LINCOLN PARK — The house where Steve Urkel made himself at home is set to be demolished.
The city approved a demolition permit Tuesday for 1516 W. Wrightwood Ave., which served as the Winslow family home in the '90s sitcom "Family Matters."
Although the Winslows were said to live in suburban Chicago, the show concerned the family of a Chicago Police officer, and the Wrightwood house was used to establish scenes placing the family at home. It was also seen in the opening credit sequence.
The city approved a permit to "wreck and remove a two-story frame multi-unit residence" after previously approving a demolition permit for its detached garage in April.
"Family Matters" debuted in September 1989 on ABC, starring Reginald VelJohnson as Chicago police officer Carl Winslow, but midway through the first season Jaleel White stole the show as the uber-nerd Steve Urkel, who nursed a crush on the Winslows' daughter Laura.
Here's the introduction of "Family Matters" featuring the house:
One of his catchphrases was, "Did I do that?" along with "I'm wearing you down, baby, I'm wearing you down," "I've made a new invention" and "Whoa, momma."
With his hiked-up pants and suspenders, colorful Harry Caray-like glasses and geeky demeanor, Urkel became a cultural icon and the center of the show, which lasted nine seasons and survived a switch in networks to CBS before being canceled in 1998. Along the way, Urkel moved in with the Winslows.
Speaking for the owners, Coldwell Banker's Lissa Weinstein said they planned to build a three-unit residence on the lot.
"Prior to purchasing the property, they evaluated whether saving the house was a possibility and ultimately determined renovating the home wasn't a viable option," Weinstein said Wednesday. "In honoring the site's past, they plan to decorate the entry with framed photographs of the original house and the show's beloved cast."
#youtube Cars passing the Family Matters house https://t.co/WLxgOhgFXo
— Ted Cox (@tedcoxchicago) September 20, 2017
