Longwood Drive District

“The size of the properties and degree of open space produced a neighborhood with a unique character. Today, ninety years later, while there are many more homes in the community, the early character of the neighborhood has been maintained, making Longwood Drive one of the most impressive residential streets in Chicago.”

“Louis railroads, with a few homes scattered along the roadways leading away from the junction. 103rd Street, one of the earliest residential streets, led west from the junction, crossing Longwood Drive (then Washington Many of the homes on the ridge, here seen on Longwood Drive looking south from 99th Street, take advantage of this unique topographical feature and are well-sited on spacious wooded lots.”

“Two of the earliest homes on the ridge above Longwood Drive are located in the 10300-block of South Seeley Avenue. The house at 10302 Seeley was originally the home of the Springer family.”

“An excellent example of the Prairie style is the house Wright designed for Robert Evans in 1908 at 9914 South Longwood Drive. In his work, Wright rejected historical styles and traditional decoration in favor of plans and ornamental designs that were based on straightforward geometric shapes.”

“Only In 1911, Harry N. Tolles commissioned Walter Burley Griffin to design this house at 10561 South Longwood Drive. It is one of thirteen homes that Griffin designed in Beverly, most of which are concentrated on 104th Place between Wood Street and Prospect Avenue.”

“The massing of this house, enhanced by the elevated location, gives the house a distinct visual appeal. Its large hipped roof is intersected by an octagonal bay on the south elevation and by a gable on the east.”

“The clapboards used here emphasize the horizontality of the design. (Barbara Crane, photographer) The long low lines of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie school designs, seen here at 9914 South Longwood Drive, are particularly sympathetic to the outline of the ridge.”