Chicago’s Beautiful Greystone Homes

One of the unique things about Chicago is the way in which predominant architectural styles lend a sense of order and character to certain neighborhoods. From bungalows to workers cottages to two-flats, specific building styles help to form a neighborhood’s identity and tell its story. One of the most prominent, stately and coveted building styles in the city is the Chicago greystone.

Named for the color of the Indiana Bedford limestone used in their construction, greystones first appeared in Chicago in the late 1800s as a sturdier and safer solution to the wood-frame structures that were devoured by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. From 1890 to 1915, these buildings sprung up around the city, in an area now called the “greystone belt,” extending as far north as Chicago’s Andersonville and Lakeview neighborhoods, and as far south as Hyde Park and Woodlawn.

Greystone Design

The design of a Chicago greystone is as functional as it is beautiful. The homes were built to accommodate a range of social classes, including mansions for the wealthy and two-, three- and four-flats for multiple families during the post-Fire housing shortage. Although density was a priority, the look of a single-family home was preferred, so the entry to greystone multi-flats was thoughtfully designed with a single front door and interior stairwells leading to each unit.

Most greystones share a similar footprint. The homes are long and narrow, to fit on the city’s standard 25’- by 100’-foot lots, and the sides and back usually transition from stone to more inexpensive brick. Typically, they feature steps going up to a front porch on one side of the home, with a wide set of windows on the other. Kitchens are located in the back, a feature that was originally designed to allow for easy access to hanging laundry and household deliveries.

Chicago Greystones Today

The Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative (HCGI), which raises awareness of greystones and assists homeowners in maintaining them, estimates there are 30,000 of these homes remaining in the city. North Lawndale is considered the epicenter of Chicago’s greystones, with more than 1,700 still standing, according to HGCI. Another prominent concentration of greystones can be found in the Logan Square Boulevards District.

Chicago greystones are as popular today as they were more than a century ago. Many of them have been carefully updated without compromising their distinctive architectural features. If you are looking to own a piece Chicago history, let's connect and discuss your plans.