Chicago Historic Landmark Home Listed by Dream Town Realty

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

Dream Town Realty is the listing company for an historic Prairie-style home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright colleague John Van Bergen. The 4-bedroom house is a Chicago Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is Chicago's only existing building by Van Bergen and is now up for sale.

Chicago, March 2010 – Dream Town Realty, a leader in Chicago's online real estate market, is the listing agent for an architecturally significant home built by John S. Van Bergen, who was part of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture firm. The house was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1993, two years after it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is the only surviving structure by Van Bergen in the city of Chicago. The Prairie-style home is known as the Allan Miller House and is currently on the market for $487,000.

Built in the Prairie School style of architecture, a signature of Wright and his contemporaries, the Allan Miller House features strong horizontal design elements, low roof lines, and deep overhanging eaves. The residence was commissioned by advertising executive Allan Miller. It was completed in 1915 and was updated in 2007. The home is located at 7121 S. Paxton Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago. Its price was reduced at the end of February from $499,000 to $487,000.

"This is an unbelievable deal for a home of this caliber," said Dream Town listing agent Daniel White. "It has landmark status, was built by one of the most famous firms in the country, and has been carefully retrofitted by a professional designer with modern appliances and amenities."

The two-story house is 2,200 square feet with four bedrooms, an office, maid's quarters and dressing room. The layout includes a foyer, formal dining room, screened-in porch, two full baths and a 2.5-car garage. The home's mission-style furniture, often associated with Prairie architecture, can be negotiated into the sale, according to Mr. White.

Van Bergen not only conceived the floor plan and structural components of the Allan Miller House, he also had a hand in the interior décor. One of the most notable contributions is the custom wood-carved light fixtures, which hang from the living room ceiling. The other major design feature in the home's main living area is a large natural stone fireplace and mantel. It is flanked by a tall-backed built-in wood bench and surrounded by refinished hardwood floors. Other original finishes include leaded glass windows, pearl-embedded light switches, wall hutches, and custom woodwork throughout.

"The previous owners meticulously cared for this property, so it is in great shape," said Mr. White. "It may be a historic landmark, but it lives like a contemporary home. From the stainless steel appliances to the Frank Lloyd Wright-esque touches, this place is a true gem in Chicago real estate."

The Allan Miller House was recently featured on Chicago Magazine's "Deal Estate" webcast. The episode offers an up-close and personal tour of the property with an intimate explanation of its one-of-a-kind highlights. To view the tour of 7121 S. Paxton online, visit www.dreamtown.com/properties/7121-s-paxton.html

Property details and photos of the Allan Miller House, plus South Shore neighborhood information are available on the Dream Town web site. To learn more about the home or to schedule a showing, contact Dream Town listing agent Daniel White at www.dreamtown.com/agents/daniel-white.html

About Dream Town Realty
Dream Town is largely recognized as the leader in online Chicago real estate. Its top-ranked website receives tens of thousands of unique visitors weekly. The company has developed proprietary technology and applications to improve online house hunting and offer the most advanced Internet home search available to Chicago buyers today. Dream Town Realty provides residential buyer and seller services, as well as commercial and international divisions and REO sales. The company also has a new home construction and renovation branch called Dream Town Builders and Remodeling.