Trending
Classic Chicago bungalow bouncing back in popularity, thanks to revitalization efforts
There are more than 80,000 bungalows in Chicago, making up one-third of the city’s single-family stock
One of Chicago’s most iconic architectural identifiers is coming back in vogue.
The classic Chicago bungalow is seeing a resurgence in popularity throughout Chicago, helped in part by the Chicago Bungalow Association, a nonprofit that seeks to help preserve the homes and help owners restore them.
Known for its low-slung roof, ornate windows and brick facade, bungalows number more than 80,000 in the city, according to the Chicago Tribune. That accounts for one-third of the city’s single-family housing stock, though they are heavily concentrated in outlying neighborhoods that make up the “Bungalow Belt.”
The homes, which are usually 1½ stories, were built from 1910 to 1940 and are particularly popular with empty nesters and first-time homebuyers, Sarah Ware of Ware Realty Group told the Tribune.
The association hands out yearly awards for bungalow rehabs, with crash prizes of $1,000. The group also offers seminars to bungalow owners, free energy consultations, referrals to craftsmen specializing in bungalows and design guidelines.
In October, Related Midwest and Fannie Mac joined a group of sponsors for a design competition to find the next bungalow — or an iconic, affordable single-family home that can help restock Chicago’s housing supply.
Bungalows are some of the most affordable houses in Chicago, which was the second-most affordable big city to buy a home in 2018. [Chicago Tribune] — Joe Ward