Progress?

We’ve lived on the North Shore since the early 80’s.  First in Evanston for five years.  Then on to Winnetka for a long, long time beginning in the mid 80’s.  We lived in several houses in Winnetka.  We bought older homes that needed “loving care” and we renovated, rehabbed and added on, before selling and moving to the next. It was fun, time consuming and financially rewarding. Our children did not like it as much as we did.

For the last ten years, we have been on a continuing journey of downsizing.  Our most recent move, five or six years ago brought us to Glencoe....approximately four blocks north of Winnetka.  While we love where we live for a variety of reasons, we still think of ourselves as Winnetkans because this is where our children went to school, our office is there and so are most of our friends.

This is not to say that we don’t love Glencoe. Our neighbors are wonderful, our neighborhood is lovely and we’re very comfortable in our current home.

While we have a reasonably large lot which provides plenty of room for perennials to grow and dogs to run, we have enjoyed being next to a house on a very large lot with the rear yard open to our house. While this is our neighbor’s property, we were fortunate to be able to enjoy the wide open spaces surrounding our yard.  

Early today, our view began to change.



As the day progressed, we really got to appreciate the expertise of the crane operator.

First he carefully peeled away the stone exterior for salvage.  He also ripped away the gutters and other metal products and separated them for scrap.

Then he started to do some real damage.


This is our new view

The house that sat on that property early this morning was built in the late 1970’s and was approximately 3000 square feet.

The house that is replacing it is going to be approximately 7500 square feet (plus an additional 3500 sf in the lower level).

In the big picture, my neighbors and I will benefit from the presence of a house which is being offered for sale at approximately $3.8 million dollars vs. the former property which sold for slightly above $900,000.

 Nonetheless, I’m not sure that I wouldn’t have preferred the status quo.  Unfortunately, it’s not my decision to make.