WICKER PARK — After losing a battle to build a single-family home in a large yard next to an 1890s greystone mansion in Wicker Park, a local developer has decided to put the home up for sale.
The proposal to add a second home next to the historic, nine-bedroom, seven-bathroom home at 2119 W. LeMoyne St. was derailed after opposition from aldermen and neighbors, who argued the yard was a protected historic landscape.
One of the most interesting exterior features of the home, in addition to the Queen Anne-style turret, is a "spite wall" that separates the mansion from a neighboring home to the west.
Alisa Hauser explains the "spite wall" and why the house is on the market:
Described in a real estate listing as a, "unique opportunity to own original greystone mansion in the heart of Wicker Park," the home went on the market Tuesday and is listed for $1.79 million.
Local developer Michael Lerner owns both the home, which has been converted into a multiunit apartment building, and the home's side yard at 2117 W. LeMoyne St., just west of Damen Avenue.
LeMoyne Acquisitions, a Lerner-backed venture, bought the home and adjacent yard in a $1.2 million transaction from one seller on Oct. 17, 2013, according to county records.
Described as a "massive stone wall" in a walking tour guide by local historian Elaine Coorens, the spite wall was erected to shield the home from its neighbor after a Victorian feud, Coorens wrote in her 2003 book, "Wicker Park From 1673 Thru 1929."
Since March, Lerner had attempted to get city approval to build a single-family home on the side yard. The less contentious part of his plan had been converting the mansion from an apartment building to a single-family home.
Though staffers from the city's Landmarks Commission had recommended that Lerner's project move forward, a narrow 2-1 vote against the plan in July by members of the Landmarks Commission's Permit Review Committee resulted in the project being halted.
The plan also has been opposed by 32nd Ward Ald. Scott Waguespack, and 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti, who have argued that construction on the yard would "detract from the overall character of the district."
The home also includes a two-story coach house and a single-story studio apartment, according to a listing by Realtor Aneta Korzec of MCM Realty.
There also is a parking area that can accommodate six cars.
Todd Mullen, a project manager for Lerner's firm, MCZ Development, had been working on the proposed development.
When asked on Wednesday what prompted the decision to sell the home, Mullen said, "We are going to see if someone wants to buy it, and then see what our next steps are."
Lerner declined to comment.
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