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The Nielsen-Andres House was constructed by a village blacksmith across from
the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Depot. The original 1857 structure
features a sleeping loft, indicated by a row of three small windows at
loft-floor level. The two-story addition (ca. 1868) is a rare example of
post-Civil War balloon-frame construction. A secondary structure, the
blacksmith’s smithy, was built in the same timeframe as the original home
and remains standing at 17355 S. 67th Court.
A real estate developer has
purchased the house and plans to demolish it for a 70 unit, five-story
condominium development. The developer is offering to donate both structures
for relocation. However, if no one can be found to relocate the buildings,
the Nielsen-Andres House and blacksmith shop are scheduled to be demolished
by March of 2007. This is one of two large-scale downtown development
projects that will replace most of the surviving mid-19th century buildings
in Tinley Park’s central core.
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What Can I Do?
Urge city officials to reevaluate downtown redevelopment plans to include
preservation of its nineteenth century building stock. Contact Edward Zabrocki,
Village Board President, Village of Tinley Park, 16250 S. Oak Park Avenue,
Tinley Park, IL 60477 / (708) 444-5099 (fax) and Brad Bettenhausen, President,
Tinley Park Historical Society and Museum, 6727 174th St., Tinley Park, IL 60477
/ (708) 444-5099 (fax).
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