Old frat house getting makeover

We have enjoyed writing this column for several months now and hope some of our ramblings have been useful and educational. For those of you still wondering if you have the time, interest, or fortitude to pursue a project as challenging as a home remodel, we thought it might be interesting to follow a project from beginning to end to get a sense of what's really involved and the general sequence of events.

We have chosen a project to follow, and we will visit it once a month throughout the planning and construction process. Today we start with a little background.

We recently discussed the nature of neighborhoods and some of the controversies that can result from neighborhood evolution. Our featured project is a home that has had its share of controversy over the years — not so much because of its architecture but because of its function. Until recently, the home was a fraternity house perched on the fringe of a residential neighborhood.

The fraternity has now moved on, and the zoning of the home has reverted to "single-family residence." But as you can imagine, only the most major remodeling will salvage this project!

Built early in the 20th century, the original home was a stately two-story structure with a gracious front porch, wide roof overhangs, and simple stucco exterior. It was reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style, popular in the Chicago suburbs around the turn of the century. Due to a major remodel in the 1960s, little of its original character is visible today.

The home has been purchased by a development company that plans to return the home to its single-family function. Happily, they have hired us to oversee the design. We have worked together before and know there will be compromises between the architect's quest for design purity, the contractor's desire to use as much of the existing infrastructure as possible, and the business manager's reality check on what will make a profit. This process actually is no different from any project we undertake, as individual owners have the same need to balance design, function, and finances.

The planning has begun. We measured the house and yard and drew up plans and elevations for the existing structure, giving us a logical starting place for the new design. A zoning study has been done to determine parameters for building height, setbacks, and garage placement. The developers are currently determining how many square feet they hope for, how many bedrooms they want, and what amenities will be included.