Sullivan Does It Again: Prime Early Brownstone Lists for $625K

Even though it must've seemed like Chicago was erecting a skyscraper a day in the late 19th century, it still didn't consume all of Louis Sullivan's time. For one, Burnham & Root and Holabird & Roche stole some commissions. Then there were all those leading citizens in need of monumental houses on Prairie Ave and the Gold Coast. And, of course, the early commissions whereby an architect steadied his hand and his reputation. This 1885 Douglas brownstone doesn't look much like 'a Sullivan', but it is. It's overtly Victorian and it's a rowhouse. However, some clues to Sullivan's evolving vernacular are present like the ornamental leaded glass in the entryway, the stained glass skylight above the stairs, marble floors, and ornate fireplaces. While this certainly wasn't built for a George Pullman or Marshall Field, it's plenty big (5,000 sf; 5 beds) and awfully elegant. Meticulously preserved, the only blatantly modern updates are in the kitchen and baths— things most buyers expect. Other niceties include a sauna, music room, and rooftop deck, which is key considering the house's footprint gobbles up much of the lot. And, with an asking price of $625K, this is surely one of the most accessible Sullivan homes available, now or at any point.
·Listing: 3141 S Calumet Ave. [Koenig & Strey]