Edgewater's vanishing single-family homes-Berwyn and Winthrop

I have lived in Edgewater for going on three years, and multiple times each week I have walked past this lonely home at the corner of Winthrop and Berwyn. I have seen it go from vibrant to dying within this span. Can you believe the boarded up back? This is a key Edgewater corridor for crying out loud!

I wonder what lies beneath the altered exterior-no doubt it once bore much fancier Victorian-style features? I can understand what caused the house's decline however, for next door stand three out-of-place cookie-cutter condos. They very clearly have crowded out the sad home at the corner, making IT seem out of place. A shame really, because it anchors this corner well. For the time being, each corner here remains in place-for how much longer will this house be around?

What buildings formerly occupied the adjacent lots where the condos now stand?

Love, Mr. Archibleckture

Mr. Archibleckture returns....

You know, it has been nearly two months since my last post; completely unacceptable I must say!

Since my last posting, the following has happened:

1) An initiative began to honor the graystone, via preservation efforts:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0604200041apr20,1,6035889.story?coll=chi-news-hed (April 20, 2006 Tribune)

Too late to save many of the graystone treasures of LP and Lakeview however....

2) The Artful Dodger building was demolished:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abmarfia/118944735/

A mega mansion will be built in its place; fond memories of Chicagoans replaced by marble, "elegant" features, etc. as one man builds his castle.

3) After initial hesitation, it has been decided to return Armitage Brown Line station to its original condition as part of the Brown Line expansion/renovation, a victory for city and state preservationists:

http://www.insideonline.com/site/epage/35240_162.htm

Perhaps these same people could have done a better job working to preserve Lincoln Park around the station. Too bad that the scene from the Armitage platform has been ruined; it would have been great to have the station and the neighborhood hearken back to the late-19th century (as recently as five years ago that would have been possible).

COMING SOON! A brief photo tour of the threatened single-family homes of Edgewater.

Love, Mr. Archibleckture