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11 Most Endangered
Kenilworth, Illinois
Year Listed: 2006
Location: , Illinois
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Development
Significance
The idea of a model residential community was on the mind of Kenilworth founder Joseph Sears in 1889 when he made his first purchase of a 224-acre wooded site 15 miles north of Chicago. Kenilworth came into being in the rush of excitement and planning for Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, where the "City Beautiful" concept was unveiled. Among the noted architects that Sears attracted to his project were Franklin P. Burnham, who was one of Kenilworth's first residents and a director of the Kenilworth Company, which was formed to raise capital for the development. Another key player was architect George W. Maher, one of the most prolific Prairie School architects, who designed more than 40 houses in the Village and was instrumental in continuing the quality and character of the original village as Kenilworth grew to its current boundaries by the end of the 1920s, and the building of homes was essentially complete by the 1940s. Most of the 830 homes in the community are more than 80 years old, with many over 100 years old.
Updates
Teardowns across the U.S. continue unabated except in those communities experiencing significant downturns in the real estate market. As is true in many communities facing teardowns, Kenilworth, Illinois has made some measured progress in implementing local zoning policies to help control the size of new construction following the demolition of an older or historic residence. They are currently investigating the potential financial effects of a National Register listing of properties in their Village.
The Skyline, a blog from the Chicago Tribune, shares the story of Kenilworth's most recent progess towards taming its teardown trend: a vote to request to place the town on the National Register of Historic Places.
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