Stay Up To Date With The Latest Happenings At LFPF

Dating from the mid 19th Century, the log house has been restored by noted preservationist and owner of CrabTree Farm John Bryan, and his team of conservationists.

Lake Forest residents all are familiar with Market Square, the east side town center facing the 1900 train station. Many have heard that it is the “first shopping center.”

IIt’s that time of year again for the Foundation’s Annual Historic Preservation Awards. Please see this newsletter’s centerpiece for the award nomination form.

This edition of our newsletter has as its basis the stirring presentations of preservation economist Don Rypkema.

It’s an exciting time to be part of the Foundation and helping to sustain the incredible architectural legacy of our town.

It’s official! After two arduous years of discussions, a revised Building Scale Ordinance and newly introduced Design Guidelines were voted on and passed by our City Council.

For the future? Some of the ideas that have been discussed include the creation of a Lasker Estate historic district, publication of a book on the Green Bay Road Historic District, and ultimately the hiring of someone to run our Gorton office.

Not only does the built character of the streetscape change with teardowns, there is a loss of open space and landscape in the neighborhood as well.

If you, too, are concerned about what some have called “million-dollar tract homes” invading our community, learn more about the process to try to control such development.

According to a recent Chicago Tribune article by Blair Kamin, the Tribune’s architecture critic, Soldier Field was once considered a “civic embarrassment: a “big white elephant,” and a gross violation of Daniel Burnham’s Chicago Plan.

We have an endangered species in our midst. It is the single-story ranch house. Quietly, but systematically, it is being eliminated from our town.

The fascinating and rich history of Lake Forest can be found in its structures, the stories of the early residents who owned these sites, and the work of the architects they hired to build them.