QUINCY, IL -- The Quincy City Council has extended the amount of time it can take to demolish a property within the city's four historic districts.

The council approved an ordinance that extends the process from 35 days to 90 days once someone requests a demolition permit in those areas.

That would give the Quincy Preservation Commission more time to determine if the property has historical significance or should be allowed to be demolished in the first place.

Paul Havermale, (R) Third Ward Alderman, explained how this will likely effect the demolition process, "This doesn't stop anybody from tearing something down. It might get the preservationists in the community a chance to go retreive some of the historically or architecturally significant pieces of that building before it's torn down, and sometimes that process is longer than 35 days and that's the reason we went to 90."

Havermale made two amendments to the ordinance. One of those amendments says that the city does not need to use the full 90 days if it's not necessary. The other amendment doubles the fine to $1000 if someone demolishes the property before a demolition permit is granted.