Establishment of a historic district and the activation, adaptive re-use and commercialization of village property for the benefit of the community.
Mission of the project — The Living with the Land Initiative aims to attract new life to Stickney House and Farmstead, making it a center for community activity and education. By offering new opportunities to interact with the area's natural resources, the site will contribute Bull Valley's philosophy of conservation and stewardship. As a site for outdoor recreation, the Stickney Farmstead and Cherry Valley Trail will connect with existing and proposed trails included in the McHenry County 2030 Comprehensive Plan, contributing to the regional plan for land use. With new commercial uses, the Stickney House and Farmstead will become a self-sustaining hub for ecotourism and eco-education, deepening the harmony between life and land.
Stickney House Partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago — The initiatives by the Village of Bull Valley in Living with the Land as a concept were informed by a year-long collaborative exploration by students from the Programs in Architecture and Historic Preservation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Faculty members Professor Anne Sullivan from Historic Preservation and Dr. Hennie Reynders, Professor of Architecture and resident of Bull Valley, have directed two seminar-studios during 2022 which responded to the cultural landscapes and unique ecological character of Bull Valley. This work is available in different formats from the Stickney House Foundation at Village Hall.
https://www.livingwiththelandinbullvalley.com
Living with the Land – Stickney House Mansion Project — In 2022, the Stickney House Mansion was the subject of research and study in two graduate classes in the Department of Historic Preservation under the guidance of Architect and Restoration Specialist Professor Anne Sullivan. At their site visit on March 28, 2022, the students expressed an interest in viewing the Stickney House site in a holistic manner, as a neighborhood of the period including an interest in the natural features of the glacial landscape in the Village and other historical structures in the area.
The result is a history and analysis of the Stickney House and an action plan to complete the restoration, and develop a valuable public resource with space available for small events and community functions, managed tours, walking and riding trails and other uses. The project title is “Living With the Land”, and it incorporates the Section of Cherry Valley Road that is between Mason Hill and Crystal Springs Roads. The Power Point Presentation and brochures are available below and explain it in more detail.
