By Peter von Buol
Special to Inside
According to its new owner, one of Lake View's architectural gems will once again sparkle after a comprehensive renovation of the historic building is completed. Saved from the wrecking ball due to a last-minute deal brokered by Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), the Queen Anne building "will look as good if not better than when it was first built in 1895," declares new owner David Funcheon.
Funcheon plans to convert the 19th-Century brick building located at 823 W. Newport Ave. from its current three rental unit configuration into three individual condominium units. Two of its units will be converted into duplexes and the middle unit will converted into a simplex condominium unit.
To facilitate the deal, Funcheon, as owner of Aon Development (not affiliated with Aon Corporation), agreed to swap property he already owned at 840 W. Roscoe St. for the building located on Newport Ave.
Funcheon says his plans call for a complete restoration of the building's unique front. The process will include carefully dismantling the right side of the facade as well as its brick and stone front porch. Both have been slowly crumbling due to water damage caused by a faulty drain on the porch's roof.
Afterwards, the front will be restored to its original appearance. Glass blocks now in the basement windows will also be replaced with new windows. The facade's slate roof with its copper flashing will also be fully restored.
In fact, says Funcheon, his restoration won't stop at simply repairing and restoring the building's bricks. He also plans on reinstalling curved windows on the front that will match the architect's original design.
Funcheon will also totally dismantle and rebuild the interior of the building. While he does plan to completely replace and rebuild all of the building's interior walls, he will also attempt to restore and reuse as much of the old interior trim as possible. "As a test, I've taken out some of the trim and had it cleaned up. It's Georgia pine and it comes out beautifully. It looks as good today, if not better, than when it was first installed," says Funcheon.
In addition to rebuilding the interior walls, Funcheon says he will also update all of the building's wiring and plumbing. "Everything will be totally replaced with the latest technology and with the highest quality," Funcheon adds. "Everything will be completely modern but with the old trim." After the interior walls are rebuilt, modern bathrooms and kitchens will replace those currently in place.
"While the building had undergone a somewhat recent renovation in the '80s or early '90s, if the units were to be rented out today, they would be considered sub-market for the area," says Funcheon. In its current state of disrepair, what some once considered an improvement now seems oddly out of place to most. For example, faux Mediterranean-style stucco was applied on the walls of the second-floor kitchen—an odd choice for a 19th Century building in Chicago.
Funcheon says his improvements will be thoroughly modern but will also be true to the spirit of the house. "The renovation will combine the best of its 19th century design with the best of 21st century improvements," says Funcheon. Interestingly, Funcheon will use the latest technology to help heat the building's hot water-heaters. Solar panels will be installed on a new garage.
The building's interior highlights include its three original glazed-tile fireplaces. All still retain their original cast-iron grates. Funcheon also takes pleasure in the building's 11 foot high ceilings. "You just don't see ceilings like this anymore," exclaims Funcheon.
Funcheon says he appreciates how the architect used the same decorative design throughout the building's interior and exterior. For example, a design found on decorative trim on top of the facade's roof is also found on the interior's staircase banister.
The architect of 823 W. Newport Ave. was most likely Theodore Karls, a prominent German-American architect of the late 19th Century. Karls was known for designing brick buildings which evoked European castles, says architectural historian Philip Pappas. Pappas owns and manages property on the 800-900 blocks of Newport Ave.
In addition to the restoration of the existing structure, Funcheon says he will add an addition that will extend out farther towards the back of the lot. The exterior of the new addition will be architecturally similar to the original building and will actually include bricks from a building he used to own on Roscoe that will be torn down. Funcheon says he hopes to begin working on the restoration as soon as possible.
Block resident Erik Rasmussen was among those who actively lobbied to save the building. Rasmussen says he is pleased with the outcome.
Prior to the swap, he had called the building at 823 W. Newport Ave. "the most beautiful building on the block," and now he says he is grateful that he and his neighbors have been spared the prospect of having a "monster block building" as a neighbor.
Dr. Seth J. Guterman, who lives on the 800-900 block of Newport Ave. and who also was active in the movement to save 823 W. Newport Ave., praises Funcheon for saving the architecturally unique building.
"Next to Ald. Tunney, who worked around the clock to work out a deal to save the property, Funcheon is our hero," says Guterman. "We were concerned about saving the facade of the building and it is my understanding that this will occur with his renovation plans."
In addition to Tunney and Funcheon, Guterman also had praise for the efforts of Jonathan Fine and Michael Moran, the co-founders of Preservation Chicago, an architectural preservation advocacy group.
Ald. Tunney says he is also pleased with the result of the battle to preserve a building many Newport residents consider to be not only historic but also beautiful. "I applaud Funcheon. To save the building is what the community asked us to do. There's still a lot of work to be done but my office and I will do whatever it takes to make the restoration happen so that everyone is happy with the outcome," says Tunney. |
