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Historic Keith House on Prairie Avenue lists for $2.7 million

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The home brought tycoons like George Pullman and Marshall Field to the neighborhood

A mansion with white stone exterior and a green roof on a large lawn.
Keith House
Photos by VHT Studios, courtesy of DreamTown listing agent Hadley Rue.

Built in 1870, this mansion was one of the first residences on the historic Prairie Avenue on the Prairie District of the South Loop. It attracted some of Chicago’s biggest tycoons, who were responsible for building the city like Marshall Field and George Pullman and eventually built massive mansions of their own.

The Keith House exterior, designed by J.R. Roberts, is hard to miss with it’s mansard roof and an elaborate exterior ornamentation. The home’s features follow a Second Empire style, which was influenced by architecture from Napoleon’s redevelopment of Paris and French Renaissance structures.

The eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom property is so large the listing agent Hadley Rue suggests it could be turned into a boutique hotel or a small condo project. The home already has special zoning that would allow for a both a business and residence, for example a small gallery on the main floor. The space now is currently used for events and there are two apartments on the second and third floors.

Taxes last year for the property were $29,252, and because of the historic nature of this home there are historic tax incentives available, according to the listing.

Located at 1900 S. Prairie Avenue, this home is asking $2,695,000.

An elaborate room with dark wood molding, a chandelier, and inlaid wood flooring.
An elegant space in the main house used as a dining room.
A narrow living room with wood flooring, old wood furniture, blue walls and paintings.
There are original wood floors, layered crown molding, and high ceilings in the living room.
A long white hallway with art on the walls and wood flooring. there are windows and white curtains.
A main living space with lots of natural light set up as a gallery.
An ornate staircase with dark wood and panels. There is hardwood flooring and red carpet on the steps.
A heavy, original staircase and wood floors.
A large open living room and kitchen with wooden beams.
One of the main living areas in the coach house.