Historic house will come down

By CHRISTOPHER PETERSON

For Leo Birov, economic factors -- not recklessness or sentimentality -- drive the decision of whether to take down a house and rebuild.

Birov, the president of Northfield-based Heritage Luxury Builders, has recently come under fire since his company in January applied for the demolition of what some Winnetka residents consider to be a historical relic at 412 Walnut St.

» Click to enlarge image

A home at 412 Walnut Ave. in Winnetka is slated to be torn down which has spurred the village to look at historic preservation issues.
(Ruthie Hauge/Staff Photographer)

The house was built in 1910, likely by John H. Hamilton, a partner of the well-known architect, Dwight Perkins. Their firm designed such landmarks as Hubbard Woods School, Skokie, New Trier Township High School and the lion house at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Dwight Perkins's son Larry designed Crow Island School.

Birov will present his case to the Winnetka Building Review Committee on March 13. The village requires the meeting to discuss demolition alternatives, but Birov has the final say regarding the property.

For Birov's company, the planned demolition boils down to costs. To modernize the house could cost up to $1 million, which would rival the costs for building a new house there.

In its current state, the 5,400-square-foot home wouldn't meet standards for a more modern, technology-driven home-owner, Birov said.

"People work from home, they have offices," he said. "They're looking for more space."

In addition, the house sits in the center of its lot, which would be a turn-off for an owner who would want a larger backyard.

He noted that the house had been on the market for more than two years before the owners approached his company.

"They came to us because they couldn't sell the house," he said. "If (buyers) were interested, they'd see it wouldn't pass inspections, and they would walk away."

Birov added that it would be undemocratic to prevent a property-owner from making his or her own decision about what to do with private land.

"It's a free market, and it's a free society," he said. "You can't force a house to sit on a lot forever."

Susan Hamilton lived her childhood years in the house her grandfather designed. Through high school, she and her siblings forged a very personal relationship with their home.

"I spent a lot of time living in the house, and I know every nook and cranny in it," she said.

The Hamilton family lived in the house for 45 years.

"It just absolutely breaks my heart that they're thinking about destroying it," she said. "If I had money, I'd buy it or do something, but all I can do is pray about it."

When Hamilton learned the house would be demolished, she asked that a few items be saved for her.

Heritage Luxury Builders intends to salvage the house's stained-glass windows for the family.

"We plan to not just demolish the house. We plan to look at the historic elements," said Victoria Birov, who works with the company and is the daughter of Leo Birov.

Hamilton said she doesn't buy the argument that the house is outdated. Her grandfather, she said, took into consideration several aspects that other builders at the time might have overlooked.

"My grandfather was way ahead of his time," she said. "That house had laundry chutes, all the closets were cedar-lined so there wouldn't be moths, there was good use of space."

Her brother, John Hamilton, agreed.

Some features of the home -- handrails, for example -- might not seem significant, but he said those features are worth noting.

"There are features that exist in every home now because of his pioneering work," he said about his grandfather's design.

John Hamilton was much younger when the family moved out of the home, but he said he would be sad to see it go.

"I think it's tragic."

Difference of opinion

Winnetka has no ordinance against demolition outside of a historic district, said Posey Fischer, chairwoman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Still, the commission took an interest in the Hamilton House and has followed it through to the Building Review Committee.

"There were over 60 demolition permits requested last year, and this is the only house that we're really trying to save out of those 60 permits, unsuccessfully," she said. "That house will come down."

She encouraged interested community members to attend the March 13 meeting of the BRC, which will be at 5:45 p.m. at the Village Hall.

Birov said his company followed the proper procedure for obtaining a demolition permit. There is no demolition schedule yet, but he said the hoopla surrounding the house has unfairly slowed down the process.

The company has contracted with new owners to rebuild on that lot, and Birov said he intends to honor that obligation.

Birov recognized the historical significance of the house and the attachment some residents might have to it, but he said it should not interfere with necessary, and likely inevitable, progress in Winnetka.

"It will probably be torn down again in the future, but I don't think I'd lose any sleep over it," he said.