A week before its scheduled razing—and following a pre-demolition salvage auction—this Daniel Burnham-designed house at 157 Kenilworth Ave. was saved from the wrecking ball in early November. Facing strong local protests, the developer-owner decided to sell the property to another developer, Cameel Halim, who plans to renovate the 98-year-old residence and resell it with a protective easement.

Halim’s daughter, Nefrette, had led the local campaign against the planned demolition. The Skiff House is the second local Burnham-designed residence to be saved recently from demolition. The 1896 Root-Badger House, at 326 Essex Rd., which was listed in LPCI’s 2004-05 “Chicagoland Watch List,” is planned for renovation after a sensitive buyer purchased it. For an update on other threatened local properties, see www.kenilworthmatters.com. Meanwhile, Kenilworth preservationists continue to call for passage of a local preservation ordinance.

photo: Skiff House saved just in time.