Landmark Status Filed for Blair House

The Lake Bluff Historic Preservation Commission has agreed to seek landmark status for the Blair House, the modernist lakefront home at 925 Sheridan Road that sits on 27 acres of land owned by the estate of the late Edward McCormick Blair - a prominent Chicago-area businessman in the late 20th century.

The Chicago Tribune reports that while the commission voted unanimously to seek the landmark statues, there is little that can be done to prevent the home built by the architect firm, Keck and Keck, from meeting the wrecking ball.

According to the Lake County assessor’s office, the market value of Blair House and the surrounding land is $4.9 million. The estate paid about $112,000 in property taxes on the house last year.

Ed Blair, Blair’s son, said his father had wished the home be sold with the proceeds being donated to charity. But with more than four years already on the market, Blair is now seeking to demolish the home.

Currently, a home that is more than 50 years old needs to wait 90 days before being demolished, but if landmark status is attained, that wait would increase to four months.

Read more via the Chicago Tribune