruiz said.

She said the historic district already has succeeded in getting residents excited about their historic homes.

"Yes, it's off to a great start, but we really need to be able to be sure that we can sustain that," Ruiz said.

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Historic city

Though the Central Berwyn Bungalow Historic District is Berwyn's first historic district, it is not the city's first entry into the National Register of Historic Places. Six individual properties have already made the list:

• Berwyn Suburban Station (680l W. Windsor Ave, also known as the Burlington Suburban Station, added 1982)

• The Arthur J. Dunham House (3131 Wisconsin Ave., added 1982)

• Berwyn National Bank (6801 W. Cermak Road, current home of Big Hurt Brewhouse, added 2000)

• Berwyn City Hall (6700 W. 26th St., added 2001)

• Berwyn Township Public Health District building (6600 W. 26th St., listed as “Berwyn Health Center,” added 2002)

• Mr. Robert Silhan House (3728 S. Cuyler Ave., added 2007)