Are you looking to buy a single-family home in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood? The buildings and streetscapes within the Ridge Historic District, listed through community efforts in the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, are worth a look. The Ridge Historic District, named for the area’s most prominent topographical feature, is bounded roughly by 87th Street, the Penn Central & Rock Island railroads, Prospect Avenue, 115th Street, Longwood Drive, Lothair Avenue, Bell Avenue, Hoyne Avenue, Damen Avenue, Hamilton Avenue, and Leavitt Street. The district is considered America’s third-largest urban National Register district, with over 3,000 buildings that contribute to its historic character. Within this large scale district, architectural gems and unique attractions are honored. Five rare examples of historic railroad passenger stations along the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (today’s Metra–Rock Island) line are reminders of the community’s suburban history and are also of great interest to railroad fans across the country.
When the Ridge Historic District was established in 1976, residents were looking to preserve an entire historic community, not just a single building. They chose formal recognition of the district’s beauty and history and successfully designated the area in the National Register of Historic Places. Since National Register certification in 1976, the City of Chicago has designated three local historic districts: Longwood Drive, Walter Burley Griffin Place, and the Beverly–Morgan Park Railroad Stations. Additionally, five individual buildings are City of Chicago local landmarks: the Iglehart House at 11118 South Artesian, Palliser’s Cottage Home Number 35 at 2314 West 111th Place, and three homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: the William and Jessie Adams House at 9326 South Pleasant and the American System-Built houses at 10410 and 10541 South Hoyne.
I will help you find an architecturally distinctive home with a history. I can help you understand property tax incentives available to homeowners who rehab according to certain standards and spend a threshold dollar amount. Be sure to contact me, Beverly’s only real estate broker who is an architectural historian, if you are interested in purchasing a home in Beverly.