Astor Street District
The Astor Street District is a historic district in Central Chicago, Illinois.
Constructed over a period of more than 100 years, the buildings along Astor Street reflect the fashionable styles favored by their original high-society residents. The numerous 19th-century houses are designed in a variety of historical revival styles, and are interspersed with apartment buildings and townhouses.
It was designated a
History
Early development
Astor Street is named after John Jacob Astor. Although he never lived in Chicago, the street was named to honor his achievements; he was one of the richest citizens in the United States. At the time of his death in 1848 his estate was worth $20 million, the equivalent of $78 billion today. Astor was the founder of the American Fur Company and an investor in New York City real estate. His name gave a luster to the area.[2]
Other wealthy Chicago families followed the Palmers. Lumber, iron, liquor and other magnates flocked to the area and built lavish homes. Residents included Kenneth Sawyer Goodman the playwright, after whom
Within 20 years of the opening of Lake Shore Drive, Astor Street was fully developed, filled with city houses abutting one another on their narrow sites. This limitations on land use also brought high-rise apartment buildings to the neighborhood, made fashionable by second generation Palmers.
Architecture
The homes in the district are primarily Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque and the Georgian Revival styles.
James Charnley House
The James Charnley House, now called the Charnley–Persky House, is a key building in the historic district. Designed by Louis Sullivan between 1890-92, it is considered one of the first modern residences in the United States. A young Frank Lloyd Wright, who was a junior draftsman in Sullivan's office at the time, worked on the project as well. Featuring a plain brick facade with ornamentation that is unique among all other houses, it is lavishly decorated inside, in a style that is typical of Sullivan's work. The home today houses the Society of Architectural Historians, who give tours of the structure.
The home is a National Historic Landmark, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Chicago Landmark.
George Swift Isham Home
This 1899 mansion at 1340 N State Parkway was built for a surgeon - Dr. George Swift Isham. Complete with 70-rooms, and a brick and limestone facade, the building became famous when it was acquired by Hugh Hefner in 1959. After the purchase, the mansion's basement was converted into a "grotto", with a swimming pool with a glass wall.
After Hefner left Chicago permanently for the West coast, the mansion was turned into a dormitory for the
Three Arts Club
The
The home is a Chicago Landmark.
References
- ^ "Astor Street District". City of Chicago, Department of Zoning and Land Use Planning. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012.
- ^ "Astor Street History". Gold Coast Neighbors Association. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
- ^ "Original Playboy Mansion". Original Playboy Mansion.
- ^ "Chicago Landmarks: Three Arts Club". City of Chicago.