They’re not glamorous, but there’s certainly something romantic about Chicago bungalows, the stocky working-class homes that account for up to one-third of the city’s housing stock.
Mayor Richard Daley has done his share to protect bungalows, and now the National Register of Historic Places has chipped in, giving the homes a “thematic” designation that could save their owners money.
Qualified homeowners who spend at least 25 percent of the bungalows’ value on approved upgrades could earn an eight-year property tax freeze. After that break, assessments would gradually increase over a four-year period to market levels.
The city estimates there are about 80,000 bungalows in Chicago, most built on the Northwest and Southwest sides during the 1920s and 1930s.
The National Register also designated two historic bungalow districts: the South Park Manor Historic District, on the South Side, and the Schorsch Irving Park Gardens Historic District on the Northwest Side. At the moment, the application process may be easier and speedier for homeowners in these districts than for individuals with bungalows in other neighborhoods.
The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, www.chicagobungalow.com, is holding a Bungalow Expo on May 1 at the Illinois Institute of Technology that will include workshops on the new designation.