Preservationists heaved a big sigh of relief Friday as state officials ruled that a historic David Adler-designed house in Winnetka should be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 14-room brick mansion built in 1937 has been the subject of a lawsuit against the current owners filed by the Chicago-based Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. The council had accused the owners of trying to prevent the house from being nominated to the national register and trying to block the council’s right to inspect the house.
The owners took issue with the council’s nomination, disputing many points, including the age of the house and even its historic merits.
Federal officials now will rule on whether to place the house on the prestigious list of historic places, but they typically follow each state’s recommendation.
“We are very happy about this and very relieved,” said Jean Follett, acting director of the Landmarks Preservation Council.
The owners of the house, Suzanne and Donald Aleshire, acquired it in 1991. The house was originally owned by Pat and Shirley Ryan, who gave it to the landmarks council on the condition that the non-profit council find someone to move it.
The council sold the house to the Aleshires for $1, and the couple moved it to their property in exchange for a conservation easement granting the council the right to annually inspect the house.
The agreement quickly fell apart, and by 1992 the council had sued the Aleshires, accusing them of trying to block the nomination to the national register.
A Cook County judge earlier this month ruled in favor of the council.
“We were very disappointed,” said Kate Klaus, attorney for the Aleshires, who said that an appeal has been filed.
