4642 N. Magnolia Approved, Ending a Long Strange Saga

4642 N. Magnolia

After years of contentious back and forth between residents and one of their neighbors, Alderman Cappleman has approved a developer's plans to build an apartment building on the former spot of the "Corn King" house at 4642 N. Magnolia.

Longtime readers will remember that this home was damaged by fire in the 1990s. After the home sat empty for many years, it was put up for sale and eventually purchased by local residents. The owners (the Finan family) live nearby and operate O'Shaunessy's Public House at Wilson and Ravenswood.

In a highly contentious move, the Finans ultimately demolished the vintage single family home, hoping to build condos on the empty site. Their plan required an upzone from the existing RS-3 zoning, and a battle over upzoning ensued.

Unable to reach an accord with neighbors, the Finans elected to keep the lot empty for multiple years, with several attempts to sell the empty lot in between. The listing was then pulled in 2021, and new plans emerged in 2022 for a new building that would again require a zoning change.

Following a precedent established with a proposal considered by the neighboring Beacon Block Club in 2019, local block club Magnolia Malden Neighbors put the proposal up to a vote by neighbors. Two advisory votes came back in favor of allowing the proposal, and Magnolia Malden sent a letter to the alderman reporting the vote results.

In addition to reporting the vote tally, the block club letter included questions for the developer and Alderman seeking clarification of certain details, including the type of brick to be used in the facade, alternative garbage storage and collection, and preservation of some of the existing features, including the mature parkway trees and the iron fence that remained after the 2014 demolition. 

The developer recently sent a response including a revised plan, which was included under the 4642 Magnolia section on Ald. Cappleman's development page.

In the new plan, the original site plans were revised to eliminate garages at the rear to accommodate garbage access. The developer also pledged to attempt to protect the parkway trees and retain the front iron fence. 

Most importantly, the developer identified the type of bricks that will be used on the facade. The Alderman wrote that he is requiring the developer to select bricks appropriate for the historic nature of Sheridan Park, with the selection approved by the City's Department of Planning and Development.  (Ed. Note - we aren't DPD or historic building experts, but our internal vote came out ranked Medium Ironspot #46, Manganese Ironspot, Dark Ironspot, Sienna Ironspot. Would love to hear reader thoughts on colors.)

This morning, Alderman Cappleman sent out his newsletter which linked to his decision, which is reprinted below:

Alderman Cappleman’s Zoning Change Determination: 4642 N. Magnolia

"After hearing input from Magnolia-Malden Neighbors Association, as well as their affirmative vote to approve this development, I have decided to support the upzone to allow for a 6-flat rental building on this site. My decision was based on the negotiations between the developer and the community, as well as the overwhelming need for more housing in the 46th Ward which has increasingly become a very popular place for many to call their home. This property has been vacant for several years and the zoning change will allow for six new units on a site that currently has zero."

Meeting Tonight To Vote On Zoning For 1896 Victorian Home in Sheridan Park

The home today

Historic photo of the home, from the Phillips family

Historic photo of the home, from the Phillips family

Tonight at 7pm, there will be a community meeting for neighbors to discuss and vote on the proposed upzoning (and future) of the 1896 Victorian home located at 4642 N Magnolia.

The meeting will take place at Truman College at 7pm, and anyone is welcome to attend and to speak.  The voting, however, will be open only to those in attendance who live on the 4600 and 4700 blocks of Malden and Magnolia.

A quick recap:  Most of Sheridan Park, including this home, has been downzoned for the purpose of maintaining the character of the community and avoiding the teardown of single family homes to build multi-unit residences.  A local couple owns the home on Magnolia, which was gutted in a fire several decades ago, but which still has many of the architectural features that make Victorian homes popular:  fireplace, stained glass windows, ornate woodwork.

• The couple want to sell the home to another local couple (developers), who want to have it upzoned for the purpose of demolishing the home and building a six-flat on the property's double lots.  
• People opposing the upzoning maintain that other possible buyers exist who would be happy to buy and rehab an existing Victorian home, and that upzoning this property flies in the face of Sheridan Park's community downzoning as a historic district.  
• The current owners of the property have said if the pending sale is blocked, they will demolish the house no matter what. 

Ald. Cappleman is leaving the decision about the zoning of this property up to block club members and community residents.  Hence, tonight's meeting.

The last time there was a meeting regarding this issue, in November, the personal attacks and high emotions made it uncomfortable and unproductive.  We trust that those who turned the previous meeting into a circus will temper their behavior and that this meeting will be constructive without descending into inappropriateness.

A reader sent us a bit of the history of the home, which has remained owned by one family since it was built in 1896:

4642 Magnolia - The George H. Phillips house.  The house at 4642 North Magnolia Avenue was the residence, from 1901 until his death in 1916, of George Harshaw Phillips, who was known as The Corn King.

Phillips was born in Morris, Illinois, in 1869, came to Chicago after finishing high school, entered the grain trading business, so impressed his boss that he was given a seat on the Board of Trade while still in his early twenties, and then became nationally famous by his trading exploits in 1900 and 1901.

He bought the house at 4642 Magnolia in early 1901, at the height of his fame. The Chicago Tribune published a graphic showing a portrait of Phillips with illustrations of the modest house in which he had been living (with his family of five) in Rogers Park, and the house in Sheridan Park (now 4642 Magnolia) which was his new "abode."

The home was inherited by George Phillips' descendants, one of whom married Thomas Rutherford.  After her passing, it became the property of Mr. Rutherford and his second wife, Judith, who now seek to sell it.

We apologize for the late notice, but we only were made aware of this meeting yesterday.  If this issue is important to you, one way or the other, and especially if you live on the 4600 - 4700 blocks of Malden and Magnolia, we urge you to attend the meeting this evening.

Another Upzoning Request From The Owners Of 4642 N Magnolia

Well, this should be interesting.

A RECAP:  Many readers remember the high emotions surrounding the fate of an 1896 Victorian house at 4642 N Magnolia (above).  Last winter, it was sold by the only family who had ever owned it to developers, who proposed building a modern six-flat on the double lot.  The property is zoned for a single-family home (RS-3), so the new owners applied for a zoning change.

Many lots in Sheridan Park have been downzoned in past years to preserve the historic character of the community, and to discourage developers from demolishing single-family homes to build higher-density homes in their place.  Much spirited discussion about what the best course of action should be took place among neighbors, preservationists, the original owners, and the new owners over the course of several months.

Because the price of the proposed development was less than ten million dollars, the decision on whether to approve the proposed upzoning didn't go before the 46th Ward's Zoning and Development Committee, but instead fell to residents living within the boundaries of the house's block club, Magnolia Malden Neighbors.

The new owners of the property said that if residents didn't vote in favor of the requested zoning change, they would knock down the house and leave the lot vacant for years. When the residents at two different community meetings voted against upzoning the property, the new owners kept their word.  In February, the house, garage and several trees on the lot were demolished.  What remains is an empty lot.

PRESENT DAY:  We are hearing that the new owners are requesting another zoning change for the lot, this time to an RS-3.5 designation.  They propose splitting the lot into two parcels.  On one, they want to build a single-family home, and on the other, a three-flat.

Once again, the community will make the decision on the upzoning.  This time it will be made by residents of all of Sheridan Park, who will hear the proposal and vote.  The meeting should take place in a couple weeks and will be announced when a date and location have been determined.

If you live in the areas covered by Magnolia Malden Neighbors, Graceland Wilson Neighbors, Dover Neighbors and Beacon Block Club, start thinking about hearing the presentation from the vacant lot's owners on why their latest upzoning request should be considered and what your vote will be.

You can see all UU's posts about 4642 Magnolia here.

Update:  As of 6/12/2014, the owners of the property have withdrawn their request for upzoning.

Three Losses Followed By Three Gains in Sheridan Park

4642 N. Magnolia 

There are three developments in Sheridan Park that we have been keeping tabs on. We drove over this week to see how things are progressing.

We went by 4642 N. Magnolia first (above).  

The development looks much better than the rendering that was initially shared and we think it is a great addition to the 4600 block of Magnolia. Readers will recall this building replaces a beautiful lost single family home and an unsightly empty lot, and we are glad that we will finally see new neighbors. Seeing things in person, we are fans of the large windows and the balconies on the front of the building. We suspect the units will be filled with natural light and will rent quickly.

4607 N. Magnolia

Next, we went to 4607 N. Magnolia (above). You might recall the dilapidated home that stood here as the white house with a wraparound front porch that was sagging off the front. There was a proposal to save the old home by adding additional apartments behind the home while renovating the house, but it was turned down by the local Magnolia-Malden Block Club and the home was lost.

A new modern single family home is rising on the lot. We shared a rendering of the home back in May 2022. It looks like the structural construction is approaching the end, and interior construction will follow as the weather gets worse.

4706 N. Malden

After a stop at Elevate Coffee at Wilson and Beacon (really good), we then headed slightly north to 4706 N. Malden.

This was the site of another beautiful Victorian home that was severely neglected and fell into total disrepair. 

With little notice, the buyers demolished the old home and built this new building in its place. The building appears to have 5 to 7 units and is similar in appearance to 4642 N. Magnolia but with grey brick. From the outside, it appears crews are wrapping up exterior work and the building should be welcoming new residents next year. 

To complete our tour of Sheridan Park, we looked at the other remaining projects started under Alderman Cappleman: 4701 N. Clark and the 5 story development to the corner of Wilson and Dover (the "Happy Wash" building). Both are awaiting final permits and little to no progress has been made on either site. 

Since we love our tours to update our readers, we look forward to reporting on all of these buildings soon!

4642 N Magnolia Passes City Zoning Committee Unanimously

4642 N. Magnolia Plans 

The plans for 4642 N. Magnolia passed through the Chicago Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards this afternoon. 

According to reporters present at the hearing, someone objected at the hearing and offered a number of concerns about the property, including the preservation of trees, chimneys included in the design, density, parking, and rights of access to the property by the next door owner. 

The committee rejected the concerns and approved the plans, which will put 6 new housing units on a lot that has been vacant since 2014.

This has been a long, sad saga we are happy to see finally coming to a close. 

After Years of Vacancy, an Old Development Proposal Returns

6 flat proposal for 4642 N. Magnolia (360 Design Studio)

4642 N. Magnolia, site of a barren empty lot since 2014 and past home to the beautiful and historic "Corn King" House, has hit Alderman Cappleman's development page again with an upzone request.

Our older editors still have steam coming out of their ears over this one, as the home was beautiful, and despite interior damage, was still quite salvageable back in 2013 when the Finan family, owners of O'Shaughnessy's on Ravenswood and Wilson, bought the single family home. Ignoring pleas and plans to save it, they demolished it and then never built the proposed condo building they promised because a zoning change was never granted.

The lot has been fallow for nearly 10 years, with multiple trips on and off the market.  Now the Finans are back at it, reviving their plans for a 6 flat condo building.

4642 N. Magnolia in 2012.

While we welcome the new development, density and infill on an empty lot, none of this had to happen but for some very poor decisions back in 2013.  

Once again, this will go in front of the local block club (Magnolia Malden Neighbors), who denied the Finans' request for an upzone in 2013 and their feedback will help Ald. Cappleman make the final decision.

This proposal is under $10M so it will not go before the 46th Ward Zoning & Development Committee.

Plans For 4642 Magnolia Presented, Pending Upzoning Approval

Proposal for 4642 N. Magnolia

If upzoning is approved, and the 1896 Victorian home is demolished at 4642 N. Magnolia, here is a good idea of what you can expect. Those in attendance say that the meeting tonight at Clarendon Park Fieldhouse was especially uncomfortable during a "spirited," impromptu presentation by the the Victorian home's owner. No decision has been made and the potential developer is willing to tweak the design if upzoning is granted. A tough decision for sure.

Meeting Monday Night On Rezoning Request For 1896 Victorian Home On Magnolia

A note from Dover Street Neighbors' Facebook page:

"Re: 4642 N. Magnolia Ave:

Ald. Cappleman's office has scheduled a meeting on Monday, November 25th, at 6 p.m., at the Clarendon Park field house [4501 N Clarendon], to discuss a proposal for possible upzoning and redevelopment of 4642 N. Magnolia. Neighbors welcome. My understanding is that residents of the Magnolia-Malden Block Club will be eligible to vote on the issue."  

UU Note:  Magnolia-Malden Block Club covers the area bordered by Wilson, Broadway, Lawrence and Malden.

Background:  Ald. Cappleman said in his weekly newsletter in late October:

• "4642 N. Magnolia Home.  This home in Sheridan Park is gutted inside due to a fire that occurred close to 2 decades ago. The prospective buyer is only interested in purchasing this home if he is allowed to tear it down in order to build something else on this site. Because the home is orange-rated (meaning it has historical significance), there's an automatic evaluation to assess if this building has Landmark status. All orange-rated buildings go through this same process.

1. If the Historic Preservation Division (part of the Dept. of Planning) deems this property to be historically significant, it will not be torn down and there will be no need to upzone the property. Someone who is interested in restoring the house would have to purchase the property. For information how a property is determined to have historical significance, click here.
2. If the Historic Preservation Division does not want to proceed with landmarking this building, the house will be torn down and the new owner will present new building plans to the Magnolia-Malden Block Club. If the new proposal requires an upzone, members of the block club will have a strong say on whether or not this would occur. If the new proposal does not require any zoning change, the new owner does not need community input to build as long as it remains within the current zoning guidelines.

Email the block club president to join: kathy.cook@am.jll.com. You must live within the boundaries to vote."

MM Neighbors: Final, Final Meeting Re: 4642 Magnolia Tonight

Update: The final vote was 19-0, with no support for upzoning.

Sorry for the late notice, just in from Magnolia-Malden Neighbors: 

"Due to the split decision among those at last week's meeting and communication into the Alderman's office, there is a final, final meeting tonight to vote for or against the Upzone request for the property at 4642 N. Magnolia.

This is on the docket for the Zoning Committee of City Council tomorrow.

Time:  8pm
Place:  46th Ward office (4544 N. Broadway)

UU Note: You must live within the block club boundaries to vote.

A Glimmer Of Hope For 4642 Magnolia

This has certainly been a roller coaster ride for sure. We are hearing from blog ArchitectureChicago PLUS that the owners who recently closed on the purchase of 4642 N. Magnolia are willing to entertain offers on the home...if certain conditions are met. We are not sure of what the conditions are, but interested parties should contact Liz Finan at finandevelopment@gmail.com
This home has not been actively marketed in the past, so please spread the word and let's save it from the wrecking ball if possible!

Sheridan Park Meeting on Proposed Upzoning of 4642 N Magnolia

For those who live in Sheridan Park --

There will be a community meeting on Monday, June 16th, for discussion and voting on the question of whether to upzone the empty lot at 4642 N Magnolia to RS-3.5, from RS-3.

This would give the owners the opportunity to spllit the lot into two parcels, and build a single-family home on one, and a three-flat on the other.

The lot is currently zoned for a single-family home; the house which had been on the lot for over 100 years was demolished by the owners last February.

The meeting will be held at Truman College, in Room 1907, at 7pm.

You can read more about the request here.

Update:  Interesting.  The current owners, who once said they would knock down the house and leave the empty lot there for years, have listed the lot for sale.  "INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR A CUSTOM HOME SITE OR BUILT 2 SPEC HOMES. HUGE OVER-SIZED 50X162 FOOT LOT WITH RS3 ZONING. PROPERTY IS ALREADY CLEARED."

Sheridan Park Home Slated For Demolition

If the buyer of 4642 N. Magnolia has their say, this home from 1896 will meet the wrecking ball. A reader sends us the letter (see below) he received notifying him of the impending plans to demolish and build a 6 unit building. We know the home is in need of major TLC, but does that warrant demolition? The home is rated "orange" by the city so that means there is a waiting period while its fate is determined by the city. Just like with Nick's Uptown, you can contact the Landmarks Commission (info below) and let your thoughts be known.

click to enlarge

33 N. LaSalle St.
Suite 1600
Chicago, IL 60602
TEL: (312) 744-3200
FAX: (312) 744-9140
landmarks@cityofchicago.org

Going, Going....

Open windows where the original stained glass was removed
on the north-facing side of the home

The front trees come down

The stained glass window in the front has been removed

Well, it's over.  All that's left is for the wrecking equipment to arrive.

The Victorian home that stood at 4642 North Magnolia for parts of three centuries will be demolished as early as today.  The back fence has been removed; the stained glass windows have been taken out; and the mature trees on the lot have been cut down.

It's hardly a surprise.  From the first notices sent out in October, the specter of demolition was on the table.  The former and current owners repeatedly said the lot would become a "parking lot" if upzoning for a six-flat weren't approved.

In October, Ald. Cappleman said in his newsletter:  "The prospective buyer is only interested in purchasing this home if he is allowed to tear it down in order to build something else on this site.  ... If the Historic Preservation Division does not want to proceed with landmarking this building [which is what happened], the house will be torn down and the new owner will present new building plans to the Magnolia-Malden Block Club. If the new proposal requires an upzone, members of the block club will have a strong say on whether or not this would occur. If the new proposal does not require any zoning change, the new owner does not need community input to build as long as it remains within the current zoning guidelines."

As most of us know, the block club voted unanimously against upzoning, a sale did take place, and now the owners are making good on their often-stated intention to tear down the home.  We hate to see another part of Sheridan Park's history disappear, but they bought that right.

We do find it perplexing that developers are purposely creating a long-term vacant lot.  Owner Michael Finan told Chicago Magazine:  “I’ll knock it down and it will be another vacant lot in Uptown... I’m going to demo it and let that vacant lot sit there.”  Like Thorek Hospital's vast real estate holdings of empty space, we call that land-banking, not developing.

Chicago Magazine has a story published January 20th that includes interviews with many involved in this issue, called "This Old House Will Soon be a Vacant Lot."  It includes a photo slideshow of the interior of the house in its last days as well.

For 118 years, there was something beautiful there.  Let's remember it this way:

"From Chicago Victorian To Vacant Lot"

Newsman Steve Grzanich, a Sheridan Park resident, posted a video of the destruction of the Victorian home at 4642 N Magnolia.

It's called "118 Years In 60 Seconds, from Chicago Victorian to Vacant Lot."

46th Ward Development News

From Ald. Cappleman's weekly newsletter, lots of news!

• The Clarendon/Montrose development is waiting for feedback from the Dept. of Planning before it can proceed back to the Zoning & Development Committee.
• The Wilson L is scheduled to begin some demolition work this winter with the final confirmation of some of the columns to be worked out in the near future.
• The first Sonic geared more toward urban foot traffic is underway at the NE corner of Wilson/Kenmore.
• The Hotel Chateau (3838 N. Broadway) is vacant and permits are in place to do a full renovation to be completed in late spring.
• Residents at the Lawrence House (1020 W. Lawrence) are receiving assistance to move to safer housing while the building prepares to go through a gut rehab.
• Protected Bike Lanes will be placed on Broadway this year.
• There will be a public meeting to discuss new streetscaping along Broadway near the Entertainment District. No date has been set.
• The City is meeting with Jam Productions in December to discuss progress to renovate the Uptown Theatre.
• The building located at 4635-41 N. Broadway will be going through an extensive gut rehab with an additional story added. Because it's a project valued under $10M, only the local block club (Truman Square Neighbors) provided input about the upzoning request. 
• 4642 N. Magnolia Home.  This home in Sheridan Park is gutted inside due to a fire that occurred close to 2 decades ago. The prospective buyer is only interested in purchasing this home if he is allowed to tear it down in order to build something else on this site. Because the home is orange-rated (meaning it has historical significance), there's an automatic evaluation to assess if this building has Landmark status. All orange-rated buildings go through this same process.

1. If the Historic Preservation Division (part of the Dept. of Planning) deems this property to be historically significant, it will not be torn down and there will be no need to upzone the property. Someone who is interested in restoring the house would have to purchase the property. For information how a property is determined to have historical significance, click here.
2. If the Historic Preservation Division does not want to proceed with landmarking this building, the house will be torn down and the new owner will present new building plans to the Magnolia-Malden Block Club. If the new proposal requires an upzone, members of the block club will have a strong say on whether or not this would occur. If the new proposal does not require any zoning change, the new owner does not need community input to build as long as it remains within the current zoning guidelines.

Email the block club president to join: kathy.cook@am.jll.com. You must live within the boundaries to vote. {UU Note:  Email address has been corrected.}

More Info About Tonight's Meetings

From Abby at the 46th Ward office:

"There are 2 meetings tonight at Clarendon Park field house [4501 N Clarendon].

The developer will meet with Magnolia Malden block club and interested residents at 6pm to discuss 4642 N. Magnolia. Since this is a small project it doesn't require full committee review, just the block club. I know there is a lot of concern about this building in Sheridan Park so anyone who is interested may attend.

At 7pm is our regular Zoning and Development committee meeting, where we will see Dave Gassman's proposal for the east side of the 3800 block of Broadway and the updated proposal from JDL for the Maryville site. This will be in the gym, we will be prepared for a large crowd.

Interesting stuff, worth braving the weather."

Demolition Permit Issued for 1896 Victorian House.Updated 3x: Demolition Completed

It appears that the efforts to save the 1896 home at 4642 Magnolia have failed, as Everyblock reports that a demolition permit for the house and garage was issued last week.  We feel it's a pity to lose a piece of Sheridan Park history, but the house's advocates made every effort to save it. Because the city's landmarking division declined to protect the house, and apparently no offer to buy it was accepted, it's the owners' prerogative to wreck it.

Under current zoning, the owners have the option of leaving the current home standing; selling it; demolishing it and building another single family home; or demolishing it and leaving an empty lot.  It looks as if they've decided to demolish it, unless the permit is simply a way to keep their options open.

Update:  As of this morning, demolition is underway.  You had a good run, house, existing for parts of three centuries.  Farewell.

Update:  And there goes the house.

Update:  All that's left as of noon:  rubble.

First The Trees And Fencing....

Quite a few readers are telling us that heavy-equipment work has been going on at the 1896 Victorian home at 4642 N Magnolia.  Since around 8am, four mature trees and the back fence have been removed.  "It looks like the property is getting prepped from demolition. I don’t think there’s a glimmer of hope for anything but an empty lot for the foreseeable future."

Meeting To Consider Upzoning For 4642 N Magnolia Cancelled At Request Of Property Owners

A note for Sheridan Park residents from Magnolia Malden Neighbors --

"Per the Alderman's Office: The meeting for Monday is cancelled. Mike Finan has decided to not pursue a zoning change at this time. Thanks to everyone for their interest!"

Either the owners have decided to sell instead of rebuilding, since the lot was listed at $700K earlier this week, or they have opted to do just what they told Chicago Magazine they would do:  “I’ll knock it down and it will be another vacant lot in Uptown... I’m going to demo it and let that vacant lot sit there.”

Enjoy your meeting-free Monday evening.