The new owners of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed cottage in north suburban Glencoe have formally requested permission to tear down the 106-year-old home, a village official confirmed Wednesday.
Wright, widely considered America’s greatest architect, designed the Sherman Booth Cottage, a flat-roofed, one-story frame house, in 1913. It served as a temporary home for Booth, who developed the architect’s Ravine Bluffs neighborhood in Glencoe, including Booth’s permanent home.
— Chicago Tribune
"If the Booth cottage were to be demolished, it would mark the second time in two years that a building by Wright had been torn down," writes Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin.
"The Village of Glencoe has indicated that the demolition permit application is incomplete," reports the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy on its website. "When completed, it is anticipated that a 180-day demolition delay period will be triggered due to the home’s honorary landmark status."
The 106-year-old Cook County building was also recently included in the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois, a list published annually by Landmarks Illinois.
View this post on InstagramThe Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Booth Cottage is one of two properties in Glencoe LI has included on its 2019 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. The home, built in 1913, is currently for sale and unprotected, making it at risk for tear-down and redevelopment. The home is modest in size but sits on a much larger lot, which means a new owner could purchase the property and demolish this unique home to make way for a larger one. Help us save this property by spreading the word about its sale to preservation-minded buyers! Learn more about this and other endangered sites by visiting the link in our bio! (Pics: Glencoe Historic Society) . . . . . . . @savewrightflwbc @flwtrust #PeopleSavingPlacesforPeople #PeopleSavingPlaces #MostEndangered #HistoricPlaces #Glencoe #Glencoehistoricplaces #Franklloydwright #FLW #thisplacematters #Historicarchitecture #prairieschool #glencoehistoricsociety #glencoehistory
A post shared by Landmarks Illinois (@landmarksillinois) on
This is a complicated issue. I tend to agree that more should be put in place to ensure that historically significant buildings like this are preserved, but I'm not sure taking them out of private ownership is the answer. Once they are out of private ownership, they lose the life they were originally conceived as having. I think a part of the building dies. Without any real legal background, I would advocate for historical designations and deed restrictions (or maybe a combination of the two) to ensure that these buildings are sold to people who will take care of them (or at least make life hard as hell on people who want to tear them down).
All 6 Comments
what a dick
this looks more like a curiosity than an example of why Wright is an important figure in architecture.
Does it have some architectural value overlooked by the mediocre photos? Or is it only important because it has a starchitect's name attached to it?
Why not have the Wright Foundation buy it for $1 and move it somewhere appropriate, if not Arizona. The Foundation is known to be insanely expensive and difficult to work with for anyone who wants to build a new Wright house or restore an old one. Let the Foundation show everyone how it is done.
An early experiment that explored later Usonian ideas. Given Wright's importance and legacy, none of these house should be in private hands.
This is a complicated issue. I tend to agree that more should be put in place to ensure that historically significant buildings like this are preserved, but I'm not sure taking them out of private ownership is the answer. Once they are out of private ownership, they lose the life they were originally conceived as having. I think a part of the building dies. Without any real legal background, I would advocate for historical designations and deed restrictions (or maybe a combination of the two) to ensure that these buildings are sold to people who will take care of them (or at least make life hard as hell on people who want to tear them down).
It’s not a particularly good Wright house.
Looking at it against his lifetime body of work, no. Looking at it from the historical view (1913!) it's pretty radical.
I vote we burn all of the non-particularly-good paintings, too. And kill all of the non-particularly-good authors.
I think the wrecking of 239 Franklin Rd. would be like destroying a Picasso painting(not all of his paintings were 5 stars, but nevertheless, done by him) and possibly replacing it with a house resembling a fast food restaurant. Moving this house to another area is a grand idea(It was moved before this.), as long as it's preserved. It's worth retaining.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.