A Plan for Naperville

Choose a Better Plan for Historic Preservation in Naperville

Former City Council Member Allison Longenbaugh, Kendra Parzen of Landmarks Illinois, & city planner Joe McElroy explore possibilities

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Naperville Municipal Center, Meeting Rooms A/B
400 S. Eagle St.
Naperville, IL 60540
Cost: free

R.S.V.P.: Reserve a spot

Overview

Naperville is always a leader! We are used to seeing our city being top-ranked in schools, safety, and quality of life. How can we make Naperville #1 in historic preservation?

Come join the conversation where we'll talk about exciting new ways for the City of Naperville to encourage and support property owners to engage in historic preservation.

Our panelists will be former Naperville City Council Member Longenbaugh, Landmarks Illinois Director Kendra Parzen, and NPI's Joe McElroy. The three will explore the many possibilities to enhance historic preservation in our hometown.

Refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend this event.

Panelist Biographies

Allison Longenbaugh currently serves on the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission. A former City Councilwoman and Library Board Trustee and Secretary, she has spent years building relationships with city staff and resident volunteers. She draws on 34 years of corporate analytics experience to make informed decisions. A 22-year resident of Naperville, Allison lives in the Park Addition neighborhood, in one of the original 1928 bungalows built for management of the historic Kroehler Manufacturing Company.

Kendra Parzen is the Director of Preservation Services for Landmarks Illinois, a statewide nonprofit organization that promotes historic preservation as a tool for inclusive history, community and economic development, climate change, and housing. She is dedicated to connecting communities across Illinois with the resources they need to protect the places that matter to them. Prior to joining Landmarks Illinois in 2022, Kendra worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and for EHT Traceries, a Washington, D.C. preservation consulting firm. She holds a BA cum laude in history from Pomona College and an MFA in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Joe McElroy is a Director on the board of Naperville Preservation Inc. and the lead author of "Progress Through Preservation," a historic preservation plan for Naperville published this year by Naperville Preservation Inc. He also recently completed a successful National Register of Historic Places nomination for a home in Missouri. McElroy holds a masters degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a masters in urban planning from Michigan State. A former member of the Naperville City Council and Naperville Plan Commission, McElroy was also the deputy director of city planning for the City of Aurora.

Acknowledgements

NPI wishes to thank the City of Naperville Special Events & Community Arts Commission for providing a grant that funds this event.