Worker cottage in Lincoln Park being marketed as redevelopment opportunity

While one rare worker cottage in the Old Town area was recently saved, another one—this time in Lincoln Park—is looking like it may soon bite the dust. The home at 1878 N. Orchard Street is an example of the lovely old housing stock that Lincoln Park was once known for, however, it is now under contract for purchase. The listing is very telling as the images only show the property’s exterior and emphasizes the size of the lot. The listing also suggests that this one is being marketed to developers as it is described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity for extra wide landlocked lot on one of Lincoln parks top streets.”

Records show that this home was built in 1891. That’s two decades after the Great Chicago Fire, so it may not be fair to call this one a post-fire cottage, but it is certainly a fine example of the worker cottages that were common around the Lincoln Park and Old Town areas around the turn of the twentieth century. The listing includes no photos of the interior, but it had previously been utilized as a rental property. With an asking price of $2.699 million, it’s safe to say that a mega-mansion will eventually be replacing this old Chicago worker cottage.

Grid View

• 1878 North Orchard Street, Chicago, IL 60614 [Estately]
• Rare post-fire worker cottage in Old Town saved [Curbed Chicago]