1608 Forest Place is a deceptively large, yet elegantly renovated home in Evanston that overlooks Patriots Park, the Dawes Lagoon, and Lake Michigan. Check your real estate portal for additional Drone Video and 3D Virtual Tour links! This Victorian home was built in 1879, about eight years after the Great Chicago Fire, and about a decade before the first telephone station was erected in Evanston (which happened to be overseen by Franklin G. Beach, General Manager of the Union Telephone Company, who purchased Forest Place in 1894 and lived there happily with his wife and two servants before selling in probate to John W. Scott, treasurer of Carson Pirie Scott & Co.). Spurred by the introduction of cable car transportation, which reduced the commute time to Chicago to just 30 minutes, Forest Place was one of the very first of nearly 200 residences to be constructed in the Lakeshore Historic District between the period of 1880 and 1899, most of which are now concentrated in the original Village of Evanston, north of Dempster. You can imagine how Forest Place might have been originally constructed, nestled between nothing but large forest trees, built from those same trees, and overlooking the lake and a slice of land that would eventually become the city's first public art project in 1929: a monument and flag pole honoring Evanston soldiers who gave their lives in the Spanish-American War, the Civil War and World War I. Throughout history, the industrious inhabitants of Forest Place have enjoyed unprecedented lake views, and now after 60 years of private ownership, you have a chance as well. Your companion is the lake from the time you wake up in the morning, while you prepare meals during the day, and even into the evening as you wind down on the front flagstone patio in your own gated front yard! After the flagstone entry, your guests are greeted by a large and bright tiled foyer with high ceilings and a handsome staircase. Beyond the foyer, a grand double parlor is flanked by a fireplace surrounded by floor-to-ceiling built-ins. A large dining room featuring unobstructed views through tall sun-filled windows is accessible from the foyer and/or the second parlor. You will notice the ten-foot ceilings, 12-to-24 inch decorative baseboards, crown molding, and other details throughout. The kitchen features a lovely garden window, a butler pantry, a powder room, and a granite table built-in with chairs that have views of the lake-perfect for morning coffee! A maid's staircase off of the kitchen provides access to all four levels. The lower level boasts two exits and is masterfully built-out, featuring another granite kitchen, a full-face granite bath, a great family room with a gas fireplace and artful windows, an office or a potential bedroom, and tons of storage. Overhead sewers were installed during the basement renovation. This is the perfect set-up for a home office space or professional who requires a separate business entrance for clients... It could also be perfect for an in-law or another familial arrangement. You decide if it is a basement or a second home entirely! As far as updates to the solid bones of this 1879 home, zoned heating and AC has been added throughout for ultimate comfort. The second level is complete, including a master bedroom with en suite bath and sitting room overlooking the lake, and three additional bedrooms that share a hall bath. Did we mention this is a big house? The third floor has two more bedrooms, a very nice full bath with a separate tub and shower, and a large library/art studio with the most expansive views in the house overlooking the parks and the lake. It has been lovingly cared for with tons of updates, now finally available and back on the market after 60 years. (Regarding the garage: Separate PIN number is 11184050190000. Taxes are $522. Dimensions are 24x32 feet).
