Historic home spared from wrecking ball in rare Arlington Heights rejection

Arlington Heights officials have shot down Mastercraft Builders & Carpentry’s request to demolish a 19th-century house and replace it with a bigger, more modern one.

It was a rare decision given that dozens of homes are torn down every year in the northwest suburb without any pushback from local leaders. A village panel ultimately rejected the proposal under its authority to preserve “significant architectural, historical, aesthetic or cultural value,” of the home in question, the Daily Herald reported.

“Until (Tuesday) night, no one has come forward proposing to tear down a house of historical value to the extent that 716 North Dunton is to the community,” Steve Hautzinger, the village’s design planner and panel member, told the outlet. “I don’t want to say that the other homes have all been teardown-worthy, but they just didn’t fall in a category that would attract the interest of the community like this, in terms of historical preservation.”

The two-story dwelling, built in 1878, is one of 38 homes rated as “exceptional” in a 2004 Community Preservation Report from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and was also recognized in a 1970s-era State of Illinois Historic Structures Survey.

Barrington-based Mastercraft tried to justify the demolition by detailing the home’s “poor” condition. Elk Grove Village-based ALTA Engineering, which was hired as a consultant to the developer, noted that a significant amount of water damage had caused the building to deteriorate and thus recommended significant repairs, including drain tile, sumps, waterproofing and the replacement of various structural elements.

However, residents and preservationists argue that the house’s ornate detailing and architectural character make it a vital part of the neighborhood’s history. Hautzinger added that other teardowns in Arlington Heights were not rejected since they were for houses with “insignificant” value.

Mastercraft has a 30-day window to appeal the design commission’s decision to the village board.

— Quinn Donoghue

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