Edgewater Glen Historic District: Genesis

The Edgewater neighborhood known as Edgewater Glen was nominated in October 2024 for placement on the National Register of Historic Places by the State of Illinois Historic Preservation Office. The US Department of Interiors approved the nomination on December 30, 2024.

The designation process began nearly a year earlier, in the winter of 2023, when Justin Colombik—a long-time Andersonville resident and a new resident and board member of the Edgewater Glen Association—proposed the idea.

Justin was surprised to discover that this northern boundary of the neighborhood was not already on the National Register of Historic Places, unlike its sister neighborhood, Lakewood Balmoral. This was particularly surprising given that many of the homes and streets in Edgewater Glen were developed by the same developer, John Lewis Cochran. Like Lakewood Balmoral, Edgewater Glen features mainly large single-family homes with a mix of residential multi-unit buildings, on extra-wide lots.

With the approval of the neighborhood residents, a special committee was formed to pursue the nomination. Led by Justin, the committee included residents Cynthia Espy, Daniel Otto, and Anthony Nove. Following the procedures outlined by the State Historic Preservation Office, the committee’s first task was to conduct a survey of the neighborhood to determine its eligibility. If deemed eligible, the area could then be formally nominated.

Acting quickly, the committee began photographing the buildings in the neighborhood before the trees grew their leaves, ensuring clear visibility of architectural details. Over 400 buildings in the district were documented, including historic garages. The committee completed the necessary inventory forms for each structure, which were later finalized by Jean Guarino, a historic preservation consultant recommended by the state. Guarino specializes in documenting and nominating historic districts. While the committee focused on photographing and gathering initial details, Guarino handled the final documentation.

After several months of meticulous work, which included gathering information from the Edgewater Historical Society and analyzing contributing resources, the committee completed the survey package. This included adding historic and current streetscape photographs to provide the State Preservation Office with a comprehensive sense of the neighborhood’s character and historic narratives of the area with contributing developers.

A follow-up presentation call with the State Preservation Office revealed that the office was surprised Edgewater Glen was not already on the registry. They were particularly impressed by the high percentage of buildings classified as “contributing resources”—one of the highest for any historic district in both Chicago and Illinois. This designation makes Edgewater Glen one of the most intact historic districts in the state.

With this approval, the committee’s next task was to submit a formal nomination to the state. Time was critical again, as they needed approval from Chicago Landmarks before proceeding to the State Advisory Council in Springfield. In fall 2024, Justin and Jean presented the proposed district to the Chicago Landmarks Commission at a packed City Hall meeting. The district received unanimous approval and round of applause, supported by the local Alderman’s office, the Edgewater Historical Society, Preservation Chicago, and conservationists throughout the city.

With Chicago Landmarks’ approval, the committee finalized the nomination and met the deadline to appear on the State Advisory Council’s October agenda. At the in-person meeting in Springfield, Jean and Justin presented the nomination and argued for the district’s significance. The Advisory Council agreed and unanimously approved the designation, commending the team’s thorough detailed work and number of contributing resources.

The addition of Edgewater Glen to the National Register of Historic Places not only instills pride in the community but also provides homeowners with access to state and federal incentives for historic preservation, including reimbursement programs for restoration and tax assessment freezes. More information about accessing these benefits will be communicated to residents through the Edgewater Glen Association’s website later this year, and updates will be shared as they become available.

This designation ensures that Edgewater Glen’s rich history will remain an enduring part of Illinois’ and Chicago’s cultural heritage for generations to come.