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For Sale: Imperiled Buildings

 

The following listings have been submitted to Landmarks Illinois and represent buildings for sale of historic interest. Please contact the listing owner and not Landmarks regarding any of the buildings. Owners should email information on properties to mail@lpci.org. Landmarks Illinois disclaims any responsibility for statements made by the sellers.

 

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5138 Florence Avenue
Downers Grove

 

Own a Lustron! This well-cared home is one of two surviving--out of four original--Lustrons in Downers Grove. The roof and walls (inside and out) are enameled steel panels. One of about 3,000 such homes built from 1948-1950. Click here for more on this building. Learn more about Lustrons here and here. Lustron registry.

   

 
         
   

4602 N. Malden Street
Chicago

 

One of several homes built in 1895-96 for Judge Warren T. Clark on Malden Street in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. The house was designed by architect Robert C. Berlin in a Victorian eclectic style--mixing elements of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. Neighbors fear the house could be threatened by teardown as another large picturesque Victorian on the other side of the same block was torn down for redevelopment. To learn more about the property, click here.

 

 
         
   

Maywood Home for Soldiers’ Widows
224 N. First Ave., Maywood


The Village of Maywood is seeking a developer/purchaser to rehabilitate and reuse this historic 1924 Georgia Revival style structure on a prime corner for redevelopment. Originally designed for soldiers’ widows of the Civil War but vacant since 2003, this building was included on Landmarks Illinois’ “Ten Most Endangered” list for 2012. The structure is on approximately19,000 sq. ft. with a building footprint of approximately 5000 sq. ft. The building has 36 rooms with a grand dining room and commercial kitchen. Ideal uses would be restaurant or entertainment venues. A purchaser doing a qualified rehabilitation could utilize the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit. The building is also within a TIF District. If a buyer is not found, the building may likely be demolished. Please contact the Village of Maywood for inquiries, Bill Barlow, Village Manager at 708-450-6301 or Angela Smith, Community Development Dept., at 708-450-6351.
 

 
         
   

Charleston Post Office Building
320 South Sixth, Charleston


This brick, 1 ½ story, neoclassical structure was erected in 1917 one block north of Charleston’s courthouse square with a rear addition constructed in 1958. The interior features wood dado paneling and terrazzo floors in the front lobby and a spiral staircase to the mezzanine level. The building is for sale under a two-year preservation covenant between the USPS and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA). The Charleston Historic Preservation Commission is concerned that the two-year preservation covenant on the building will expire before a preservation-minded buyer is found. Determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, an owner doing a qualified rehabilitation could utilize the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit. The building is also within the Downtown TIF District. To learn more…
 

 
         
   

James Irving Residence
1318 Isabella Street, Wilmette


After purchasing this Prairie-style house and its adjacent cottage on adjoining lots as a teardown, a developer agreed to re-sell the house and allow the cottage to be moved. An individual has agreed to move the cottage to another private residence and construction on a new house will begin this spring on that adjoining lot. The residence, which must be sold within a four month timeframe or the developer will reconsider demolition, was designed by noted Prairie School architect John Van Bergen in 1928. The house is eligible for local landmark designation by the Village of Wilmette, which would allow a future owner to utilize the property tax assessment freeze to assist with a rehabilitation. Contact: Lisa DiChiera at Landmarks Illinois for information on incentives and other preservation resources. Click here for listing information.
 

 
         
   

Blair House
925 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Bluff


This Modernist masterpiece was designed by Keck & Keck, a preeminent firm of the era. The Blair House has been widely published, both from the time of its construction in 1955, as well as in numerous books on the work of Keck & Keck and modern architecture. It was forward-thinking in its use of sustainable technologies, such as double-glazing and radiant heat. With no protection in place the Blair House is highly vulnerable to demolition to make way for new construction. The property is currently list to LI’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Places. To learn more…
 

 
         
   

Mineola Hotel
91 N. Cora, Fox Lake


The owners listed the hotel and surrounding 17 acres of lakefront property on eBay this week for $2 million. The wood frame building was built in 1884 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was a weekend getaway for Al Capone and other gangsters. It is located half way between Chicago & Milwaukee, thirty miles west of Lake Michigan. eBay listing. Press.
 

 
         
   

Volz Building
933-935 S. State Street, Lockport


This c. 1890 brick building was formerly a fully occupied hotel/rooming house with a sports bar on the main floor. After a 2008 fire, the building’s interior was gutted. The building is one of the largest contributing structures in Lockport’s National Register Historic District and the largest on State Street (IL Rt 171 and Lockport's main north-south street.) If a buyer is not found, the building may likely be demolished. Preservationists fear its loss could have a devastating ripple effect on Lockport historic district. To learn more…
 

 
         
   

Bresee Tower
4 N Vermilion St., Danville


Downtown Danville, Inc., the City of Danville and Vermilion County are seeking developers interested in reusing this 1918, 12-story building designed by Mundie and Jensen. Bresee Tower is located in a TIF district and in an Enterprise Zone and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inquiries or proposals may be sent for review to: Dana Schaumburg, Executive Director, Downtown Danville, Inc., 149 N. Vermilion St., Danville, IL 61832, (217) 443-3886; Linda Bolton, Director of Business Dev., Vermilion Advantage, 28 W North St., Danville, IL 61832, (217) 442-6201 or John Dreher, Community Development Mgr., City of Danville, 17 W Main St., Danville, IL 61832, (217) 431-2329.

 

Bresee Tower

News-Gazette, September 9, 2012

 

 
         
   

Joel Wiant House
151 W. Washington Street, West Chicago


The city of West Chicago is seeking a developer/purchaser to rehabilitate and reuse this historic 1869 Italianate structure in the city’s Turner Junction Historic District. A purchaser must be found by June; otherwise the city may demolish the structure. Deadline for RFQ extended to May 31.  Read the RFQ for more information…
 

 
         
   

Chicago City-Owned Historic Buildings For Sale

 

City of Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) department listing of city-owned historic properties available for acquisition at www.cityofchicago.org.


For more information, contact: Cindy Roubik at 312-744-3038.

 

 

 
         
   

3138-40 S. Indiana
Chicago


Originally built as the Lakeside Club, a Jewish social organization, this structure was renamed in 1917 when it became the headquarters of the Peoples Movement Club, a political organization headed by Oscar Stanton DePriest (1871-1951), the first African-American elected to the City Council. The building is a rare surviving 19th-century clubhouse structure, and is an excellent example of the type of architecture found in the community in the 1880's. Since the 1950's, it has been occupied by religious institutions. It is one of eight individual buildings and one monument within the city of Chicago’s Black Metropolis-Bronzeville Historic District.

The property is zoned RS-3 so it does not require a commercial/institutional use. To learn more, contact the realtor, Daniel Ehrman, at (630) 260-1177 ex. 20 or daniel.ehrman@cbc-realty.com.

Additional information: http://chicago-architecture-jyoti.blogspot.com/2010/03/unity-hall.html.

 

 
         
   

Charles Jewell House
552 31st Street, Rock Island


This simple front-gabled 1888 cottage has fallen into disrepair and the City of Rock Island may consider demolition if a new owner is not found. Listed on Rock Island’s “Most Significant Unprotected Structures” publication, click here and here to read more about the building. Contact Alan Carmen, City of Rock Island for more information.
 

 
         
   

Western Military Academy
2009 Seminary Road, Alton

 
This former military academy campus in Alton’s Upper Alton Historic District retains the original 1903 Administration Building.  A grassroots group, Save Western, is working to find an appropriate owner and reuse for the campus and its original buildings. To learn more…
 

 
         
   

Wheaton Grand Theatre
119-123 N. Hale Street, Wheaton

 
This former theatre is in foreclosure and in need of a new owner/operator.  Because the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, an owner doing a qualified rehabilitation could utilize the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit. To learn more click here and here.
 

 
         
   

Harwood-Solon House
503 S. State Street, Champaign


This 1867 building is an excellent example of the Italian Tuscan Villa architectural style. The Solon grandchildren donated the house to the Preservation and Conservation Association of Champaign County (PACA) in 2005 for its preservation. With assistance from a Heritage Fund Grant from Landmarks Illinois, PACA has completed building stabilization and repairs to arrest deterioration of the building and prepare the house for sale. Included in this is the installation of a historic metal roof. To learn more…

 

 
         
   

Foley-Rice Cadillac Dealership
644 & 711 Madison Street, Oak Park


The building at 644 was listed to the Landmarks Illinois 2007-08 Chicagoland Watch List. This 1923 building, designed by E.E. Roberts with his son Elmer, has no landmark protection.

Originally built as a Packard dealership (Hill Motor Sales Co.), it was the last auto dealership on Oak Park’s “Motor Row.” For sale details, view the pdf.

 

 
         
   

"Still Available"

Guaranty Bank and Trust Building
6734-58 S. Stony Island, Chicago


The City of Chicago is accepting proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of the building. Proposals must include preservation of the historic character of the bank building which was included on Landmarks Illinois’ 2006-07 Chicagoland Watch List. For more information, contact Lisa Washington, City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, (312) 744-4476.

Photograph: Lee Bey

 

 
         
 

 

 

Old Masonic Temple
220 North Sheridan Road, Waukegan

 

Listed on the 2007-08 Chicagoland Watch List, this historic property is for sale. The property is a 40,000 sq. ft former Masonic Lodge. It is adjacent to the newly refurbished Genesee Theatre, has large open spaces, high ceilings and views of Lake Michigan. For more information, view the 220 Sheridan Map PDF or contact Kathleen Rice at 847-623-5778.

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

Additional Historic Properties Information

 artspaceusa.org

 historicproperties.com

 housesforsale.com

 housingonline.com

 nationaltrust.org

 oldhouses.com

 oldhousedreams.com

 preservationdirectory.org

 
     
 

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Landmarks Illinois
Suite 1315
53 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604 
tel. 312-922-1742 
fax 312-922-8112

 

 

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© 2010 Landmarks Illinois. All rights reserved. In addition to the copyright to this collective work, copyright to the materials which appear on this site may be held by the individual authors or others. Landmarks Illinois is a
tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1971 and is the state's leading voice for historic preservation.