Edgewater Glen, a residential enclave in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood, has officially been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The U.S. Department of the Interior approved the designation on Dec. 30, 2024, following a nomination process led by local residents and preservation experts, announced the Edgewater Historical Society.
The effort began in winter 2023, when Justin Colombik, a longtime Andersonville resident and new board member of the Edgewater Glen Association, discovered that the neighborhood had not yet received historic status. This was surprising, given its architectural significance and shared development history with the nearby Lakewood Balmoral historic district. With the support of the neighborhood association, Colombik formed a committee, which included residents Cynthia Espy, Daniel Otto, and Anthony Nove, to pursue the designation.
“We’ve always been interested in historic preservation and preservation of buildings in Chicago, and so Edgewater is a great area to be part of because we have a historical society, and there’s a lot of that like-mindedness here,” Colombik said in an interview with Block Club Chicago.
The committee’s first step was a detailed survey of Edgewater Glen’s architecture, which features single-family homes and multi-unit buildings on wide lots. Over 400 structures, including garages, were documented, with assistance from historic preservation consultant Jean Guarino.
The State Historic Preservation Office quickly recognized the area’s eligibility, noting Edgewater Glen’s remarkably intact historic fabric. In fall 2024, the nomination received unanimous approval from the Chicago Landmarks Commission before moving to the State Advisory Council, which commended the thorough research and high percentage of contributing buildings.
The historic designation brings more than just prestige, it allows homeowners access to financial incentives for restoration, including tax assessment freezes and reimbursement programs. The Edgewater Glen Association plans to provide residents with further information on utilizing these benefits.
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