Oak Cottage & Greene Barn

Naperville Preservation continues to support and advocate that both of beautiful and important buildings remain together on the landscape as the have for over 100 years.

Although the barn has been stabilized, the cottage is at risk of demolition if a purpose is not found for it. (Landmarks Illinois included Oak Cottage on its 2023 list of most endandered places.) 

After completing the Oak Cottage Cultural Resource Evaluation, in June of 2025, the  Forest Preserve District of DuPage County solicited interest in a long-term use and maintenance for Oak Cottage. 

On December 9, 2025, forest preserve district staff presented the 2 responses received from the request for statements of interest. On December 16, 2025, the forest preserve district board vote to "Enter into an Agreement with James Privitt for Relocation and Restoration of the Oak Cottage.” This agreement would sell Oak Cottage to a private party and relocate the home off forest preserve district property. After the private party has developed a plan for full project realization, the plan will come back to the board for an agreement to execute the plan.

Please read news articles regarding this long-term use request.

• • 2025.12.16 Naperville Sun: Proposal would return historic Oak Cottage in Naperville to a private home

  • 2025.06.17 FPDCC: Forest Preserve District Seeks Proposals for Adaptive Reuse of Historic Oak Cottage

  • 2025.07.25 Naperville Sun: Naperville Historic Preservation Commission backs Forest Preserve District of DuPage County efforts to restore 175-year old Oak Cottage

  • 2025.07.24 NCTV17: DuPage Forest Preserve seeking partner to help preserve Naperville’s historic Oak Cottage

  • 2025.07.05 Daily Herald: DuPage forest preserve seeks new vision for historic home

  • 2025.07.02 NCTV17: DuPage Forest Preserve seeks partner to revamp, reuse historic Oak Cottage

  • 2025.06.27 Chicago Tribune: DuPage officials hoping user will emerge to renovate Oak Cottage in Naperville’s Greene Valley Forest Preserve

Stay tuned...