Historic Astor St. rowhouse by famed architect John Wellborn Root set to hit market

A historic Astor Street rowhouse designed by renowned 19th-century Chicago architect John Wellborn Root is set to hit the market in the coming months. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the property is noted as “coming soon” on real estate listings with an asking price of $1.73 million.

Designed in 1887, the home includes five bedrooms, 4000 sq. ft. and sits as the middle of three units developed by the famed builder. While significant rehabilitation is required to update the interior, Crain’s noted, original brick exterior facades in the Queen-Anne style remain intact along with some original finishes such as stairway banisters, a stone fireplace and front-facing windows, bringing a historic charm and significance to the abode.

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According to Crain's, the property was purchased by a trust for $2.2M back in 2015, meaning the new sale price could come in as much as half a million dollars less than it was just a decade ago.

Astor Street has become famed over the years for being home to a number of famous residences and historical buildings. The street sits in the heart of Chicago’s prestigious Gold Coast, just minutes from the lakefront, Lincoln Park, North Avenue Beach, and a number of luxury dining and shopping options. 

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Per Encyclopedia Britannica, Root etched his name into history as one of the pioneers of modern architecture and a founding father of the skyscraper via his partnership with Daniel Burnham and their Chicago-based design firm Burnham & Root. The two developed revolutionary construction ideas that allowed for properties to be built higher than had previously been possible, leading to famous projects such as the Rookery and Reliance buildings, which still stand today. The pair are also perhaps best known for their leadership of Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, for which they designed the layout.

As reported by Chicago Magazine, Root himself lived in the house during his lifetime, along with other subsequent notable occupants, including Root's son, John Wellborn Root Jr., an accomplished architect in his own right, as well as famed literary critic and founder of Poetry Magazine, Harriet Monroe.