There’s still hope to save restored Queen Anne home in Wilmette

The fate of a nearly 140-year-old home in east Wilmette remains in question after village trustees held off on approving a request that would all but guarantee demolition of the property.

Wilmette’s Village Board voted unanimously on Dec. 10 to table a developer’s request to subdivide the lot at 822 Central Ave. into two parcels and construct a home on each.

According to a village memo from Kate McManus, who is part of Wilmette’s community development department, village officials were first notified of plans to demolish the home in late 2023 by “concerned neighbors.”

With the hope of preserving the property that some residents and officials view as historically significant, village staff reached out to the developer in an attempt to encourage alternative options other than demolition. Wilmette Village President Senta Plunkett also met with the property owners at that time, per the memo.

Village officials say that the parties reached an agreement to rent out the home for a year’s time to allow for potential alternative options, including the sale of the home to a buyer considering preserving it, to materialize.

But now, more than a year after the home was sold, the developers say they are “stuck financially” and that a renovation of the existing property is not economically viable.

‘Once this is torn down, it’s gone forever’

Sterling Wilson Design & Development purchased the property at the center of discussion in 2023 for approximately $1.6 million, according to public records. The design firm is owned by longtime Wilmette residents Diane and Brian Wilson.

Representatives from the homebuilding company have, over the course of several public meetings and correspondences, stated their intention was to subdivide the existing large lot to make way for the construction of two new homes on the signature Wilmette street.

Brian Wilson, while addressing trustees Tuesday night, said “we did our homework” on the property, noting that they checked with the village before purchasing the home to make sure the lot could be divided and that their plans met codes.

The firm also checked with the Wilmette Historical Society to confirm the property did not have any historical protections, Brian Wilson said.

“If we had any idea it would have created a firestorm, we wouldn’t have gotten involved because we plan on being in this community for a while,” Wilson said.

According to information from the village, 822 Central Ave. was built as a Queen Anne-style home in 1885. The home, per the memo from McManus, “was significantly altered with modifications done in 1947 including the removal of the original front porch.”

Years later in 1996, “the owners meticulously restored the home back to its original design using historic images,” McManus says in the memo. A one-story addition was built on the west side of the property as well.

While the house currently does not have landmark status, village staff believe it would be a “fairly easy candidate” to gain the designation, said John Adler, Wilmette’s community development director. The property owner would have to request that designation.

McManus’ memo states “the home, in its current restored state, is a Significant structure and eligible for local landmark status.”

Brian Wilson, noting it as a matter of opinion, told trustees that they did not view the house as historically significant before purchasing the property.

When first viewing the home, the Wilsons said they wanted to see if renovation of the existing property was viable but that they encountered several issues. The house, according to the opinion of a real-estate professional shared by Brian Wilson, is “kind of functionally obsolete in today’s market.”

Additionally, Wilson reiterated that they “have a problem” and are “financially stuck” given that the house as-is will not be worth near what they paid for it and that even if they were to sell, they cannot protect it from another builder purchasing it and wanting to demolish.

But village officials are hoping “to make the best out of a bad situation” while holding out faith that an alternative solution can come forward.

Plunkett said she appreciated the time and consideration the Wilsons took but that she is now “really hoping” that they will list the property on the MLS.

“You said that you were stuck and that you would agree to sell this if you could and I just don’t think you have exhausted every option you can,” Plunkett said. “This home was built in 1886. Once this is torn down, it’s gone forever.”

Plunkett later added that she is “not quite ready to let this go,” noting “this house is important to a lot of people.”

Wilmette’s Plan Commission also previously considered the request and voted to recommend denial earlier this year.

“This did not sit well with any members of the Plan Commission,” Plunkett said. “It does not sit well I believe with this board and it does not sit well with anybody that I’ve talked to in the community.”

The approved motion to table the proposal pushes consideration until the board’s Tuesday, Jan. 14 meeting.

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