The Joseph Jacob Walser House, a historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, has been sold for $125,000 to the nonprofit community group Austin Coming Together (ACT). The property, which has suffered decades of neglect, is in a state of severe disrepair, with restoration costs estimated to exceed $3 million.
Deterioration of the 123-year-old home includes a failing roof, a compromised load-bearing interior wall, and significant water damage, exacerbated by Chicago's harsh winters. Initial stabilization efforts alone are projected to cost between $300,000 and $550,000.
The Walser House is the only single-family home on Chicago's West Side designed by Wright, who created over 1,000 structures during his career. Completed by the end of 1903, it was among his earliest Prairie School masterpieces. The architectural style is characterized by flat roofs, low-slung horizontal lines, sweeping overhangs, and open, free-flowing interiors.
The home has a history of preservation challenges. In the mid-20th century, its original art-glass windows were removed and sold, and its front porches were enclosed. General contractors Hurley and Anne Teague purchased the house in 1970 and worked to stabilize it for nearly 50 years. After Anne Teague's death in 2019, her heirs were unable to maintain the property, leading to its abandonment and further decline. For seven years, the home was caught in foreclosure and demolition proceedings, with the COVID-19 pandemic complicating its future.
Austin Coming Together, which has experience with large-scale community revitalization projects, including the conversion of a former elementary school into the Aspire Center for Workplace Innovation, aims to transform the Walser House into a cultural and architectural destination. The nonprofit plans to create a space where visitors can engage with the home's history and architecture, potentially drawing tourism and supporting local businesses.
The purchase involved the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) acquiring the home before selling it to the Chicago nonprofit Community Investment Corporation (CIC). CIC then transferred the property to ACT for the same $125,000 price, with CIC providing a $60,000 grant toward the purchase, and ACT covering the remaining $65,000.
Organizations such as the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, Landmarks Illinois, and Preservation Chicago have advocated for the home's preservation over the years, supporting ACT's acquisition. They expressed confidence in ACT's ability to unlock the landmark's potential and integrate it into the Austin community's future vision.