Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Home in Minneapolis Lists for $2.5 Million
The Freida and Henry J. Neils House, a meticulously preserved example of Wright's Usonian design, is seeking its third owner since its completion in 1951.
A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Usonian home in Minneapolis is on the market for $2,495,000, seeking its third owner since its construction in 1951. The Freida and Henry J. Neils House, located in the Calhoun Isles neighborhood, is one of nine Usonian homes designed by Wright in Minnesota.
The residence, situated on a half-acre lot overlooking Cedar Lake and adjacent parkland, features the hallmarks of Wright's Usonian architecture, including strong horizontal lines, an abundance of natural light, and a seamless integration with its surroundings. David Stickney of Coldwell Banker Realty Stickney Real Estate, who is listing the property, described the location as "incredibly quiet and peaceful."
"The way the home relates to its surroundings makes Cedar Lake and the parkland feel almost like an extension of the living space," Stickney said. "Much of Frank Lloyd Wright’s original design and craftsmanship remains intact, which is part of what makes the home so special."
Inside, the home boasts a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace in the living room, vaulted ceilings, and walls of windows. It also features custom built-in furnishings, including a desk spanning half the width of a wall in one of the bedrooms. Distinctive materials found in the home, which are less common in Wright's work, include cull marble bearing walls, larch interior paneling, and aluminum-framed windows and doors.
The galley-style kitchen features stainless-steel countertops and ample sunlight, typical of Wright's designs. Exterior features include a carport designed to accommodate up to three cars. The current owner has added a detached two-car garage, a new synthetic shake roof, upgraded HVAC, and enhanced landscaping.
Stickney noted that the home's preservation is partly due to its limited ownership history. The original owners, Freida and Henry J. Neils, passed the home to their daughter, Mary Louise Neils McGee. Her estate sold the property to the current owner in 2007 for $2,400,000.
This current listing price of $2,495,000 is only $95,000 more than what the seller paid 19 years ago. The home was previously listed in 2018 for $3,400,000, later reduced to $2,950,000, before being delisted.
Stickney described the ideal buyer as someone with a strong appreciation for architecture and design, seeking a unique and historically significant property that can still be enjoyed for modern living. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"This is far beyond your typical city home and would be extremely difficult to replicate anywhere in the local market," Stickney stated, emphasizing the property's status as an "exceptional" piece of architectural history.