Lincoln Park’s Novak mansion re-lists for $8.95M

The designer home is perhaps best known for its controversial lawn sculpture

By Jay Koziarz Feb 5, 2018, 1:35pm CST

After failing to find a buyer roughly two years ago, a stunning 7,800-square-foot Burling Street mansion in Lincoln Park is back on the market. The house was completed in 2010 by architect Liederbach & Graham for John Novak, head of Chicago-based Novak construction.

The five bedroom, six-and-half bathroom residence sports a loft-like interior with exposed brick, timber beams, detailed metalwork, and abundance of windows and skylights. The bright and open design is complimented by playful touches such as colorful artwork, suspended greenery, and a marble-lined master bath.

Despite its location at a busy corner along Armitage Avenue, the property is tucked away behind a brick privacy wall that conceals a “secret” garden with lush landscaping. The home also includes a large wine cellar and a dedicated guest suite above an attached three-car garage with a brick floor.

For many Lincoln Park neighbors, the home at 1970 N. Burling Street is most closely associated with a controversial 50-foot-tall bright blue modern sculpture that overhung the public way. The oversized piece was moved to a new location along Chicago’s Lakefront Trail in 2015.

Novak’s mansion first hit the market in September of 2015 and stuck around for roughly eight months until the listing was removed the following May. The home returned Monday morning with an unchanged asking price of $8.95 million.

The 1900 block of N. Burling is home to some of Chicago’s priciest real estate, including the palace-like mansion of Richard and Michaela Parrillo. The couple listed their property at 1932 N. Burling Street in late 2016 for an eye-watering $50 million.