A Cost-Free Modernist Home, But No Buyers Yet. It Needs to Move.


In Illinois, a mid-century modern home that has been available for free since November and available to anyone who can arrange to move in still needs an owner.

The house was built for him in 1967 by John Schmidtke, a local Modernist architect. It was designated a historic landmark in 1996, but lost its status last year when the property was annexed by the city of Elgin, Illinois, where it sits. Now there is a deadline of April 1 for someone to suggest a viable plan to move it.

It is located on a site planned for industrial development by a company called Street Logistics.

Chicago Tribune reported In November, High Street Logistics was willing to help move the house—a rare offer from a developer who isn’t legally required to do so.

The company tried to spread the word through the Cheap Old Houses Instagram account. A last post It garnered more than 2,400 comments and 41,000+ shares, creating international awareness and a flood of interest to a designated email listed in the post.

“Since the Instagram post, our company has been in touch with a few realistic options for new owners,” Jay Puckhaber, High Street Logistics’ general manager of development and construction, said in an interview. “We’re optimistic, but it’s still not a done deal.”

“We are working with local people, including the city, to find a solution,” he said. “Our company will cooperate and assist in any way we can.”

The home’s last owners were Andrea Macias and Jacob Dohm, who bought the 2,200-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home from the Schmidtke family in August 2018 and converted it into a wedding venue. (High Street Logistics completed an acquisition from Macias and Dohm in December.)

Moving house is difficult but not impossible. The weight of the bricks can be a challenge, as can power lines and other obstacles on a potential route. However, since the house has a basement, this will allow movers to place the necessary supports under at least part of the floor. It may even be necessary to divide the house in two.

Landmark Illinois, a historic preservation advocacy group, is in favor of the effort. Lisa DiChiera, the organization’s director of advocacy, said the group is “always ready to support developers who are trying to do the right thing to save important cultural resources.”

“We hope the city of Elgin will also assist these efforts with time and resources and help find a location,” he said, “or expedite the waiver of fees or permits if necessary.”

The Elgin Heritage Commission and the Elgin History Museum have recently written letters of support for its preservation.

There are success stories in moving house. Lieb HouseA seminal example of pop architecture, completed in 1969 by Venturi & Rauch (now VSBA Architects & Planners). transported by barge From Jersey Shore to Glen Cove in 2009, NY Frank Gehry’s Winton Guest House was not once, two times.





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